Help! - Ran out of gas - Second Time

[aNoodle]

Okay, I replaced the gas cap, cuz it seemed to have lost some of its spring in it over the years (will be 7 years old in Nov). $7.25 so why not, right? With the new cap, I then ran the car down to about 1/4 of a tank to see if I could recreate the problem.

Sure enough, at about 1/4 full, the car ran out of gas. It took only 3/4 to refill it, so I know there 1/4 gas in there when I "ran out of gas."

It's the not cap cuz it's new. It's not the filter, cuz that's new too. It's not the pump cuz then the car wouldn't start at all. It's not the indicator, cuz I know it is working correctly.

Has anybody had this happen to them? Could it be the pressure release valve in the engine compartment?

I have a slight wistle sound from the egine compartment that may or may not be related. It faint and intermittent. I also get a low rumble on heavy load occationally.

HELP!! Nobody has had this happen to them? I really don't want to have to take this in. I was thinking about taking a look at the injectors and intake manifold today...maybe if it's not tight I'd have pressure loss?

 

[bmwrocks]

But I don't know....running out of gas isn't too good for the car, is it? I mean, what kind of damage can be done? It can't be all THAT bad can it?

Running out the way you are doing it does no harm I think. I THINK.

The running out that does harm is the kind where you actually end up with an empty tank, starving your liquid cooled fuel pump inside your gas tank of liquid. This can burn up a fuel pump real quick, or so I've heard.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Running out the way you are doing it does no harm I think. I THINK.

The running out that does harm is the kind where you actually end up with an empty tank, starving your liquid cooled fuel pump inside your gas tank of liquid. This can burn up a fuel pump real quick, or so I've heard.

Running out of gas can cause harm, as when you do the fuel pump pumps the gasses left over in the gas tank, gasoline keeps the pump lubricated, so yeah it cant burn out a pump... I never go below 1/2 a tank.

Noodle, maybe there is some sort of gunk build up in the gas tank itself?
When its colder outside gasoline is actually denser, so in the winter you get more out of a full tank of gas than you would over the summer..
I'd contact the BMW NA Customer Relations guy.. Good luck.

 

[aNoodle]

Running out of gas can cause harm, as when you do the fuel pump pumps the gasses left over in the gas tank, gasoline keeps the pump lubricated, so yeah it cant burn out a pump... I never go below 1/2 a tank.

Noodle, maybe there is some sort of gunk build up in the gas tank itself?
When its colder outside gasoline is actually denser, so in the winter you get more out of a full tank of gas than you would over the summer..
I'd contact the BMW NA Customer Relations guy.. Good luck.

Ha what is NA gonna do for me at 6 3/4 years and 134,000 miles.

Here's my latest theory. It's the sucking jet pump on the left lobe of the tank that sends gas to the right side where the main pump is. There's a picture of it in the schematic...it's just a little $65 jet pump, not the big $250 pump.

Huh?!? Are you guys impressed?

Now if I can just figure out a way to prove this. LOL. I'm might be stuck with keeping it over 1/2 for the rest of its life.

 

[aNoodle]

Got it fixed!

Damn, Kirby was near the mark again!

I unlocked the hidden codes on the dash and watched the left and right fuel sensors. All the gas was staying in the left lobe....it should be siphoned over to the right lobe so it gets pumped up to the front of the car to the engine.

So I opened up the left side of the tank using the Bentley manual instructions. I was prepared to buy a new siphon/hose, look for leaks, etc. You won't believe it. The pick up hose was completely disconnected and was just bobbing around. My Dad and I reconnected it. It clicked into place, making me wonder how it ever became disloged. Anyway, we closed it all up, started her up. We watched the sensors as the fuel was properly siphoned over to the right side of the tank. So I think I got it. I'll now run it down to double check all is well.

Total cost of DIY: $0!!!!! Yiiiiipppppeeeeeee!!!!!! Free stake dinner!!

 

[romeoz]

I went down to 1 mile left of gas on my 05 325i...I was at 10 miles and looking for a gas station and then 2 miles down the road it went from 10 to 1 mile left as I pullled in...I was lucky

Bryan

 

[andreyiv]

Mine just shows me " - - - miles left " when its less then 8 miles (or something close to that).