Hiya All,

Well, a few weeks back I was at a track day, and completely forgot to check my fuel gauge during the afternoon sessions. As I started to drive away from the track, I noticed my fuel gauge almost flat, and the red light on. Darnit, and the gas pumps @ the track had just closed. So, I decide I can make the trek from Willow Springs to the 1st Gas Station I know of. Along the way the OBC told me I had -- miles left, which I figured meant "get to ready to walk pal". But MUCH to my astonishment, I coasted up to the gas pump without having the engine die. WOO HOO. I hate that feeling of impending doom.

I get out of the MCS, fill it up with some crappy CA 91 octane. And the pump puts in, get this ... 14.2 gallons. Now, I haven't checked my manual lately, but isn't the fuel tank only 13.2 gallons on the MCS?

My conclusion was that the fuel I was burning was the fuel left in the lines, and I was just about to crap out and have to walk.

So, I wanna hear from everyone else. Please tell us all your almost, or I ran out of gas stories and your MINI. I have another ran out of gas story, but that was in my old chevy blazer, and I don't wanna talk about that hunk of tin

 

13.2 is the official tank size, but i can squeeze 14 in no problem (with out exessive pumping after it stops on its own) most of the time.

 

The most I have gotten my tank down was when my OBC said 12 miles left. I hate to run on anything less than a 1/4 of a tank. When I fill up I usally put 8 gallons in, which is more than enough to last me the week. I hate to overfill unless Im going on a trip of some sort.

 

Twice when my red light was on I put in 14 gallons without topping off. I still had ~20 mi left according to the OBC. Makes me curious how big the tank *really* is...

Jenny

 

thats awesome... i had -- too but i put 14.7 gallons in... i think one time i cramed 15.2... i made it a game for a while to see how low on gas i could get and how much gas i could cram back in it... LAME i know... but when its 115 outside... and no dragracing... i get bored...

 

After being stuck in traffic on I-75 S on my way home from Ohio State, I was down to a 6 mile range by the time I got to a gas station. The pump automatically stopped on 13.9x and I got it to overfill to 14.1 gallons total.

I have had my range at 0 before also...

 

Also had my range on ---

awful feeling. drove 20mph for about 5 miles. at 1 am.

 

I did the same thing last night - I was down around 6 miles I think, it was sort of scary. It was one of those days where I just had to keep going places and had no time for a fill up.

 

Twice now I've been at the -- or 0 miles to go mark, and both times the indicator went up to 3 or 4 miles to go before dropping back down again. I usually don't like to push it that far, but occasionally my wife forgets to look at the gas gauge and I get stuck with limping the car to work at 50 mph to make sure I get there.

-Keith

 

Dude SCAREY!!!!! ...been dere, dun dat...

Man, these are some GREAT shares. Thakns for so much everyone for posting your stories. Let's keep this thread alive as kind of an alternative to the how much MPG do you get? Hehehehe....


PS the title meant to read "How low HAS your tank been?" but my bad typing skills confounded to torpedo me as I hit the submit button. Anyone know how I can change the title so I don't look too much of a tool? ... ??Mods??...

 

After I just got Swifty, I ran out about 20 miles from Needles. I don't have the OBC, but was amazed how far down the needle goes! The first person to come along (I was on the old Rt. 66 section) took me to the closest station.

I also ran out at the track. I had 1/3 tank when I started, and was having WAY too much fun to look at the gauge.

 

I don't intend to turn this thread 'geekie', but please try not to run your tank down to almost MT. Your fuel pump is inside your gas tank and it depends upon a volume of fuel to keep it cool. If it overheats, the life expectance will suffer. This may not be as much of a problem in cold weather, but in the summer be kind to your fuel pump and try to keep at least 1/4 tank of gas.

YD

 

time for a walbro 255 when this one burns up!!!

 

Had my MC down to 6.
Years ago we coasted ~4 miles in a Ford Maverick hit the exit ramp stoplight just right and crawled up to the pump. Ahh the memories.

 

I think the 'E' is for 'enough' Had the computer down to -- then done another 12 miles.

 

You guys are just asking to screw up an injector.

 

And are looking for some exercise, to walk to the pump and back

 

heck ya!

 

I run out of gas all the time. Its mostly because of my aftermarket fuel pump. It sits higher in the carrier than the stock. I have the nav, so I dont have a needle gauge just the stoopid led bar guage. I can normally run about 20 miles once it hits the last bar, but twice now when i was at 2 bars I ran completely out. Had to push the MINI off the highway last week when it was like 20 outside. My new rule of thumb is fill up at half tank. I cant be risking burning up my fuel pump or injectors...

 

wow and here i thought thats what the gym was for. I guess i'm going about this all wrong.

 

Well shortly after I got my MCS, I ran out of gas with 65miles still on the Range---embarrassingly I had it flatbedded to my house for a cost of $200 thinking that I had a broken drive belt--my BMW neighbor and I troubleshooted the problem in the rain--and after checking the fuel pump and all the symptoms it came down to---did you run out of gas?? No way, I had 65miles left---he loans me a gas can, I get 2 gallons, come back, fill my tank up, and BAM, it's back in operation. Ouch---the most expensive 2 gallons I've ever spent.

Although I was able to make it part way up the freeway offramp---a gas station was in sight--had I known---I could have been on my way in a few minutes, not hours. lol. I never ran out of gas in the 3 years I owned my Cooper. LOL.

 

Logn story......

Many years ago, christmas eve. Had to drive my family home (150 miles) after spending the day with HER family (ugh). I was 'not allowed' to get fuel on the way their as my ex-wife did not want to be late, when we got there every time I said I wantde to go get gas she gave me 'the look'.

We left her brothers house at abouit 9:30PM in freezing fog. As soon as we started to move our children fell instantly to sleep. Visibility was almost zero but as we found the M40 it got better. When we reached the M40, the DTE said 155 miles. My ex-wife and I discussed the need to get fuel. It was decided that we would not stop as she did not want to rick waking the kids up.

I drove gently (BMW 540i) and the range vs 'known distance home' equalized with about 75 miles to go. At which point I mentioned that I was unsure if we where going to make it. After recovering from the punches I slowed it down (again) and watched the numbers count up and down

After thinking about it, I decided to take the slightly longer route - this may sound crazy but the road was better and I knew that I would not get caught out in a traffic jam (Newbury) or get caught with no fuel on a windy country lane with no hope of finding a gas station. There where more gas stations available just in case.

I drove as gently as I could, with --- showing on the DTE I covered about 20 miles at 50mph, I began to kid myself that I might just make it home too. Eventually less than 3 miles from home the engine 'coughed' then died and I coasted silently into a handy gas station. which luckily had not shut up shop for the night.

I was in so much trouble for that even though the kids did not wake up, I should have stopped for gas, despite getting punched (literally) for suggesting that I might have to. Obviously I had driven too fast or something.....

 

the lowest i ever go is 1/4 of a tank. i don't use the car during the
week so dont want it to spoil. i like to keep it over 1/2 tank and
3/4 or more in the winter while my car hibernates.

 

I had the range meter show a -- while sitting at a stop light in front of a gas station. Luckily I made it there.
Havent done that again since.

 

I confess the little red light irritates me (as it's designed to, no doubt) because it reminds me I have "something I need to do", as in get gas. Because I generally prefer to goof-off and play, the light is not on for long.