First Fill-Up...Very Strange!

Barry626 · 07-09-2005, 11:55 PM

Drove 280 miles (City driving) apprx. 17.5 MPG.
Owners Manual says we have 15.9 gallon tank including 2.1 Reserve.
Filled up @ Sam's Club "Premium" $2.499 per gallon.
If I have a 15.9 tank how did I pump 16.187 gallons of gas?
Are our tanks in 330i bigger than 15.9 or are Sam's Clubs pumps messed-up?

NaTuReB0Y · 07-10-2005, 12:08 AM

15.9 + 2.1 = 18 gallons!
I'm a genius...hahahaha....j/k!

svengali · 07-10-2005, 01:05 AM

Dude, stay away from Sams gas. Just my opinion, but my car ran like crap with that stuff. What did you save? Like a few dollars.?

xcalibr · 07-10-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

15.9 + 2.1 = 18 gallons!
I'm a genius...hahahaha....j/k!

The manual says 15.9 including 2.1 reserve... wouldn't that mean the total is 15.9 and the empty light goes on when you have 2.1 gal left? 15.9 seemed like a small tank... maybe "reserve" isn't actually in the tank, but you get 2.1 gal from pipes, hoses, weird nooks and crannies between the fuel tank and engine or something. so the total is really 18? I guess just the wording in the manual's a bit confusing.

Barry626 · 07-10-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcalibr

The manual says 15.9 including 2.1 reserve... wouldn't that mean the total is 15.9 and the empty light goes on when you have 2.1 gal left? so the total is really 18? I guess just the wording in the manual's a bit confusing.

xcalibr

Thanks, exactly my point & why I asked in first place.
As u said manual is worded wrong, if we have 18 gal. tank?

E90Fleet · 07-10-2005, 03:27 AM

If you fill it right to the brim you get a bit more in than the manual says, because the manual doesnt include the amount that the pipe from the opening to the tank takes, it only shows the tank volume

xcalibr · 07-10-2005, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

If you fill it right to the brim you get a bit more in than the manual says, because the manual doesnt include the amount that the pipe from the opening to the tank takes, it only shows the tank volume

I think that seems most reasonable --if we assume that the manual is not worded wrong. But 16.187 vs. 15.9 is a 0.287 gallon difference. Assuming Barry626 isn't completely on empty when he filled up... say he probably had a quarter gallon left. Is it reasonable that the pipes can hold about half a gallon? Seems like a lot to me. I guess we'll all just have to see what the average fill-up is. In my old car, it was an 18.5 gallon tank, but when I filled up it was usually 15-16 gallons. So I just kind of assume that you usually fill up at least a gallon or two short of the tank capacity. So maybe the manual is still worded wrong.

E90Fleet · 07-10-2005, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcalibr

I think that seems most reasonable --if we assume that the manual is not worded wrong. But 16.187 vs. 15.9 is a 0.287 gallon difference. Assuming Barry626 isn't completely on empty when he filled up... say he probably had a quarter gallon left. Is it reasonable that the pipes can hold about half a gallon? Seems like a lot to me. I guess we'll all just have to see what the average fill-up is. In my old car, it was an 18.5 gallon tank, but when I filled up it was usually 15-16 gallons. So I just kind of assume that you usually fill up at least a gallon or two short of the tank capacity. So maybe the manual is still worded wrong.

Or the fuel pump was overreading at the fuel station

RichReg · 07-10-2005, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Or the fuel pump was overreading at the fuel station

I'm going with your theory, E90Fleet.
Lousy thieves at these gas stations, let me tell you.

Barry626 · 07-10-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

If you fill it right to the brim you get a bit more in than the manual says, because the manual doesnt include the amount that the pipe from the opening to the tank takes, it only shows the tank volume

E90Fleet

Good point & not one I thought of

I did top it off & car said I only had 7 miles to go before running out.
Damn, looks like I coasted into the station & not a good thing for sure!

hwkdrvr · 07-10-2005, 05:26 PM

280 miles at 17.5 mpg puts you on fumes. 17.5mpg x 15.9 tank capacity = 278.25 miles. If you filled it all the way to the top of the pipe, then that accounts for your .287 gallon discrepancy. Or, Sams club is ripping you off. But, I am inclined to believe you are very lucky to have made it to the station. You could have been walking.

M.

LEDZEP · 07-10-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

If you fill it right to the brim you get a bit more in than the manual says, because the manual doesnt include the amount that the pipe from the opening to the tank takes, it only shows the tank volume

Not to accuse, but it is a well known rip-off tactic of gas stations to alter their pumps. Call your state department of units and measures and ask them to do a spot check on those pumps.

Or, he could have been riding on his last fume of gas - very foolish!

sawcat · 07-10-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry626

Drove 280 miles (City driving) apprx. 17.5 MPG.
Owners Manual says we have 15.9 gallon tank including 2.1 Reserve.
Filled up @ Sam's Club "Premium" $2.499 per gallon.
If I have a 15.9 tank how did I pump 16.187 gallons of gas?
Are our tanks in 330i bigger than 15.9 or are Sam's Clubs pumps messed-up?

Your mileage seems awfully low. My trip computer has been averaging 26.4 MPG on my first two tanks which represents about 2/3 highway driving. Are you diriving strictly city miles?

07-09-2005, 11:55 PM	#1
Barry626 Captain 23 Rep 724 Posts Drives: Coming: 2012 135i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	First Fill-Up...Very Strange! Drove 280 miles (City driving) apprx. 17.5 MPG. Owners Manual says we have 15.9 gallon tank including 2.1 Reserve. Filled up @ Sam's Club "Premium" $2.499 per gallon. If I have a 15.9 tank how did I pump 16.187 gallons of gas? Are our tanks in 330i bigger than 15.9 or are Sam's Clubs pumps messed-up?
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07-10-2005, 12:08 AM	#2
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	15.9 + 2.1 = 18 gallons! I'm a genius...hahahaha....j/k! __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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07-10-2005, 01:05 AM	#3
svengali Enlisted Member 2 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 530i invisible Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: san diego iTrader: (0)	Dude, stay away from Sams gas. Just my opinion, but my car ran like crap with that stuff. What did you save? Like a few dollars.?
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07-10-2005, 03:27 AM	#6
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	If you fill it right to the brim you get a bit more in than the manual says, because the manual doesnt include the amount that the pipe from the opening to the tank takes, it only shows the tank volume
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07-10-2005, 05:26 PM	#11
hwkdrvr New Member 0 Rep 24 Posts Drives: POS 91 Kia Pride Join Date: May 2005 Location: Daegu, South Korea iTrader: (0)	280 miles at 17.5 mpg puts you on fumes. 17.5mpg x 15.9 tank capacity = 278.25 miles. If you filled it all the way to the top of the pipe, then that accounts for your .287 gallon discrepancy. Or, Sams club is ripping you off. But, I am inclined to believe you are very lucky to have made it to the station. You could have been walking. M.
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