Whenever I go tank, even when the tank (indicator) says it's real close to empty, I can never get more than 40L in the tank. On the wiki I read that E30s are supposed to have a 55L fuel tank by default. I'm afraid of running the car completely dry, I believe it's quite bad for your fuel system to run all the old shit at the bottom of your tank through the system. Maybe I'm mistaken.
Any hints?
Tank doesn't seem to go empty
Moderator: martauto
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Brianmoooore
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The mistake you're making is only including the painted part of the dial. It includes the part that eventually lights up, and this won't happen until the needle is well into this segment.
For many years mine had the opposite problem, it had the Alpina aux tank in it that is not connected to the gauge. Once full the needle never moved off the top for ages.
Once the vent pipe got kinked and it must have airlocked. Gauge dropped to half and went back to full again. Took a while to work that one out
Never really worked out how much that car was meant to hold.
Once the vent pipe got kinked and it must have airlocked. Gauge dropped to half and went back to full again. Took a while to work that one out
Never really worked out how much that car was meant to hold.
No need to run it completely dry, just see if it goes lower.
As Brian says are you letting it go into the Lit area? The lower mark says R for Refuel not E for empty.
Empty is bottom of the Low fuel warning light, Seemed to be fairly accurate on both of mine when they were on the road.
I used to work on getting about 30 miles to empty from when the light came on, seemed to be right
As Brian says are you letting it go into the Lit area? The lower mark says R for Refuel not E for empty.
Empty is bottom of the Low fuel warning light, Seemed to be fairly accurate on both of mine when they were on the road.
I used to work on getting about 30 miles to empty from when the light came on, seemed to be right
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Brianmoooore
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Based on what evidence? It's not a good idea to do it after every time you fill the tank, as sucking air will wear the pump, but very occasionally isn't going to do any harm.
The fuel pump pick up filter sits in a bowl which is continuously replenished with filtered fuel, returned from the engine, so is unlikely to pick up much debris anyway.
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paultv
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This is also why you should change the fuel filter regularly.
Paul
Paul
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.
BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
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BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:
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Brianmoooore
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Low fuel lamp will light at least 20 miles before that.
Maintaining higher levels of fuel also helps protect the fuel tank from corrosion (less room for condensation)?Brianmoooore wrote: ↑Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:05 amBased on what evidence? It's not a good idea to do it after every time you fill the tank, as sucking air will wear the pump, but very occasionally isn't going to do any harm.
The fuel pump pick up filter sits in a bowl which is continuously replenished with filtered fuel, returned from the engine, so is unlikely to pick up much debris anyway.