R50/53 Fuel Range: How low have you gone?
#26
#27
I don't know if the reason is to protect the engine from sediment or the catalytic converter. However, I used to have a 1998 Honda Civic EX automatic that held maybe 13 gallons, and maybe 3 gallons were always left in the tank so that you could never fill up more than about 10 gallons. The dealer said they kept the 3 gallons in the bottom of the tank to protect the engine but did not say why. I always thought it was to keep sediment from getting in the engine, but don't know for sure. That meant that you could not get but about 250 miles per tankful on that car at 25 mpg (which was what I got on a good day, less on a bad day). I hated that they took that choice away from me.
Originally Posted by kumquat78
Call me crazy, but I thought if you run too low, you run the risk of pulling some of the sediment in the tank into the engine.
Now, I'm only about 30% sure this is actually a problem, but I would love to hear other's take on this.
Now, I'm only about 30% sure this is actually a problem, but I would love to hear other's take on this.
#30
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Originally Posted by racoman
Just filled up my 05 MCSC with 13.34 gal. still showing a range of 18mi. Am I being screwed by my gas station or is the tank bigger than advertised?
What I ask is did you let the pump stop the pumping? Or did you top it off? I know from my experience I have never gotten more then 12gallons in my with about 20miles left on the range (and I like to top it off when the gas is cheap).
#31
#32
I've always been surprised at how conservative the computer's estimates are for fuel range. I've dipped below 0 many times, and never had a problem. One time i had my computer go from showing 0 miles to 7 miles after about 2 miles of driving
My old car (A 2000 Saab) once ran out of gas while showing "25 miles to empty". That really pissed me off. I was in the middle of the desert and had to hitchhike to Mojave
My old car (A 2000 Saab) once ran out of gas while showing "25 miles to empty". That really pissed me off. I was in the middle of the desert and had to hitchhike to Mojave
#33
#34
Originally Posted by AMPR
Fortunately for me it happened pulling out of the driveway, ironically, on my way to the gas station. Same thing, RPM drop then engine shut off.
At least it won't be like a P-3's air multiplier "if intake blocked, component may overheat and thermiform (read = melt like candle wax in a flame).."
Then spit chunks at high RPM..fun fun fun.
Let's respect our rides.
Cheers,
Matthew Z.
#35
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#38
In the middle of last years hurricanes down here its common knowledge to fill up all your vehicles incase you get hit. Well i was busy putting up shutters on my new house and forgot that i had no gas in the MINI. Well i started my search for gas with 7 miles on the left till empty display.
After 30 minutes of driving around to about 10 gas stations with "no gas" posted everywhere i finally found one that actually still ONLY had 93 left. For 2 miles before i found that station i had "------" on the display. I was ready to call my GF to tell her i had run out of gas for sure, but luckily my good ol MCS got me all the way to the pump. I think i filled her up to 13.4 that day
After 30 minutes of driving around to about 10 gas stations with "no gas" posted everywhere i finally found one that actually still ONLY had 93 left. For 2 miles before i found that station i had "------" on the display. I was ready to call my GF to tell her i had run out of gas for sure, but luckily my good ol MCS got me all the way to the pump. I think i filled her up to 13.4 that day
#39
Gas pains
Yesterday my fill up was 14.5 gallons on my '05mcs. The trip odometer read 350 miles. That's about 24mpg, which I suppose is typical for a newbie with 1k miles. I'm observing break in rules (HONEST!) My baby has yet to exceed 4500...although I can't wait !!!
The miles-left-to-go number is virtual. If it says, for instance, 50 miles left but then you start driving at higher revs, leave rubber, etc, you're not going to go 50 more miles, and the computer may not reflect that before you run out of gas.
Here in NJ, there is a difference of 10 to 20, sometimes 30 cents per gallon for 93, depending on where you are, like at a freeway exit (think gouged) or down in gasoline alley: 3 or 4 stations competing for your business, and maybe not big name brand.
During my travels yesterday, the range here in Northerern NJ was $2.19 to $2.51.
Hugh
The miles-left-to-go number is virtual. If it says, for instance, 50 miles left but then you start driving at higher revs, leave rubber, etc, you're not going to go 50 more miles, and the computer may not reflect that before you run out of gas.
Here in NJ, there is a difference of 10 to 20, sometimes 30 cents per gallon for 93, depending on where you are, like at a freeway exit (think gouged) or down in gasoline alley: 3 or 4 stations competing for your business, and maybe not big name brand.
During my travels yesterday, the range here in Northerern NJ was $2.19 to $2.51.
Hugh
#40
Originally Posted by nerd
My girlfriend's computer says 310 miles after filling up. Mine only shows 258. WTF? Both are S. I'm hoping mine gets better after I get the engine broken in. We both get about the same amount of miles that the computer predicts.
#41
Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
IIRC the computer uses the most recent MPG to calculate the range. Looks like you drive a bit more aggressively than the gf. Then again, I must drive like a weenie, 'cause it usually tells me I have over 400!
#42
I got 425 miles out of this last tank driving from my house to Bandera. And my range still showed about 10 mi left. Cruise @ 70 for 300 of those miles really helped MPG! Another thing to note, the range is calculated off your average consumption I think. Since that says I was getting 28mpg avg consumption, but the instant consumption was pretty steady around 35+ for the whole trip.
#43
Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
IIRC the computer uses the most recent MPG to calculate the range. Looks like you drive a bit more aggressively than the gf. Then again, I must drive like a weenie, 'cause it usually tells me I have over 400!
I never got a chance to go on a full roadtrip in my 04' to see what its cruising range would come out to but the most i ever got out of a tank was about 310 and that was pushing it to almost 1-2 miles left on the range.
#45
The tank IS larger than advertised, I noticed that right away. I put in 14 gallons over the weekend, and had gone 5 past --- for the first time. Usually I'm 5-10 left at my fillup point, and it's usually 13.4 - 13.8. I pump till it shuts off - I have found that tere is no 'top off' for this tank/neck. On my GTP for example, I can get another gallon in it by slowly filling till the neck is full and the tank has settled. I tried this several times on the MINI, and it's just plain full the first time. I don't even give it a 2nd squeeze after it shuts off now, there's no point.
#46
Originally Posted by C4
The most I have gone is around 410 miles (Full tank) in the wife's MC CVT. The most I have managed in a MCS is around 300-310 miles a tank. I suspect my new '05 MCS will be around the same ball park. Car is still in break in period and the fuel consumption is around 21-23MPG in city.
#47
You will probably not damage your engine or calalytic converter by running your MINI low on fuel. If the mixture gets too lean the service engine light will come on. If the injectors do not have fuel to inject the engine will not run, period, and no damage should occur. What may be damaged is your fuel pump. The fuel pump is inside the fuel tank and is cooled by being immersed in fuel. If you consistently run low on fuel the pump will run too hot and may eventually be damaged. It would take more than just occasionally runnning low to damage it, but it could eventually happen.
#48
#49