[bcl0328]

So driving home today I almost ran out of gas. The meter said 0 miles when I decided to shut my car off. I called my family to come bring me some gas. They brought this old ass can that had a filter on it that poured like molasses. So I decided to take it off and use a funnel. I looked inside the can and saw a bunch of crap floating around. So pissed right now.

[Tsuyoi]

I would take it in to a dealership ASAP and have them take a look. If anything it'd be a good idea to funnel out that old stale fuel and replace it, can't be good for the engine if it poured like molasses.

Also, for future reference, just cause the meter says 0 doesn't mean it's actually 0. Typically there's a built in safety margin of like 10-20 miles at least. Would be better to just keep driving in EcoPro until you get to nearest gas station.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

I would take it in to a dealership ASAP and have them take a look. If anything it'd be a good idea to funnel out that old stale fuel and replace it, can't be good for the engine if it poured like molasses.

Also, for future reference, just cause the meter says 0 doesn't mean it's actually 0. Typically there's a built in safety margin of like 10-20 miles at least. Would be better to just keep driving in EcoPro until you get to nearest gas station.

i don't mean literally like molasses. the gas was brand new but it poured out so slowly and it was freezing and i wanted to get out of there. i just think some debris might have got poured in.

[jdong]

Still, pouring gasoline mixed with debris probably is not within operating specs for the car. I'd get it looked at.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by jdong

Still, pouring gasoline mixed with debris probably is not within operating specs for the car. I'd get it looked at.

i don't know what to do then. the dealership is closed now. i'm guessing i can't drive it there now? i need my car for work. so mad.

[bcl0328]

dealership is still open until 7 so i called them and told them my issue. the service guy said it was fine and the filter should pick it up.

[BavarianFanatic]

You don't need to go to the dealership. You DO have a fuel filter. There's also a screen on the pick-up on the pump. If the car starts and runs, you have nothing to worry about.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

You don't need to go to the dealership. You DO have a fuel filter. There's also a screen on the pick-up on the pump. If the car starts and runs, you have nothing to worry about.

yea it ran fine to the gas station and to home. i just saw small pieces of bugs i think it was. not even sure it went in.

[Park2670]

The dealer man is right. There is a filter, and a screen in the pickup. Nothing should get sucked into your pump or engine.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by Park2670

The dealer man is right. There is a filter, and a screen in the pickup. Nothing should get sucked into your pump or engine.

hearing that makes me feel better. i just feel so stupid, sick, and angry at myself right now.

so for future reference if i do run out of gas totally i can put some in and it will be fine? i was less than half a mile from a gas station.

[Tsuyoi]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

hearing that makes me feel better. i just feel so stupid, sick, and angry at myself right now.

so for future reference if i do run out of gas totally i can put some in and it will be fine? i was less than half a mile from a gas station.

Did the car actually die or did you just pull over when it hit 0? If the latter, chances are you had enough fuel to reach it.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

Did the car actually die or did you just pull over when it hit 0? If the latter, chances are you had enough fuel to reach it.

latter.

but in case it did, will it be fine? so i can test my luck next time. we had an s10 run out of gas and the pump had to be replaced.

[jdong]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

latter.

but in case it did, will it be fine? so i can test my luck next time. we had an s10 run out of gas and the pump had to be replaced.

The manual warns it may cause damage and you should not drive with less than 30 miles range. Why cut it so close anyway?

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by jdong

The manual warns it may cause damage and you should not drive with less than 30 miles range. Why cut it so close anyway?

just wasn't paying attention. i'm an idiot. it said i had 6 miles left and i was within a mile of a gas station so i thought i could make it. i look down and all of a sudden it goes 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 miles. so i shut it off.

live and learn.



i think i might just be worrying myself too much. car seems fine. and anything i did see in the container was too heavy to float so i think nothing probably got in even.

[jdong]

Sure. All I'm saying is, considering what the manual says, I would not try my luck on my own car. Fill up earlier and fill up more often to avoid having to stress yourself out about this kind of situation

A long time ago I started a trip with 1/4 tank of gas in a SUV thinking it'd be plenty, and then I got stuck in a total gridlock with no exits 5 miles in either direction. That was ridiculously stressful, wondering if I'll get stranded.

After that, I start looking for gas stations when my tank is 1/3 to 1/2 full. Never had to deal with such a nightmare again.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by jdong

Sure. All I'm saying is, considering what the manual says, I would not try my luck on my own car. Fill up earlier and fill up more often to avoid having to stress yourself out about this kind of situation

A long time ago I started a trip with 1/4 tank of gas in a SUV thinking it'd be plenty, and then I got stuck in a total gridlock with no exits 5 miles in either direction. That was ridiculously stressful, wondering if I'll get stranded.

After that, I start looking for gas stations when my tank is 1/3 to 1/2 full. Never had to deal with such a nightmare again.

yep i think i will start refueling at half mark now.

[Tsuyoi]

I've driven a few cars to below their "zero mark", never had any damage or have to replace anything. Dunno if it's the same for the F30, but my 02 Explorer and a rental E90 both had no problems running past the "zero mark" for another 2-3 miles to a station.

[TheJoy]

OP, see how many gallons it takes to fill up next time, then you'll know how close you actually were to being absolutely empty so it won't be such a worry in the future.

[jdong]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

I've driven a few cars to below their "zero mark", never had any damage or have to replace anything. Dunno if it's the same for the F30, but my 02 Explorer and a rental E90 both had no problems running past the "zero mark" for another 2-3 miles to a station.

Every car tends to have a safety margin at the empty mark, but at that point the next ramp you drive over can be the end of you...

[shivaswrath]

There is a fuel filter.
It's part of the maintenance schedule for our cars...

[DmitryF30]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

So driving home today I almost ran out of gas. The meter said 0 miles when I decided to shut my car off. I called my family to come bring me some gas. They brought this old ass can that had a filter on it that poured like molasses. So I decided to take it off and use a funnel. I looked inside the can and saw a bunch of crap floating around. So pissed right now.

Here is the diagram of the fuel tank from BMW TIS:

You have two levels of protection: suction strainer 2 and a fuel filter 6. Whatever stuff ended up in your tank - it will not make into your engine. From what I can make out on realoem.com, both the screen and the filter are integral parts of the pump assembly and are not sold separately.

Since elimination of in-line fuel filters, BMW no longer recommends preventative fuel filter replacement (at least not in the fist 50K miles).

[Elk]

Great diagram. Thanks!