[PR3CI5N]

I've been on 0 miles left for about 5 miles once. Didn't think I'd make it to the gas station but I did. I usually don't fill up till I'm in the 1/4 tank area.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Originally Posted by MikeS '06 330i

I always fill up when the tank is 1/4 full. Since your pump being submerged helps cool it, thus longer pump life, I never run the tank down to E.

^this. If you run your tank down close to empty frequently you will probably shorten your pump life.

I also usually fill up at half empty for a couple other reasons;

- It reduces the chance of condensation forming on the walls of the tank, which can be a bigger problem in the winter months. This is more important as I specifically avoid using any ethanol blends or gas line antifreeze, which is also alcohol based.

- Also, I have an x-drive, which puts a bit more weight over the front wheels. Keeping the tank full helps keep the car closer to a 50-50 weight distribution, and also provides a bit more traction to the back wheels on slippery surfaces (at the expense of more overall weight, of course).

[cuiter23]

Originally Posted by Envuks

Be careful with that. I ran a 328 loaner down to 16 miles and then it wouldn't start. I had a 7 mile drive to the dealer and hoped to deliver on fumes. I ended up needing a flat bed to get the car back there. Kind of embarrassing

Damn, I can imagine what you had to tell the dealer. "I ran out of gas" lol thats pretty embarrassing.

Usually I fill up when the fuel reserve light comes on, it was just this one special occasion that it dropped so low.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by OaklandR

Jason, my reasoning is that if I want to go some where I do not want to have to stop and get gas first to get their. And it is better for your gas pump, having to suck in all of the junk that lies at the bottom of your gas tank, that can clog up your filters and what not. Just MHO.

This is just no longer true in modern engines. The only reason not to wait till E these days is to make the pain of filling up "seem" less painful by filling up sooner

[OaklandR]

Sorry guys but I only put fuel in my tank 2X a month and my count shows that i have driven avg 235 miles each time.

[Bingobimmer]

I usually try to fill up just before 1/4 tank.

[roundel335]

I top off if I'm heading out on a relatively long trip (100+ miles), but normally, I let it get a notch or two under 1/4 before heading to the pump. Filling up at the half-tank level (aside from heading out on a long trip) seems like overkill to me. Never, ever had a problem with a BMW having "trash" in its gas tank that caused problems when running close to empty.

[chowser51]

force of habit, i usually go fill up when i get to 1/4 tank. i started doing this in the winter time and it carried over into summer.
i used to avg 22 mpg in the city with my '06 325xi, now i'm getting 18mpg in the city with my '09 328xi. sucks.

[AWil335i]

Can't remember anyone in my entire life having fuel issues because they run their tank to E.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by AWil335i

Can't remember anyone in my entire life having fuel issues because they run their tank to E.

This. Those people who think that their fuel pump will last longer because they fill up more often are nuts, and/or believe in myths and old wive's tales. I've been running my tank to empty for nearly 100,000 miles without issue. Sometimes to when "---" shows on the miles remaining counter. I almost always run it below 1/8th of a tank before I fuel up.

I did the same thing with my last car for over 250k miles, and the same thing with my old honda, which had the original fuel pump to 210k miles until I changed it this year to support a bigger engine I put in.

[ny325]

I fill up when I have 1/4 in the tank. I only put $20 worth of Shell v-power, unless I'm planning a long trip. I hate giving my money to those greedy bastards that manipulate the oil business.

[DetectiveLoki]

I fill to full and run it to empty...

[rorkor]

Originally Posted by DetectiveLoki

I fill to full and run it to empty...

+1

I never park it under 50 miles of range but I fill up and will run to within 5 miles when on the road.

[Amini77]

When the ding goes on, or I see good gas prices. I've been to 0miles a couple times lol

[Das_Stig]

1/8th of a tank when the light comes on, normally fill up all the way.
had a friend who would fill up 10-15 dollars at a time... most annoying thing ever to make going to the gas station part of your daily routine.

[AndreyT]

Originally Posted by MikeS '06 330i

I always fill up when the tank is 1/4 full. Since your pump being submerged helps cool it, thus longer pump life, I never run the tank down to E.

Another urban legend.

On any properly designed car, the amount of fuel that remains in the tank at E is sufficient to run the fuel pump without any overheating problems.

[m@rco]

Originally Posted by rorkor

+1

I never park it under 50 miles of range but I fill up and will run to within 5 miles when on the road.

+1

I never fill up before the light is solid orange. I've hit " --- " a couple of times. Minus 15 miles is achievable. I think the tank holds 17.2 gallons or so. I typically fill up with about 16 to 16.5 gallons.

The fuel pump will be sufficiently cooled. The pump is cooled by the fuel it's pumping, if i'm not mistaken... And I don't think there is that much dirt in the gas anyways, nowadays. The gas has to meet very very stringent requirements. Remember, we live in 2013... Not in 1943...

[OaklandR]

Originally Posted by m@rco

+1

I never fill up before the light is solid orange. I've hit " --- " a couple of times. Minus 15 miles is achievable. I think the tank holds 17.2 gallons or so. I typically fill up with about 16 to 16.5 gallons.

The fuel pump will be sufficiently cooled. The pump is cooled by the fuel it's pumping, if i'm not mistaken... And I don't think there is that much dirt in the gas anyways, nowadays. The gas has to meet very very stringent requirements. Remember, we live in 2013... Not in 1943...

so tell me why if you go to any repair shop that has take off a fuel tank they will tell you about all the grit and junk found in the tank? 99% of the repair place will tell you this!

[MZ335]

Originally Posted by OaklandR

Jason, my reasoning is that if I want to go some where I do not want to have to stop and get gas first to get their. And it is better for your gas pump, having to suck in all of the junk that lies at the bottom of your gas tank, that can clog up your filters and what not. Just MHO.

What kind of stuff are you putting in your gas tank? Where do you think it typically sucks from? How would it get to the stuff at the bottom if it wasn't sucking from there to begin with?

[m@rco]

Originally Posted by OaklandR

so tell me why if you go to any repair shop that has take off a fuel tank they will tell you about all the grit and junk found in the tank? 99% of the repair place will tell you this!

Interesting. I'd never heard it. Maybe the guy was trying to give a reason for detaching the gas tank in the first place? THinking dollars? Anyway, it's a fair point but I just never considered it.

[OaklandR]

So if their is nothing no junk in the gas tank tell me why do we have to have a fuel filter why not just run gas straight to the engine?

[cycl0n3]

i fill my car everyday, never let it go below half a tank. lol