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      04-06-2019, 09:48 AM   #1
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Range display and fuel tank capacity

On a trip to a spring training game a few weeks back, I thought I was going to run out of gas.

We got off the interstate and were taking a more local road to Orlando. I had an indicated 50 miles left until I ran out of gas. After 40 miles with nothing even resembling a gas station, or civilization for that matter I started to get nervous.

I remembered the iDrive function that finds the nearest gas stations and pulled it up. I had 10 miles left and the closest gas station was 16. Crap.

Well, eventually the range indicated 0 and I had 6 miles to the gas station that I REALLY hoped existed. After it was @ 0 for a minute, it actually changed to to dashes - -

Well, we made it to the gas station and the car took 13.1 gallons (no top off). That wasn't a fun experience.

I was recalling my old german car days when some of the VDO gauges didn't have an E, but an R for reserve. I was hoping this car had similar.

So seeing that the tank capacity is 13.7 gallons, I likely had another 10 miles to go before I really ran out. That tells me the range is a bit pessimistic, which is a good thing.

Just some good info if anyone ends up in this situation. IF I'd known I may have sweat a bit less during those last miles.

I was so happy after filling up that I got clocked @ 86 in a 60....and the Sheriff let me off with a warning.....but that's a different story.

We made first pitch.
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      04-06-2019, 09:56 AM   #2
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Good to know!

I usually panic when I have a quarter tank of gas left.
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      04-06-2019, 10:10 AM   #3
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I get a "fuel reserve" warning when I have about 1/3 tank left. Then it takes roughly 8-9 gallons to fill it up. Meaning there is still 5-6 gallons left in the tank when the fuel reserve comes on.

With my driving, 5-6 gallons also is estimated to last 50 miles LOL
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      04-07-2019, 08:44 AM   #4
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One of the reasons why the gauges are a bit pessimistic in reporting distance to empty is very important to you.
The fuel pumps in nearly all modern cars are located inside the fuel tank. there's a host of reasons why this is a good idea, one of them being the reliability increase of the electric pump when it's located there.
Because the pumps is actually inside the tank, not attached to the outside, or inline to the engine, the electric motor is submerged in fuel. That means the pump motor is being cooled by the fuel, effectively negating the major cause of electric motor failure, heat.
When the fuel level gets low, or very low, the pump motor can be exposed to air, which does not dissipate heat as well as liquids, and the pump can experience higher than normal temperatures.
It's not a big deal right now, but find yourself in 100F+ ambient temps and there is some additional risk of wear to the electric pump motor. It will take quite a bit of that happening to cause any real problems, but it's easier for the OEM to urge you to add fuel early.
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      04-07-2019, 09:13 AM   #5
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That's normal, even my e46 did that.
I believe it's manufacturers playing it safe. It's better to err on the side of caution.
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      04-07-2019, 10:43 AM   #6
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I already managed to fuel almost 54 liter (14.2 gallons) (official fuel tank capacity of the M2 is "approx. 52 liter" or "approx. 13.7 gallons").

During a 1200 km trip I planned to make it to a fuel station on the Autobahn, low on fuel. However, because of road works the fuel station was closed. The road works and traffic queue were never ending while the fuel range dropped to 0 km and the OBC kept bombarding me with low fuel warnings. So I got off the Autobahn as soon as I could and frantically looked around for fuel stations. I don't remember how many kilometer I drove with fuel range 0 km. I did not check, but generally you still got about 20 km of range reserve when the fuel gauge indicates empty.

Anyways, better avoid this situation, because running on empty, or close to empty, ain't good for the system (see for example here).

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      04-07-2019, 10:50 AM   #7
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This is a very useful/good post. Thank you. Fox Alpha.
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      04-07-2019, 11:28 AM   #8
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I was just about to say the most annoying thing about this car is the small fuel tank. Once I cross into Germany and make the jump to light speed, I can actually see the gas needle going down and I have to start looking for an Aral Station so I can fill up with 102 octane...I know it's a first world problem but still... lol

I do have an auxiliary system installed which keeps reminding me to get fuel once the gauge drops below a 1/4 tank. She sits in the passenger seat and also reminds me there is no grab handle to hold on to!
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      04-07-2019, 11:44 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dtmurf View Post
I do have an auxiliary system installed which keeps reminding me to get fuel once the gauge drops below a 1/4 tank. She sits in the passenger seat and also reminds me there is not grab handle to hold on to!
LOL. My programmable button #7 = toggle SATNAV voice on/off. Practical - "Don't break my concentration !".

'Intelligent Speed Assistance' (ISA) will be mandatory in EU from 2022 onwards (see here), but, hey look, it already features on my wife.
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      04-11-2019, 06:07 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McGary911 View Post
On a trip to a spring training game a few weeks back, I thought I was going to run out of gas.

We got off the interstate and were taking a more local road to Orlando. I had an indicated 50 miles left until I ran out of gas. After 40 miles with nothing even resembling a gas station, or civilization for that matter I started to get nervous.

I remembered the iDrive function that finds the nearest gas stations and pulled it up. I had 10 miles left and the closest gas station was 16. Crap.

Well, eventually the range indicated 0 and I had 6 miles to the gas station that I REALLY hoped existed. After it was @ 0 for a minute, it actually changed to to dashes - -

Well, we made it to the gas station and the car took 13.1 gallons (no top off). That wasn't a fun experience.

I was recalling my old german car days when some of the VDO gauges didn't have an E, but an R for reserve. I was hoping this car had similar.

So seeing that the tank capacity is 13.7 gallons, I likely had another 10 miles to go before I really ran out. That tells me the range is a bit pessimistic, which is a good thing.

Just some good info if anyone ends up in this situation. IF I'd known I may have sweat a bit less during those last miles.

I was so happy after filling up that I got clocked @ 86 in a 60....and the Sheriff let me off with a warning.....but that's a different story.

We made first pitch.
I am glad you made it. That is why my rule for any car I own is "1/4 Tank = Empty" I always fill at 1/4 tank because you never know how far next gas may be.
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      04-11-2019, 07:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sharpst77 View Post
Good to know!

I usually panic when I have a quarter tank of gas left.
I panic if the reserve warning come on, but I almost always fill up my M2 after driving it, so it's full of gas most of time. My old T5 Volvo died on the spot once it said - - - on the display.
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      04-13-2019, 05:27 AM   #12
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I have hit the lines in this car and every other that I have owned on a regular basis. No issues for any of them.

I estimate you have 20 miles left when you get to the dashes. I have gone 15 miles before.
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      04-13-2019, 09:20 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rouxeny View Post
I have hit the lines in this car and every other that I have owned on a regular basis. No issues for any of them.

I estimate you have 20 miles left when you get to the dashes. I have gone 15 miles before.
Don't know why anyone would want to push it that far - especially on a "regular basis".
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      04-19-2019, 12:02 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake Effect View Post
One of the reasons why the gauges are a bit pessimistic in reporting distance to empty is very important to you.
The fuel pumps in nearly all modern cars are located inside the fuel tank. there's a host of reasons why this is a good idea, one of them being the reliability increase of the electric pump when it's located there.
Because the pumps is actually inside the tank, not attached to the outside, or inline to the engine, the electric motor is submerged in fuel. That means the pump motor is being cooled by the fuel, effectively negating the major cause of electric motor failure, heat.
This is actually a myth. The fuel pump is not cooled by the fuel on the outside, only the fuel running through it. So as long as you have any fuel at all, the pump is not going to overheat. And once you actually run out of fuel the pump will shut off, so basically you cannot overheat your fuel pump.
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      04-19-2019, 07:28 PM   #15
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Big appetite for gas with a small tank. One of the opportunities to improve in the next iteration of the M2. Just generally annoying. Especially when I go to the track. I need 2.5 tanks to get through six 25 minute sessions. I have to use two credit cards because my card gets cut off for suspected fraud for too many gas purchases at the same station on the same day.
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      04-19-2019, 08:30 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyrat 2 View Post
Big appetite for gas with a small tank. One of the opportunities to improve in the next iteration of the M2. Just generally annoying. Especially when I go to the track. I need 2.5 tanks to get through six 25 minute sessions. I have to use two credit cards because my card gets cut off for suspected fraud for too many gas purchases at the same station on the same day.
I feel your pain, I hate myself when I forget my 5gal jug at home and still have a session to go at the end of the day but no more fuel..
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      04-20-2019, 03:58 PM   #17
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So you're complaining that the range is too conservative? Guess we all have to find something to complain about. Fact is the system uses all of the driving data available so even though you drove conservatively during those last miles and got better gas mileage if your like most you drove more aggressively earlier in the history which is one reason for the discrepancy. The other is of course they are going to be very conservative , imagine the post that says the car said I had 10 miles to go and I ran out.

Finally if you read your owners manual you will see a caution against running the car out of gas or even running the tank too low as it can cause damage to do so. That's a pretty good reason for the system to estimate in a manner that preserves some fuel.
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      04-20-2019, 04:00 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyrat 2 View Post
Big appetite for gas with a small tank. One of the opportunities to improve in the next iteration of the M2. Just generally annoying. Especially when I go to the track. I need 2.5 tanks to get through six 25 minute sessions. I have to use two credit cards because my card gets cut off for suspected fraud for too many gas purchases at the same station on the same day.
Haven't had the credit card issue but I certainly feel your pain on having to run for gas after 2, 20 min sessions. Considered hauling gas cans but most tracks I go to right now have fuel stations close by. When I go to Laguna Seca I suspect I will have to bring fuel.
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      04-23-2019, 08:38 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dtmurf View Post
I do have an auxiliary system installed which keeps reminding me to get fuel once the gauge drops below a 1/4 tank. She sits in the passenger seat and also reminds me there is no grab handle to hold on to!
I am having a problem with my auxiliary system lately. The system won't stop bitching about the lack of grab handle.

I may soon install an ejector switch to remedy this!
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