R56 R56 fuel gauge
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs, CO
...When I get a chance, I will try to track percentages vs pedals on a R56 S model see if the graphics folks can make a new overlay that shows E, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4. We will never see a true FULL since there is no pedal for that.
Hope that helps folks out wondering why the gauge is so goofy !
Cheers,
Roberto
Hope that helps folks out wondering why the gauge is so goofy !
Cheers,
Roberto
Off Topic - Gas Mileage. I'm averaging 33 in town, 36-38 on the highway. And I DID NOT follow the BS break-in procedure in the manual. Drive it hard, seat the rings, and you're good to go.
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Ditto. I have *never* owned a car where the fuel gauge registered accurately over the entire range of the gauge's movement. The closest I've come was my 1972 Mercedes, and the only reason it was semi-accurate was that the markings on the gauge weren't spaced evenly at all. There wasn't even a needle's-width of space between the "FULL" mark and the "3/4" mark, then the space between "3/4" and "1/4" took up 80 percent of the gauge's range. Then there was about two needle-widths of space between "1/4" and "EMPTY".
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Dr. Morbius
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 346
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Oh snap, sorry for the spelling error 
Too much fun in Vegas when I wrote it 
Just going by the spec sheet from MINIUSA
Yes, I have pumped more than 13 gallons into my MCS. See my next post about gas pumping ...
All the vehicles I have in 30 years had gas gauges that read low (more gas in the tank vs the gauge reading) compared the MINI which seems to read hi (less gas in the tank compared to the gauge). Now with an OBDII gauge attached and monitoring fuel levels between 0 and 100 percent, the OBDII gauge is reading correct compared to the darn speedo gas gauge !
With my MCSa, I am getting a constant 30 combined with an average of two adults and two 50lbs kids onboard with nice driving. With the same load and with aggressive driving sport mode, I am averaging a constant 27. Much better than my vehicle which was 13 at best combined
Too much fun in Vegas when I wrote it Just going by the spec sheet from MINIUSA
Yes, I have pumped more than 13 gallons into my MCS. See my next post about gas pumping ...All the vehicles I have in 30 years had gas gauges that read low (more gas in the tank vs the gauge reading) compared the MINI which seems to read hi (less gas in the tank compared to the gauge). Now with an OBDII gauge attached and monitoring fuel levels between 0 and 100 percent, the OBDII gauge is reading correct compared to the darn speedo gas gauge !
With my MCSa, I am getting a constant 30 combined with an average of two adults and two 50lbs kids onboard with nice driving. With the same load and with aggressive driving sport mode, I am averaging a constant 27. Much better than my vehicle which was 13 at best combined
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Dr. Morbius
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Gas pumping ....
From a refinery associate ...
..... so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon.
....
Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon Is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other
petroleum products plays an important role.
A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed, & thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.
Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--
most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
....
Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon Is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other
petroleum products plays an important role.
A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed, & thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.
Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--
most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
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Dr. Morbius
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 346
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Care to site your sources/experience/proof/background ?
That sounds like a cool idea
That sounds like a cool idea
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 0
From: H-bar-on-two
I'm not him, but here's the Snopes entry: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/gastips.asp
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: ChasMO
Fuel Gauge
Well I just had to tell you what happened to me today. Didn't take the Mini to work because of the spring storms, took the Jeep. I was at 14 miles left before out of gas altogether. Didn't have time to fill up on the way to work so I opted to wait until the way home. On the way back I pulled into the Shell station, with a $2.00 off any gas purchase coupon, and my gas readout said....2 miles left! Guess I was lucky.
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Dr. Morbius
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 346
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Very interesting reading !
I will have to ask my friend that works at a refinery why he is sending me this
Not like him to do such a thing but he does work for the competition Not a happy camper !
As for the vapor recovery system, I have found two stations in our area (both under new ownership now and Shell did a 3 month retrofit to both) that had vapor recovery systems that did more than just recover the vapors ! Being able to put 20+ extra gallons into a tank twice was proof that something was wrong.
I will have to ask my friend that works at a refinery why he is sending me this
Not like him to do such a thing but he does work for the competition Not a happy camper !As for the vapor recovery system, I have found two stations in our area (both under new ownership now and Shell did a 3 month retrofit to both) that had vapor recovery systems that did more than just recover the vapors ! Being able to put 20+ extra gallons into a tank twice was proof that something was wrong.
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 69
Likes: 2
the 10% ethanol stickers showed up in east tenn a couple weeks ago. I was in middle tenn this weekend and they are on the pumps there. This kind of aggrevates me as I switched to all Shell gas several months ago as it was supposedly 100% gas. Also got a Shell credit card to get the 5% rebate.
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: ChasMO
Don't you think that maybe the 10% stickers were just to let the buyer finally know that 10% ethanol is being used, has been in our gas for 2 years maybe? I use Shell V gas and haven't had any problems.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
If you go to the "top tier gas" website (www.toptiergas.com), and look at the requirements for "top tier" status, you'll find that the base gasoline stock used *must* contain at least 8% and no more than 10% ethanol, for all grades, at all of their retail locations. So technically, all the gas at the top tier stations (Shell, Chevron, Texaco, 76, etc) should be 8-10% ethanol, whether it explicitly says so on the pump or not.
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