[Zentan]

It's always a good feeling to know how many total miles you ran in a full tank of gas, which then, depending on total miles, you would know how your MPG was. I live in NY so there's a lot of stop and go traffic which then leads to not having great MPG. In a full tank of gas, I aim to at least hit 250 miles.

[paul e]

I start looking for a station around 1/4 tank or a bit less.

I only gamble when buying Lotto tickets, I don't think the cost/benefit ratio works well when seeing how low you can run the tank.

[Wires]

At the end of the day, all fuel injected vehicles use a submersible pump in the fuel tank. It requires fuel to cool the pump. If run it too low, you cause irreversible damage to the pump motor/impeller (which = $$$$$$).

My wife used to do that with her car years ago. It kills the pump, I can attest to that. It also stirs up any debris/condensation that's floating at the bottom and sucks it into the fuel system (same logic used is it's wise not to refill when the tanker is refilling the gas station).

Personally, once it drops below 1/4, I fill up. Sure time is valuable, but why worry about finding a station when you're in a rush because you had to milk to the bottom?

[BMW11]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Time is valuable - you're wasting time re-filling twice as often as others.

for me it is not a waste of time. I have plenty of time, plus I believe that letting it go low is worse for the engine then keeping it above half a tank at all times. In emergencies you will always have the gas when required mitigate dirt in the line from running it low and perhaps harm to the fuel pump. I still do not see why people go down to as close to zero as possible don't you know you are taking risk. if you park on a hill at empty then maybe it won't start or it will hurt the pump or impellers it is certainly not good. it certainly is not safer to do that then keep it over half a tank. how is Playing How Low Can I Go be good for a car? Why do you do this stuff for its ridiculous LOL tell me how going down to zero gas is good for a car and why you want to take the risk associated with it.

what bout going down as low as you can go on the air in your tires, or the voltage in the battery, or the windshield washer. what about driving on a run flat tire while its flat for 500 miles and see if you can go 600 miles at 80mph, lol all this risk that because its a waste of time? don't clean the windows see how dirty you can go with the windows, see how long you can go changing oil or how fast you can go in reverse lol i do not think any car manufacturer designed any cars to be run to empty. keep it at full all the time. lol rant over

[BMW11]

Originally Posted by Wires

At the end of the day, all fuel injected vehicles use a submersible pump in the fuel tank. It requires fuel to cool the pump. If run it too low, you cause irreversible damage to the pump motor/impeller (which = $$$$$$).

My wife used to do that with her car years ago. It kills the pump, I can attest to that. It also stirs up any debris/condensation that's floating at the bottom and sucks it into the fuel system (same logic used is it's wise not to refill when the tanker is refilling the gas station).

Personally, once it drops below 1/4, I fill up. Sure time is valuable, but why worry about finding a station when you're in a rush because you had to milk to the bottom?

agree with this

[kern417]

Originally Posted by lkstaack

So, is that my LPFP I hear when I open a door of my 335i?

Originally Posted by E90 LCI

Is that what that is??

I thought it was the exhaust flap opening/closing lol

yes, the low pressure pump is priming the fuel system.

[floydarogers]

[eluded]

The fuel in the tank not only helps cool the fuel pump but also the flux capacitor.

[z3n0mal4]

Happened once some time ago, driving an E46 325Ci Convertible, 34km after "---" sign. Did not enjoyed it, was waiting to stop any moment.

[beanbaguk]

I usually get about 650 miles per tank. I do a lot of motorway miles.

I'm amazed some of you guys are only get 250! Do you all have lead feet or just live on a race track...!?!!?

[metallicpea]

I drive all my cars close to zero on almost every tank. I know or check where gas stations are on my trip. I have never replaced a fuel pump. Many cars, many higher mileage - no pumps. I just try to stop at the gas station as few times in my life as possible.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by beanbaguk

I usually get about 650 miles per tank. I do a lot of motorway miles.

I'm amazed some of you guys are only get 250! Do you all have lead feet or just live on a race track...!?!!?

320d gas sipper vs 340 race car...no comparison

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I drive all my cars close to zero on almost every tank. I know or check where gas stations are on my trip. I have never replaced a fuel pump. Many cars, many higher mileage - no pumps. I just try to stop at the gas station as few times in my life as possible.

my ritual - i drive 20 miles each way to work. when i turn on my car and gas is below 50 to empty, i check the Gas Buddy app on my phone. If gas is cheaper where I am, fill up now. If gas is cheaper at the destination, fill up when i get there. if gas is cheaper at home but i'm late for work, i still have enough fuel to get there and back to fill up at the end of the day. simple.

[BimmerMat135]

I wonder how long you can survive when your lungs start filling with water because you've been holding your breath for too long? :

[eluded]

I ran it below zero miles today. Felt good.

[rallybull]

So let me get this straight- if you only refill when the number of remaining miles shown is less than 10, but never let the car totally run out of gas, is it really an issue ?

[nozydog]

Originally Posted by Lobb

I once did 53 miles with the gauge on zero.

It was all downhill tho' .......

Hell of a hill then!!

[kern417]

Originally Posted by rallybull

So let me get this straight- if you only refill when the number of remaining miles shown is less than 10, but never let the car totally run out of gas, is it really an issue ?

yes.

not with your car, but people on the internet get upset.

[skier219]

I got down to 0 miles range before filling up last week, and pumped 15.2 gallons in. Tank capacity is 15.8, so there were 0.6 gals left in the tank at "zero".

[zardock12]

I’m surprised no one mentioned the difference between driving modes. You can definitely squeeze more out (but you have to be proactive about it and not do it when it’s already showing 0 or, my favorite: ———) in ECO PRO mode. The rest is coasting to the nearest GS.

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

One less than you'll need to get to the next gas station.

Ain't that the truth. Many years ago (~20ish) before we could afford BMW's and where still in school my then girlfriend (now wife) would test that in her corolla and as stated it always seemed to run out short of the gas station. I had to keep several gas cans filled at our apartment to get when I got the monthly call. To be fair in a college town we did not have to drive much and could walk and bike, this it was easier to forget about filling up when you don't drive daily. We have no problem now with the newer cars and I think having kids also helped get past that stage.

When I responded I did not see that this was an old post.

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by CajunBMW

Ain't that the truth. Many years ago (~20ish) before we could afford BMW's and where still in school my then girlfriend (now wife) would test that in her corolla and as stated it always seemed to run out short of the gas station. I had to keep several gas cans filled at our apartment to get when I got the monthly call. To be fair in a college town we did not have to drive much and could walk and bike, this it was easier to forget about filling up when you don't drive daily. We have no problem now with the newer cars and I think having kids also helped get past that stage.

When I responded I did not see that this was an old post.

You posting brought this to the top. Without a doubt one of the weirdest threads I’ve read. I’m glad you made it these last 20 years or so. Did you realize how dumb it was to have cans of gas in your apartment?

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

You posting brought this to the top. Without a doubt one of the weirdest threads I’ve read. I’m glad you made it these last 20 years or so. Did you realize how dumb it was to have cans of gas in your apartment?

The poster right before me brought it up to the top and I just read it and responded without looking at the date. Only after following up and reading what I wrote, did I realized it was old. But it gave me a chuckle reading it anyway and thinking of how many times in North Carolina during our fellowship days that I had to bring a gallon of gas to my girlfriend. Storing gas was silly since we didn't even have our own lawn in the apartment and thus never needed a gas can. Funny that for many years (maybe 10 years) I even kept an empty gas can in my trunk just in case.