e92 Reserve Tank

bluemax · 01-06-2008, 03:19 PM

Coming home tonight, I managed to arrive with about 4 miles showing on my petrol display (and warning triangles everywhere...

).

It's made me wonder exactly what is left in my fuel tank if it hits 0. Is there still something left or am I actually on vapours?

Cheers
Bren

dxb335d · 01-06-2008, 03:34 PM

i think there calibrated to say there is less than what there really is, i have been in numerous BMW which have said 0 miles left and we still covered a good 15-20 or so.

I myself have never done that before tho.

squeezebm · 01-06-2008, 04:08 PM

I was once on the way back from Scotland in my 320d touring and had the fuel gauge reading 0 for what seemed like an age

probably about 5 miles

just trying to reach a fuel station on the A1 that wasn't at stupid a pence per litre

thats how CRAZY i get sometimes

beemerbird · 01-06-2008, 04:29 PM

Without being too boring guys, the manual warns about running the tank low on fuel as it can affect the electronics in the car, apparently?

Hotcoupe · 01-06-2008, 04:34 PM

I regularly drive on vapour,and rarely read manuals

Can you clarify 'apparently' Helen, I'm not sure where the manual is!

beemerbird · 01-06-2008, 04:40 PM

Ian, 'apparently' means me being cynical as to whether the manual states this to cover BMW's arse in case anything may go wrong with the car as a result of running the tank low. It's not only BMW who go on about this, Volvo did as well.

The manual Ian is where I told you it is.

ShereKhan · 01-06-2008, 05:00 PM

When you mean go wrong is that the car will stop? I am sure its been written for our American friends to stop them putting up lawsuits against BMW

beemerbird · 01-06-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

When you mean go wrong is that the car will stop? I am sure its been written for our American friends to stop them putting up lawsuits against BMW

You may well be right about it being written for our American friends. The manual on my E90 was a bit more specific in referring to the electronics in the car. The E92 manual states "If the remaining operating range is less than approx. 30 miles, it is imperative to add fuel, otherwise the engine's functions are not assured and damage may occur"? Who knows, my Dad regularly ran the tank low on fuel on his BMW's and never had any problems.

M3-FAST · 01-06-2008, 05:56 PM

I knackered an electric fuel pump once by running on an empty tank. It was during a track day with a kit car I built. Had a Ford 2.0 efi in it and I was running it low to keep the weight down. Turns out the fuel starvation damaged the pump and it died on me. The AA man explained his theory all the way home

OK - the pump was old and had done many miles already but surely dragging all the crap out of the bottom of a tank through it can't do it much good?

NFS · 01-06-2008, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemerbird

You may well be right about it being written for our American friends. The manual on my E90 was a bit more specific in referring to the electronics in the car. The E92 manual states "If the remaining operating range is less than approx. 30 miles, it is imperative to add fuel, otherwise the engine's functions are not assured and damage may occur"? Who knows, my Dad regularly ran the tank low on fuel on his BMW's and never had any problems.

I thought this was in case any minor debris or impurities sitting at the bottom of the fuel tank got drawn into the engine / fuel system.

dxb335d · 01-07-2008, 07:55 AM

in my work van, i have run it dry a few times. Got stuck in a 4 ft ford and the engine had so much water in it, it had hydralic lock.

took intercooler off water cam gushing out, took air box and pipe work off loads water gushed out. Toook each glow plug out at a time and turned over and it was like a ''geezer'' on holiday firing water out of each cylinder.

Once it was all out she fired up no probs

Engines are tougher than you think

she is still going now.

E92Fan · 01-07-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

in my work van, i have run it dry a few times. Got stuck in a 4 ft ford and the engine had so much water in it, it had hydralic lock.

took intercooler off water cam gushing out, took air box and pipe work off loads water gushed out. Toook each glow plug out at a time and turned over and it was like a ''geezer'' on holiday firing water out of each cylinder.

Once it was all out she fired up no probs

Engines are tougher than you think

she is still going now.

did you check/change the oil too?!

dxb335d · 01-07-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92Fan

did you check/change the oil too?!

Nope, as its a work vehicle. Just left it. Its had a service since and covered 40k also since the incident with no sign of failure, not even the head gasket.

TO be fair, it did look deep but i thought i could make it, we had alot of rain that week and it was 1 clock in the morning, i got 3/4 the way thru bugt stopped near the end, it was 4ft deep in the middle and 3/4 way thru at the back of the va it was upto my knees

330cdsport · 01-07-2008, 08:26 AM

Thats mad. It must have scared the bejessus out of you at the time

Dave_3 · 01-07-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needforspeed

I thought this was in case any minor debris or impurities sitting at the bottom of the fuel tank got drawn into the engine / fuel system.

Usually it is because when you fill it back up (after actually running out) and the petrol has to bleed through the system, the spluttering before it starts can send unbunrt fuel through the catalysts (not a good scenario).

D.

dxb335d · 01-07-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 330cdsport

Thats mad. It must have scared the bejessus out of you at the time

Nah mate not really, i just laughed, untill the fooker would not start and i had to jump onto the bonnet to enable me to jump clear to dry land..

ill find some pics

later

SoYank · 01-07-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

in my work van, i have run it dry a few times. Got stuck in a 4 ft ford and the engine had so much water in it, it had hydralic lock.

Dang it, Carlos, let's get this straight right now. It's we Americans that drop the "u". You guys are supposed to be the ones to add them!

dxb335d · 01-07-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

Dang it, Carlos, let's get this straight right now. It's we Americans that drop the "u". You guys are supposed to be the ones to add them!

type to qick mate

01-06-2008, 03:19 PM	#1
bluemax Private First Class 9 Rep 134 Posts Drives: Sparkling Graphite 320i Coupe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	e92 Reserve Tank Coming home tonight, I managed to arrive with about 4 miles showing on my petrol display (and warning triangles everywhere... ). It's made me wonder exactly what is left in my fuel tank if it hits 0. Is there still something left or am I actually on vapours? Cheers Bren
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01-06-2008, 03:34 PM	#2
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1007 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	i think there calibrated to say there is less than what there really is, i have been in numerous BMW which have said 0 miles left and we still covered a good 15-20 or so. I myself have never done that before tho. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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01-06-2008, 04:08 PM	#3
squeezebm Colonel 41 Rep 2,652 Posts Drives: Audi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Notts iTrader: (0)	I was once on the way back from Scotland in my 320d touring and had the fuel gauge reading 0 for what seemed like an age probably about 5 miles just trying to reach a fuel station on the A1 that wasn't at stupid a pence per litre thats how CRAZY i get sometimes
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01-06-2008, 04:29 PM	#4
beemerbird Major General 177 Rep 7,953 Posts Drives: Merc diesel Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 TTRS [9.00] 2007 Audi S5 [0.00] May 2007 Porsche 99 ... [0.00] March 2007 Porsche ... [0.00] Sep. 2007 E92 335d SE [0.00] July 2006 E90 330i ... [0.00]	Without being too boring guys, the manual warns about running the tank low on fuel as it can affect the electronics in the car, apparently?
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01-06-2008, 04:34 PM	#5
Hotcoupe Major General 197 Rep 6,110 Posts Drives: Don't know yet! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List November 2008 335D ... [8.34] 2007 335D [0.00]	I regularly drive on vapour,and rarely read manuals Can you clarify 'apparently' Helen, I'm not sure where the manual is! __________________ ================================= Never argue with an idiot on the internet. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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01-06-2008, 04:40 PM	#6
beemerbird Major General 177 Rep 7,953 Posts Drives: Merc diesel Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 TTRS [9.00] 2007 Audi S5 [0.00] May 2007 Porsche 99 ... [0.00] March 2007 Porsche ... [0.00] Sep. 2007 E92 335d SE [0.00] July 2006 E90 330i ... [0.00]	Ian, 'apparently' means me being cynical as to whether the manual states this to cover BMW's arse in case anything may go wrong with the car as a result of running the tank low. It's not only BMW who go on about this, Volvo did as well. The manual Ian is where I told you it is.
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01-06-2008, 05:00 PM	#7
ShereKhan Major 101 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: BMW G20 330e M Sport MY20 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 330e [0.00]	When you mean go wrong is that the car will stop? I am sure its been written for our American friends to stop them putting up lawsuits against BMW __________________ 20 BMW G20 330e M Sport Portimão Blue/Cognac, Driver Pro, Tech,M+ lumbar, storage packs Long gone -15 Peugeot 308 2.0HDi GT AUTO Magnetic Blue, 10 BMW F10 520D SE Xirallic Imperial blue/Cinnamon Brown, 06 E90 320si - Le Mans Blue - Totally standard specification (Scrapped RIP 12/08/2010), 00 Peugeot 306 2.0 SE Cabriolet, 94 Rover 214 SEi, 91 Fiat Uno 60S Mk2
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01-06-2008, 05:56 PM	#9
M3-FAST Defected to the dark side..... 214 Rep 5,796 Posts Drives: BMW M5 LCi Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stafford, UK iTrader: (11) Garage List 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2009 E90 M3 [10.00] 2007 325i M-sport C ... [9.00]	I knackered an electric fuel pump once by running on an empty tank. It was during a track day with a kit car I built. Had a Ford 2.0 efi in it and I was running it low to keep the weight down. Turns out the fuel starvation damaged the pump and it died on me. The AA man explained his theory all the way home OK - the pump was old and had done many miles already but surely dragging all the crap out of the bottom of a tank through it can't do it much good?
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01-07-2008, 07:55 AM	#11
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 1007 Rep 29,344 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	in my work van, i have run it dry a few times. Got stuck in a 4 ft ford and the engine had so much water in it, it had hydralic lock. took intercooler off water cam gushing out, took air box and pipe work off loads water gushed out. Toook each glow plug out at a time and turned over and it was like a ''geezer'' on holiday firing water out of each cylinder. Once it was all out she fired up no probs Engines are tougher than you think she is still going now. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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01-07-2008, 08:26 AM	#14
330cdsport Right Responsible 71 Rep 1,647 Posts Drives: AW F21 M135i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N. Ireland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 535d M Sport [0.00] 2007 E91 320 M Sport [0.00] 2007 E92 335d M Sport [0.00]	Thats mad. It must have scared the bejessus out of you at the time __________________ Last: 330cd Sport - Silver Grey, 335d M Sport Coupe, F10 535d M Sport. Current: AW F21 M135i, Coral Red, Pro Nav, Vis, HK, & Clunky Adaptive Suspension Current: F15 X5 XDrive 40d M Sport - Space Grey, lots of toys.
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