Originally Posted by
astan100
I suspect it is this method of fueling that causes the problem in the first place. I also suspect that a LOT of people do this (myself included).
When it happens to me, I just shrug and figure that I probably did that to some other guy on another trip - so it's just karma.
Me too, I actually started doing this (when I can and know the area/car type so I don't have to refill at the airport) it was after 2 previous rentals had exactly the same situation, in one case I'd gone less than a mile from the airport when the gauge switched over. Its unfortunate but if you take this approach then in the worse case you are going to have to pay the full price of the fuel used, more often than not you actually make a small saving.
Not much fun for people renting for a single day - though in the OP's scenario though you don't have to fill it right up to the top, you only need to put in a few litres to get it back over the gauge and cover the 35miles you've done rather than the 3 gallons.