Ran out of fuel

RichM · Nov 17, 2010

Ok so today I ran out of fuel in my TD4 gaylander while on the dual carriageway. First time I've ever had that happened to me.

Basically, I was driving along the dual carriageway and suddenly lost all power, followed by the engine management light coming on. I was under the impression that a cars usually judder quite heavily before losing all power?

It didn't give much warning at all. The fuel warning light was only on for a short period of time before I lost power! In previous cars I've owned, the warning light would stay on for ages!

Is it normal for cars to lose power due to fuel starvation without any juddering what so ever?

Rich

Darmain · Nov 17, 2010

I think that generally the car would judder as the fuel pressure fluctuates. With the TD4 the rear pump would have been the first to suffer, causing the fuel low pressure sensor to alarm to the ECU, hence you EM light. I then suspect the ECU would kill the engine to stop the high pressure pump cavitating and damaging itself. That is a guess mind you.

hustler1 · Nov 19, 2010

i did that in my TD4 just after i got it, no juddering or misfire at all just engine cut out and stop, and a five mile walk to nearest station

i worked out that i had done only 35miles from fuel light coming on

an old peugoet of mine did nearly 80 miles on the light, now i know to re fuel as soon as light comes on

RichM · Nov 19, 2010

hustler1 said:
i did that in my TD4 just after i got it, no juddering or misfire at all just engine cut out and stop, and a five mile walk to nearest station

i worked out that i had done only 35miles from fuel light coming on

an old peugoet of mine did nearly 80 miles on the light, now i know to re fuel as soon as light comes on

Yeah, my old BMW would do over 100 miles when the orange light came on. It would keep going even when the computer said it had "0 miles left". Because of that I wrongly assumed that the Freelander TD4 would be the same. In the Freelander, the warning light really does mean "GET FUEL QUICK!!" lol

Andy131 · Nov 19, 2010

Don't try the same trick in the FL2. When the trip says 10 miles left it reduces power deliberately - not good when towing. When 0 miles left it stops the engine, irrespective of the fuel left, so if you give the plastic fuel tank a good hammering off road and the fuel sender "moves" you can be left high and dry with a couple of gallons in the tank.

To be fair it is a complete

to bleed even with the correct tool, so running out should be avoided.

Guess who has a fuel tank guard fitted ..... now

digitaldan · Nov 21, 2010

RichM said:
Ok so today I ran out of fuel in my TD4 gaylander while on the dual carriageway. First time I've ever had that happened to me.

Basically, I was driving along the dual carriageway and suddenly lost all power, followed by the engine management light coming on. I was under the impression that a cars usually judder quite heavily before losing all power?

It didn't give much warning at all. The fuel warning light was only on for a short period of time before I lost power! In previous cars I've owned, the warning light would stay on for ages!

Is it normal for cars to lose power due to fuel starvation without any juddering what so ever?

Rich

I had exactly the same thing happen to me last week SH*T myself. thought it was a major issue. Mind you, I've got one of those now..!!! possible gear box failure

Ran out of fuel

RichM

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Darmain

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hustler1

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RichM

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Andy131

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digitaldan

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