I filled up my gas tank on Sunday and noticed that it didn't fill up all the way on the gauge (it filled up all but one of the notches), but it was obviously topped off when I was pumping. I figured it was the gasket on the nozzle, so I drove around for a half hour and stopped at a different gas station.

Again I filled up, and it took $1.20 of gas. It was obviously full, but again, the dial in the car had one empty notch. I let it slide as a weird quirk that might work itself out, but it did the exact same thing today.

Is this a calibration issue that the dealer can fix? Has anyone else had this problem?

I just picked up the car on Saturday, so I'm a little **** about this.

 

I've not seen that problem, but it is a bit odd. When one pedal turns off, I can usually put about five gallons in it. So, it drops slowly at the beginning, but speeds up near the end. Don't trust the miles remaining number on the tach. There have been reports of people running out with miles left, one was as much as 60 miles, IIRC.

 

the reason for the gas gauge moving slowly at first is due to the design of the float sensor... its the same thing for pretty much everycar.

Also, as RB stated, you shouldnt rely on the miles left countdown in any car, not just the MINI.

 

Thanks for your quick responses. Is this something I should have looked at, or accept it as one of the quirks of the car? The tank is full, but the gauge has yet to indicate this except for when I picked it up. When I took delivery on Saturday, the gauge was at the tippy-top, so I know it can go there.

 

Take it back and make them fix it!

 

 

My last car would do that when I put deisel in it.




Ok, I'm pulling your leg.
Make them fix it. If the gauge is wrong on full you can't trust it on empty.

 

Take it back ........ all the notches should be lit.

 

Yeah, that isn't right at all. Whatever thingy in there that goes up and down isn't on the track.

 

Very True. I have just been filling it up after every 200 miles. I will be heading back to NY so I will contact my MA and tell her that I need to bring it in on Friday morning. Boy, with all this driving, I will be done with break-in next week. 600 miles right now, plus 250 each way to NY from Baltimore.