I was late for work this morning so I had to get up and beat it over before I would be REALLY late. Going home, I got stuck in the usual rush-hour traffic on the highway. The dash beeped and a gas pump symbol flashed. I checked the DTE reading and it said "60 miles". I cut that by 12-15 miles to be more realistic. Pulled into the first gas station (Race Trac) and filled the tank up. Kazzie happily slurped up 13.1 gallons. I was shocked. I fumbled for the owner's manual and it said "13.2 gallons PLUS the reserve." How can this be possible? I'd have run out of fuel BEFORE leaving for work because I was averaging 37 mpg (actual mileage, not computer calculated). I drove about 38 miles back and forth for the whole day. How much margin of error should I give the trip meter if it says DTE is 60 miles? Should I consider the DTE 30 miles or less? Exactly how much fuel does a Clubman hold with the reserve tank? I knew the average fuel economy will always be off by about a mile per gallon or so but I didn't expect it to be that inaccurate.
One last thing, I heard about gas stations being fined for having poorly calibrated pumps. They make you think you're getting more than you really pumped. Is it possible the pump wasn't calibrated properly and I really put 12.1 gallons instead of 13.1?

 

I've driven about 10 miles with DTE 0 on a MC that a dealer gave me for test drive (I was in Virginia and it's impossible to find a gas station around MINI dealers there for some reason).

So DTE is not lying.

 

I've put in 53L at my most. The tank is rated for 50L. So there is at least 3+ L of fuel held in the lines...

 

When I took delivery, I put in 13.8 gallons*. The trip computer said I had 10 miles to empty.

It might be notable that the day I did this it was almost 100 degrees outside, with almost no humidity. Who knows how accurate the pump was in that environment.



*the Clubby came via car carrier from a leasing company

 

I always thought the tank itself held whatever the manual said, then there was the gas in the engine, fuel lines, and tube leading from the tank to the gas cap. All told, I thought there was probably close to another full gallon of gas in the car, but outside of the 13.2 gallon tank... Am I wrong in that assumption?

 

Never assume the pump is calibrated correctly.

 

Made a road trip last weekend, 427 miles, the DTE was telling me 19-22 miles left (couldn't make up its mind) and I pumped exactly 51 liters.

 

It's a very, very bad idea to run your MINI until the tank's nearly bone dry. Also, the MINI fuel gauge is highly inaccurate, as many other threads and posts can attest. I always fill up as soon as I can after the gauge tells me I have less then 100 miles to go. That would leave 3-4 gallons in the tank.

 

Something on the high side of 14 gallons, full to the filler flap.

 

I've filled up 28 times. 4 of those have been > 14 gallons with the highest being 14.32. Avg fill-up = 13.2 gallons. Yes -- I'm **** about data.

I never top it off. Once the pump shuts itself off the first time, I close out the sale.

I've never run the computer down to 0 miles remaining. Did get down to 2 once. Not an experiment or entertainment -- just the glorious results of a too-busy life. This time of year, I try to fill up before the gauge turns red. Should probably do it even more often, but...see previous sentence.

 

I put in 14.05 gal yesterday and the computer said 20 miles to empty.

 

elaborate please.

 

more chance of the fuel line picking up gunk,crud, and whatever else lives in your tank.

 

There has already been a thread where this was discussed. I think the record so far was 14.75 gal. Here is a link:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-possible.html

You never - ever should allow the fuel pump to run dry.

The fuel pump is lubricated by the fuel and the wear it can suffer is similar to running the engine without oil. If you do run out of gas completely I suggest shutting down the ignition immediately to turn off the pump.

I have personally experienced a Ford fuel pump failure 1 month after running out of gas.

 

Hmmm..the fuel pick-up is at the tank bottom no matter how high or low the fuel level is. I guess debris would be more "condensed" at lower fuel levels. But I've heard this argument regarding water in the tank and I don't buy it. Water and gas do not mix and any water in the tank will be at the bottom where the fuel pickup is no matter what the level of fuel. I've read opinions that the low fuel = crud pick up is more of a old timer's legend. Of course, I have no proof one way or another so.....

 

I wouldn't forget about fuel filters, either.

Argument for the timely fill-up is still there, though: air in the fuel system, leaning out A/F mixture (can cause pre-detonation), and from what I heard fuel pump itself is using gas for cooling, so no gas - no cooling - it can overheat.

Still not big on the "crud" argument.

 

Well, for starters, you just might run out of gas!

Do you really want to suck in whatever may be lurking at the bottom of your tank?

Fuel pumps are inside the tank, and are cooled by the surrounding liquid (the gasoline). No gas, no cooling.

 

By mistake I went down to ----- miles to empty yesterday and drove about 2 miles with that reading. At the gas station I put in 14.3+ gallons. Hope to not repeat that experience. Running out of gas is one thing; sucking all the sludge into the engine is the one I'm more worried about.

 

Good way to vapor lock the motor too.

 

Don't know what vapor lock means in a MINI. In college I had an old Ford F100 pickup that was always getting vapor locked in the summer, spent many half hours beside the road, waiting for things to cool down and get on my way again.