I had a fright this morning on my way to the gas station. When I got home last night the computer said I could go another 15 miles on the remaining fuel--ample enough to get to the station. But on the highway, suddenly the mileage started dropping fast, and about two miles from the gas exit it read 1, then dropped to 0! I thought for sure I'd be walking, but suddenly the number darted up to 3 then wavered back and forth between 0, 1, 2, 3, and I made it to the pump. I think I put in about 12.4 gallons.
What's my point here? I'm not sure, but I think it's don't count on the computer's accuracy at the bottom end of the tank.
Of course, it's bad practice to let the tank get that empty anyway. The crud at the bottom of the tank can really mess up the injectors.

 

I think you answered your own question, don't drive until your tank
is almost empty. Bad for MINI motor!!!

 

True. Don't run it empty.

 

Also, on cars with the fuel pump inside the fuel tank, repeatedly running the tank low can cause the fuel pump to burn out. The pump relies on the gas in the tank to keep it cool. I don't know if the MINI's pump is internal or external, but the manual says not to run it lower than a range of 35 miles = approx 1 1/2 gallons.

 

>>. The crud at the bottom of the tank can really mess up the injectors.
>>

You have 'crud' in your tank already? this is a new car, yes?
but seriously, most tanks have a 'thermister' that is used to triger the warning at end-of-tank; when fuel gets low, it splashes on the thermister (which is usuall submerged in fuel) so it doesn't know if there is fuel or not, or how much.

 

The manual also states that running low on gas frequently can ruin your catalytic converter...

and don't you mean the crud floating on top of the gas? One would think that the outlet of the tank would take fuel from the bottom of the tank, not the top...

Rocketboy_X

 

Heads up!

Don't even think about driving aggressively when it shows you have 25 miles left and under. Take it from me. It was showing 23 left and then I took a hard right hand turn...then the car puttered to a stop and wouldn't restart. Drive like a granny on valium when it gets this low or suffer the same fate I did.

FYI.

R

 

>>....and then I took a hard right hand turn...



... i've never known you to drive like that ...

 

Hey to break it to you but the myth about stuff in the bottom of the tank "hurting" the engine at stuff is a lie. All gas tanks have the exit (to the engine) at the bottom. As for stuff floating on the top of the gas, maybe but not likly due to the fact that gas is not very dense (water sinks in it). But running on fumes has to be bad somehow.

 

>>>>....and then I took a hard right hand turn...
>>
>>
>>
>> ... i've never known you to drive like that ...

R

 

I don't have a gas computer. I have a needle and when it gets halfway between
E and F I go to the gas station.

 

Something you are all forgetting is that gas is a fluid substance. If you take a hard right, the gas will all go to the left, and if it is low enough, will stop going into the fuel pump, causing a stall. Same with accelerating, going up or down a steep hill, etc.... on a low tank. I tend to agree with 2 minis. Just don't let tank get low.

 

Also... There is a 2 gal reserve that does not register,... So figure at least 30 miles for emergency!

 

Mini's like a full tank, don't you?

 

Chuckster?? You aren't the Chuckster from the Corvair Group are you???