[Zentan]

Just curious -- has anyone tested how many more actual miles you can get after having "0 miles to go" or 0 on the meter tank?

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Zentan

Just curious -- has anyone tested how many more actual miles you can get after having "0 miles to go" or 0 on the meter tank?

Running the tank dry is a good way to toast the fuel pumps.

I've reached zero or close to zero (on both 2010 and 2014) and had about 1/2 gallon (2L) left - known from tank size and amount filled.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Zentan

how many more actual miles you can get after having "0 miles to go" or 0 on the meter tank?

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

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by Zentan

Just curious -- has anyone tested how many more actual miles you can get after having "0 miles to go" or 0 on the meter tank?

Each time this question comes up I think of my first car, a 1961 Volkswagon.

One of its features is it did not have a gas gauge. Instead, it had a lever on the "firewall". When your engine started sputtering for lack of fuel, you simply reached down and turned this lever 90 degrees and magically you had an extra gallon or so of gas. Then, you started looking for a gas station. The good old days.

Now, however, the fuel pumps are in the tank and the gas actually cools the fuel pump. So, while you can take a chance and run it dry, you may not want to do it.

[XKxRome0ox]

in my previous car (e46)
i've squeezed out 16 miles after the gauge read 0 and then ---- without running out of gas ...
but then again, i've had my car stop even though the gauge said i could go another 36 miles

conclusion? don't let your fuel tank run down so low


btw, that e46's fuel pump lasted me over 150,000 miles
running out of fuel happened twice at around 90,000 miles
didn't change it at 100,000 miles
finally died on me at 150k+

[chicagoshark]

I love the Seinfeld episode about this topic

[Wires]

Ahhh... now Germany finally understands the root of all those HPFP failures.

[jgoens]

Only a fool would actually "test" this. Someone who made a bad choice by not gassing up and "trying to make it" but didn't, would have the answer.

[SpenceRx]

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

I love the Seinfeld episode about this topic

I was thinking the exact same thing

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

in my previous car (e46)
i've squeezed out 16 miles after the gauge read 0 and then ---- without running out of gas ...
but then again, i've had my car stop even though the gauge said i could go another 36 miles

conclusion? don't let your fuel tank run down so low


btw, that e46's fuel pump lasted me over 150,000 miles
running out of fuel happened twice at around 90,000 miles
didn't change it at 100,000 miles
finally died on me at 150k+

Your E46's fuel pump was not a high-pressure unit like the ones for the turbocharged direct-injection engines that require a low-pressure pump to keep it primed. The N54 pump failures were mostly because of that lack of adequat priming, and the DME software was eventually updated to initiate priming by the LPFP as soon as the car was unlocked/door opened instead of at engine start time. The HPFP design was also changed. Regardless of that, allowing any fuel-injected engine to run completely out of fuel can result in serious problems.

[Zentan]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Your E46's fuel pump was not a high-pressure unit like the ones for the turbocharged direct-injection engines that require a low-pressure pump to keep it primed. The N54 pump failures were mostly because of that lack of adequat priming, and the DME software was eventually updated to initiate priming by the LPFP as soon as the car was unlocked/door opened instead of at engine start time. The HPFP design was also changed. Regardless of that, allowing any fuel-injected engine to run completely out of fuel can result in serious problems.

Interesting.. Thanks for the detailed info on that. So, is there a threshold, if you will, that you follow on filling the gas tank? What is the lowest we can go before we run the risk of having a dry tank that would potentially cause said serious problems? I personally like to fill up when it's a bit less than quarter tank remaining.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Zentan

Interesting.. Thanks for the detailed info on that. So, is there a threshold, if you will, that you follow on filling the gas tank? What is the lowest we can go before we run the risk of having a dry tank that would potentially cause said serious problems? I personally like to fill up when it's a bit less than quarter tank remaining.

My wife and I usually wait until the reserve light comes on. However, my wife often goes a bit further than I do (usually down to 30 miles or less.) However, our diesels have more miles left than the gassers, when the reserve comes on. Mostly I put 14 gallons in my 16.5 gallon tank.

[Basswacker]

I try not to go below 50 but that is mainly because I don't want to be running late hope in my car and see I need to get gas

[lkstaack]

Originally Posted by roundel335

The N54 pump failures were mostly because of that lack of adequat priming, and the DME software was eventually updated to initiate priming by the LPFP as soon as the car was unlocked/door opened instead of at engine start time.

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

[eluded]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Running the tank dry is a good way to toast the fuel pumps.

That must explain all the fuel pump failures !!!

[BMW11]

its interesting to know at what point does everyone "go's to get gas" I am surprised some wait to go so low as 30 or 50 miles left or a quarter tank. Mostly all the time as soon as I hit half a tank I fill it up. I guess its a habit, as I have been doing this with al my cars for years. If I'm on a long road trip then I get gas as close to the half mark as possible. I don't think I ever ran my car down below a quarter tank ever. wonder why people do this? I figure the lower the tank of gas gets the more apt that dirt will get into the gas line and keeping it full is better? and in the winter cold weather another reason its better to be at full tank all the time. another reason you never know when you will be hit by a gas shortage, like a hurricane can cause gas shortages, when Hurricane Sandy hit NYC I couldn't get gas for a Month.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by BMW11

its interesting to know at what point does everyone "go's to get gas" I am surprised some wait to go so low as 30 or 50 miles left or a quarter tank. Mostly all the time as soon as I hit half a tank I fill it up. I guess its a habit, as I have been doing this with al my cars for years. If I'm on a long road trip then I get gas as close to the half mark as possible. I don't think I ever ran my car down below a quarter tank ever. wonder why people do this?...

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

[MrMarvin]

When the gastank is empty my car just forces itself into max edrive. Extra built in safety is always good.

If you go into the hidden menus you can see exactly how many liters you have left in the tank. So even if the car says 0 you might have a couple of liters left.

[chicagoshark]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

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

i dont think i have ever gotten gas before the light comes on, outside of a road trip where planning stops...

i tend pass 4 billion gas stations on the way home from work

[pz619]

I fill up once I hit the 50 mile mark on the counter. Once I ran it down to 0 (and a few miles after) and never felt anxiety like I did that day.

[DrivenByE30]

After 0 is displayed, "---" will be shown and you would have roughly about 4 miles around town.

My car died 20 yards from the pump while waiting in line at Costco.

I have been playing "how low can you go" for the past 5 years...

[50shadesofhockenheim]

Originally Posted by lkstaack

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

Is that what that is??

I thought it was the exhaust flap opening/closing lol