Weird Gas Gauge Movements

[trueX5er]

So today I went to the largest airshow in the country, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. That's about a 3 hour drive, or 155 miles. I went to gas up at a gas station I've never been to, and when I tried to pump the gas in, the pump stopped like it was finished, but it was nowhere near. I resumed, and after it would stop, resume again until I was sure the tank was all the way full. I start the car....and the gas needle dosen't budge. Not even a bit. I'm positive I've filled the tank all the way, but the needle dosen't move. Anyways, I start driving and slowly....very slowly....does the needle start to move. After a half and hour, the needle is where it should be. Can anybody explain why this happened?
Anyways, I had a good drive up, kept it at a steady 80-85 mph. When I started, the computer showed I was getting about 18mpg. On the way back, I was between 85-105 mph for a lot of the way, and averaged about 20mpg when I got home.
The tank was almost dry when I got close to home, so I stopped and filled the tank with E10 (10% Ethanol, 90% Gasoline). The needle moved with no issue.

[xnsf]

did you turn the car completely off or did you just shut down the engine?

when i don't turn my car completely off, the gas will only go to 7/8 full and won't move

or can be fuel gauge sender unit

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by trueX5er

So today I went to the largest airshow in the country, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. That's about a 3 hour drive, or 155 miles. I went to gas up at a gas station I've never been to, and when I tried to pump the gas in, the pump stopped like it was finished, but it was nowhere near. I resumed, and after it would stop, resume again until I was sure the tank was all the way full. I start the car....and the gas needle dosen't budge. Not even a bit. I'm positive I've filled the tank all the way, but the needle dosen't move. Anyways, I start driving and slowly....very slowly....does the needle start to move. After a half and hour, the needle is where it should be. Can anybody explain why this happened?
Anyways, I had a good drive up, kept it at a steady 80-85 mph. When I started, the computer showed I was getting about 18mpg. On the way back, I was between 85-105 mph for a lot of the way, and averaged about 20mpg when I got home.
The tank was almost dry when I got close to home, so I stopped and filled the tank with E10 (10% Ethanol, 90% Gasoline). The needle moved with no issue.

Same happened to me--and others on another forum--did you notice that the filler nozzle would not insert fully into the filler neck on the X3?? anyway--you will get a fillup, but something with the pump turning on and off screws up the tank sensor--no fix except go to a different station---BTW--gas with ethanol will give LOWER mileage--not by much but measurable--because ethanol contains less energy (BTU Value) than gas--

[trueX5er]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Same happened to me--and others on another forum--did you notice that the filler nozzle would not insert fully into the filler neck on the X3?? anyway--you will get a fillup, but something with the pump turning on and off screws up the tank sensor--no fix except go to a different station---BTW--gas with ethanol will give LOWER mileage--not by much but measurable--because ethanol contains less energy (BTU Value) than gas--

Yep, must have been the bad pump. I don't think anything is wrong with the car.

I know that ethanol will lower my mileage (although on E10 not by much), but it was the only gas they had out in the cornfields of Wisconsin)