Author Topic: How far can you go? Fuel tank cap. (Read 8681 times)

jhl385 · « **on:** July 25, 2011, 04:35:18 PM »

Just to satisfy my curiosity I ran out of gas today on purpose. I wanted to know how far I could go once the low fuel light came on. I did 53 miles.
Of course I had stopped this morn and had exactly a 2 gal can of 93 in the trunk.
At the first sign of stutter I pulled safely off the road, dumped in the 2 gal and filled up less than a mile later. I was able to pump 12.128 in plus the 2 is a shade over 14. I think the capacity is supposed to be 14.something so in my opinion everything is square with the official amount.
I did average 25.05 for the tank. So when the low light comes on now, I know I've got 40 miles to fill up - leaves a bit of a cushion.
John
91 318is 87,xxx

unt0uchable · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2011, 12:50:56 PM »

I've often wondered this myself but never had the chance to PLAN on running out of gas, lol. Heck, the first 6 months I owned the car, I didn't even think it had a low fuel light. Neat to know this though...

M5wanaB · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2011, 03:30:50 PM »

damn I wish I had a fuel light. I just bang a left hand turn hard on the throttle and if it cuts out I know its about time to fill her up.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2011, 04:39:18 PM »

Good question. I'll see what mine does. I don't usually run it down to the light. The smaller tank in our e30 is 55 liter, the M20's got a 63 liter. If I find one of those I'll be swapping it, though it looks like not much fun.

My tank is pretty heavily dented, a fill-up for me when the light goes on is ~12 1/2 gal.

LeeThompson · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2011, 12:22:22 AM »

I get about 27 to 28 mpg. Ironicly several years ago before I got my first now crashed e30 I was told I would get 40mpg..... I have yet to see that

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2011, 10:48:05 AM »

I've only seen 40mpg once or twice. I get nearly the exact same fuel mileage...highway ~31mpg, city ~25.

LeeThompson · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2011, 08:13:18 PM »

I think I saw 38 but that was entire interstate from SC to Virginia

DaveM-sport · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2011, 03:22:12 AM »

I get about 35-40miles once the light comes on.

Best mpg I got was 45 with 98RON

keflaman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2011, 04:44:38 AM »

Quote from: DaveM-sport;106119

I get about 35-40miles once the light comes on.

Best mpg I got was 45 with 98RON

But that's an Imperial gallon isn't it? (which is equal to 1.2 US gallon)

DaveM-sport · « **Reply #9 on:** August 16, 2011, 06:38:59 AM »

Quote from: keflaman;106120

But that's an Imperial gallon isn't it? (which is equal to 1.2 US gallon)

Sorry, it is yeah.

That would explain all the 25s I was wondering about :p

My car should be doing 37 in your speak so then

Car is a 318iS, BBTB, adjusted timing, heater plate removed, re-map, 4.1 188 case LSD, lightweight flywheel and few other bits.

the 37/45 mpg was got by combined driving on a round trip of fast b-road driving and return leg of more easy driving with a little bit of urban driving too.

It only manages 25mpg (US gallon) on normal fuel though while it managed the 37 every time I ran it on premium.

keflaman · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:30:39 PM »

I ran across the conversion difference years ago when comparing mileage with friends in the UK. Trying to figure out why my mileage was so different then theirs was driving me batty.

What's "BBTB"?

mr.vang · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2011, 12:43:43 AM »

does this apply to an e36 m42 also?

pdxmotorhead · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2011, 12:55:04 AM »

MY 1995 has taken 14 US gallons.. I get about 350 miles on a typical 13 gal tank.

Dave

Balkanac · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2011, 09:36:59 PM »

I have never ran any of my cars all the way till they start cutting out. There is so much dirt on the bottom of every tank, very bad for the fuel pump and the fuel filter.
I do 450km with a tank of 98 octane fuel every time for the last 2 years i had the car. This is city driving and i dont drive it gently.
No idea how to convert this to MPG, but its about 10L/100km