[Mark07]

Over the festive period you may be enjoying time off work, family time, parties and other reasons that your car isn't being used as much.

Subsequently, the RAC receive more breakdown reports related to flat batteries in the first week of January than at any other time of year.

RAC article: What to do if you have a flat battery?

Handy hints;

• Give your car a run in the days before you'll need it to make sure it's charged
• Carry jump leads just in case
• Consider a trickle charger

RAC article: My car won't start, what should I do?

Share your battery maintenance tips below.

[NMNeil]

I wonder how many calls the RAC gets for EV batteries that have gone flat.😏

[Rolebama]

@NMNeil With the current forecasts of traffic on the roads for the holiday, it will be interesting to find out. My time with the AA showed me the amount that ran out of petrol/diesel, so I would guess looking at the same sort of figures.

[olduser]

I think EV owners are more aware of the battery charge than the fuelled car drivers.
From what I have read, the big problem is arriving at planned charging points to find it is not working or already occupied.

With fuelled cars it's all too easy to say, 'I'll fill up as I leave town', and then forget because we set off later than planned etc.

[Drivingforfun]

I don't understand running out of petrol/diesel in the UK - in some countries I know it's a case of filling up whenever you see a filling station, but I can't believe there's that many places in the UK that're more than, like, 40 miles from one?

[Rolebama]

Simple question: If you drive at 30mph for an hour, how far will you go? I was horrified by some of the answers I was given. Another simple question: Will you get further at 70mph doing 25mpg, or 30mph doing 45mpg? Most common answer to this is along the lines of: Because you are going faster, you will get there sooner.
There are legitimate reasons for running out of petrol. I just can't think of one!

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

There are legitimate reasons for running out of petrol. I just can't think of one!

I once ran out because I had passed several filling stations, trying to get to an Esso one. I was saving Tiger tokens.

[olduser]

Many years ago I bought a 1 gallon petrol can it was a flat design, and the handle when closed sealed the can but when opened acted has a funnel, filling spout.
I never used it for myself, I did tip it into my tank from time to time to keep the petrol fresh but it helped many other drivers to make it to the filling station.

I think people have no idea of fuel consumption, they just get fuel when they notice it is low, often purchasing a fixed amount (volume or cash).

I remember a driver explaining he bought a fixed amount (about half a tank full) because then he was not wasting vapour!

[Rolebama]

Originally Posted by olduser

Many years ago I bought a 1 gallon petrol can it was a flat design, and the handle when closed sealed the can but when opened acted has a funnel, filling spout.
I never used it for myself, I did tip it into my tank from time to time to keep the petrol fresh but it helped many other drivers to make it to the filling station.

I think people have no idea of fuel consumption, they just get fuel when they notice it is low, often purchasing a fixed amount (volume or cash).

I remember a driver explaining he bought a fixed amount (about half a tank full) because then he was not wasting vapour!

I had two of those style cans. Mine had a spring loaded flap to seal the when the funnel was folded over. I made a cage for them in the boot. Took the wife shopping one day and left her putting shopping away while I went off to get something-or-other from another shop. On the way home after, I got the occasional whiff of petrol but put it down to other's exhaust fumes. Arriving home I opened the boot to discover the two cans on the boot floor empty because the wife had moved them to put eggs in the cage to keep them safe. The only things we salvaged were the cans and bottles. Threw away all the fresh fruit and veg and the bread, cakes and rolls. Couldn't put any fresh stuff in the boot for months after because it took that long for the smell to go.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I had two of those style cans. Mine had a spring loaded flap to seal the when the funnel was folded over. I made a cage for them in the boot. Took the wife shopping one day and left her putting shopping away while I went off to get something-or-other from another shop. On the way home after, I got the occasional whiff of petrol but put it down to other's exhaust fumes. Arriving home I opened the boot to discover the two cans on the boot floor empty because the wife had moved them to put eggs in the cage to keep them safe. The only things we salvaged were the cans and bottles. Threw away all the fresh fruit and veg and the bread, cakes and rolls. Couldn't put any fresh stuff in the boot for months after because it took that long for the smell to go.

With the one I had, the spout/handle folded over compressing the seal on the can, went under a retaining piece and was locked in with a retaining pin.
It was steel, very strong, I think it was made by Remco?

It was advertised as fitting under the drivers seat - how times have changed!