Afternoon all,

I filled up my gas tank this weekend on my new 05 MCS and put in 13.298 gallons of gas. Computer also told me I still had 50 miles to go. Anyone else have this problem? I read a few other online threads and someone said the tank is typically 0.8 gallons larger than what it actually is. However, not sure if 0.9 gallons translates to 50 extra miles...

 

It's been discussed here before, but yes the tank is bigger than advertised. This is pretty common among auto makers but seems to be a bit more for the Mini. I've put over 14 gallons in my Mini before.

 

I cant count how many times I've put in like 14.4 gallons in my MINI's over the years

They have at least a gallon of reserve above the 13.2

 

One tip....
NEVER trust the countdown miles...
It bases your miles left based upon avg mpg and what the guage says you have left....and gas guages are pretty inaccurate when the last bit is sloshing around...which i will remind you is cooling the pump. Imo, just get fuel when you go below an 1/8th...
And the given capicity might be more accuratly called "usable capicity" as we call it in aviation...means the full volume which you can plan on having usable during any situation...get into the last bit, and you might "run out" on a long uphil...like driving up an long incline in a parking garage. Have never heard any reports, but i just know, it would suck to be me...and most folks might not publicize it....lol.

You never know when you might get stuck in traffic, have a blackout, or other disasters...imingine sleeping in your car cause you ran out of fuel during a regional blackout!! Folks have done it before....

 

I will say this much, the computer (at least in mine) seems to be pretty accurate with regards to miles remaining. I've never run my out, but driving into gas stations with single digit miles remaining on the display.

 

Ive ran the miles left display to zero and drive for about 4 miles.

04 R53, Alta 15% pulley, Alta CAI, Alta Exhaust, MSD, Megan Coilovers, Alta Swaybars, JCW Injectors and much more on the wish list

 

You're a brave man sir

 

Not really brave but dumb, lol. It happened after installing gauge pods around the tach, found that i looked at the digital display for speed, my new gauge for temp and everything else and overlooked paying attention to the fuel gauge!!

04 R53, Alta 15% pulley, Alta CAI, Alta Exhaust, MSD, Megan Coilovers, Alta Swaybars, JCW Injectors and much more on the wish list

 

Yes, I second the cooling comment. Everytime you run the tank low, you are hastening your date for replacing the fuel pump. I'd recommend filling around the time the low fuel light illuminates.

 

I've added 15.2 once. But I try to fill up sooner.

 

Zippy forgot to mention a most important fuel mantra dear to living aviator's (and a few very lucky ones) hearts: "It is always better to burn off the top half of the tank". And pilots ALWAYS add an alternate field PLUS 30 minutes of fuel to their flight plan.
I'm looking for fuel at the 1/4 mark at the least. Why some push that envelope, I'll never understand.

 

Wouldn't life be easier if you guys joined the metric system?
MINI has a 50 Liter tank, I can drive 550km on a tank. Therefore my car gets 11 km to the Liter. Don't even need a calculator lol.

 

Strangely, I usually add 10 gallons at 300 miles....that gives me....er....crap get me a calculator?! Jk ....30 mpg....easy math!! Just my type!!
Why don't you dang metric folks join the english...er...american system....so much proper for a classic BRITISH CAR...classic British measurement!!

 

Haha MINI is now German, they use the metric system.

Hey how big is your engine?

 

Er....sounds like a personal question!!
How about your rims?!

 

It's not the rims, it's your tires that matter, so how wide are your tires?

 

Done that before too

 

about 8 inches.

 

We girls take all that talk with a lot more than a pinch of salt

 

while you're at it you could add some ketchup, mustard and pickles too

 

I LOVE pickles!

In all seriousness, I'm new to Mini and just bought my baby less than 2weeks ago. I filled the tank when it said I had 40ish miles to empty, but before i could, the check engine light came on. Dealer said it was because I let the gas get too low. Anyone else had this happen?

And trust me, lesson learned not to trust trust "miles to empty" anymore. I'll be filling up waaaay before that from now on.

 

honestly that just sounds like a BS excuse, unless there is a sensor for how hot the fuel pump gets I don't see how running low on fuel would cause a CEL. Did the dealer clear it and it hasn't come back?

 

I know this is a Gen I posting but...the Gen IIs have the worst gas gauge I have ever seen. I have put 6 gal in at 3 carrots. 3/4s tank or so by the gauge. When the red carrots come on, I have put 12.5 gal in. That is not 2 gal in reserve.

I have had an '07 and now have a 2012 and have never had a cell from a low gas tank. Now I have never taken to the point of having to put more than 13 gal in, but I have never had a cell...

The moral of this story is - I don't wait for the reserve carrots to come on before I fill up... well I try not to

 

I thought it sounded like a lame excuse. Picked it up yesterday and it hasn't been back on, so we shall see. I'll be paying attention to the level and see if its just a quirk or what.

 

I had a 20 minute low fuel light come on 15 minutes out while flying a Huey in my previous life. After landing they had to surgically remove the seat from me. That experience cured me for life from even the thought of playing chicken on fuel and put a new meaning on the term "reserve". Taking the chance of damaging the fuel system based on curiosity taint my cup of tea.