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  #21  
Old 01-21-2017, 05:13 PM
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Simple troubleshooting. Hook up a fuel pressure gauge and check for variance, low pressure. and if the pressure backs off to quickly or too much when engine is turned off. Can be rented with rent returned when gauge is returned at many auto parts stores. Not that expensive to buy either.
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  #22  
Old 01-21-2017, 05:43 PM
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Here's a data point:

2001 E53 3.0i

Fuel pump failed at 173k miles. Luckily it was literally parked in front of my house when this happened.

I took the pump apart to see exactly what happened. The pump looked to be in great shape except that one of the brushes had worn down to exactly (of course) the point where it lost contact with the slip ring. Had this been another type of motor, I think replacing the brushes would have brought it almost back to new. But of course being immersed in fuel and fuel vapors makes that not such a good idea in this case.

It turned out to be pretty convenient for me to fix this, since it died in front of my house. But I'd recommend pre-emptively replacing at 150k if you're sure it is original. On my car, without having a complete set of service records, I was not sure it was original until I removed it.
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  #23  
Old 01-21-2017, 06:22 PM
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Fuel Pump Lifespan warning

I would not recommend against 150k (mi) preemptive strike. I'm pretty confident you could get some solid objective feedback with gas pressure gauge under WOT. I plan to do some testing on my car since I'm nearing 150k miles and just replaced wife's pump at 132k
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  #24  
Old 01-21-2017, 08:36 PM
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Those replacing parts because they might break are likely to become a part of the group that post how expensive X5s are to maintain.

Life cycles of parts vary dramatically. I'm hard pressed to think of anything I have replaced before it broke. I have never carried a part around or kept it in my garage for any daily driver.

I don't fault anyone that does otherwise but new folks need to know you can get along fine by taking the position if it ain't broke don't fix it rather than if it ain't broke it will soon.
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  #25  
Old 01-21-2017, 08:54 PM
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Exactly what I was told. thumbup:

Quote:
Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is View Post
Keep in mind that these fuel pumps are submersed in fuel to help pkeep them cool during operation. When the tank goes really low often more stress is imposed on the pump.
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  #26  
Old 01-22-2017, 04:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quicksilver View Post
Exactly what I was told. thumbup:

(Submerged for cooling)

Though true, the x5 pump will be submerged fully until you are below 10-15 miles to empty. It appears actually that the dashboard DTE doesn't even include most of the surge tank.

(Wife's car, when surge tank is overflowing to the main tank, shows 1.4L on the test six. If the tank is 8L that leaves 6.6L when the tank reads 0.0L total. (Meaning you can likely drive another 20-30 mi. past 0mi. DTE.

Anybody able to chime in with real world example of how many miles past 0 DTE the x5 can actually drive?

I plan to drive my just fixed x5 down to zero (with can of gas in the trunk of course), then open the tank and see how much is in the surge tank.
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  #27  
Old 01-22-2017, 12:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
(Submerged for cooling)

Though true, the x5 pump will be submerged fully until you are below 10-15 miles to empty. It appears actually that the dashboard DTE doesn't even include most of the surge tank.

(Wife's car, when surge tank is overflowing to the main tank, shows 1.4L on the test six. If the tank is 8L that leaves 6.6L when the tank reads 0.0L total. (Meaning you can likely drive another 20-30 mi. past 0mi. DTE.

Anybody able to chime in with real world example of how many miles past 0 DTE the x5 can actually drive?

I plan to drive my just fixed x5 down to zero (with can of gas in the trunk of course), then open the tank and see how much is in the surge tank.
I've driven my E53 down to the point of lean misfire several times, just over 20 miles after the DTE displays "0".

I'm still on the OE pump (over 200k miles), even running the DTE below 10 miles before almost every fill up (almost 25 gals).

I think the 10 oz of Lucas UCL/fuel system conditioner added at every fill up has helped pump life.
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  #28  
Old 01-22-2017, 01:29 PM
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I know that I never fill up until the readout constantly reads 12-14 miles before I run out. At 117,000 miles, still running the original fuel pump, if it dies, my opinion will be that it died of old age, having lived a long, giving and 93 octane life,
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  #29  
Old 01-22-2017, 01:50 PM
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Thank you so much for that feedback! That means the reserve tank they call sometimes the surge tank is NOT included in the fuel quantity measurements. (Which is exactly as I anticipated) since the surge tank always has the same level once below about half a tank, and that isn't measured as zero but 1.4L in my case.

I plan to measure the volume of the reserve tank exactly when either DTE is zero and/or when the test 6 shows 0.0 total.

Are you diesel? Gas? And do you use polluted gas (ethanol diluted)? Ethanol greatly reduces commutator wear, possibly doubling the lifespan.

What's your average mpg on a tank and what kind of range?

I would be willing to bet that the conditioner has added 50-100,000 miles if there is any ingredient to lubricate the commutator.

If driven mostly highway miles, and average 50mph, the low end of life expectancy is 200,000 miles (4000 hours). With E10 gas it would be more like 300,000 miles (6000 hours).

Everybody should look at your average of average mpg over a few tanks.

My average speed is about 22-25 mph. That works out to 132,000 to 150,000 life expectancy. That's pretty amazing: my wife's car I just replaced fuel pump at 132,000.

The alternator has a very similar wear pattern with the fuel pump. I just ordered replacement brushes and slip ring kit to refurbish for $20 vs replace for $325. (DIY): pro replacement of alternator ranges from $500-1100.

If you have pure gas use 4000 hours and with E10 polluted gas, use 5000 to 6000 hours expected lifespan. That should give you a very good idea of when to replace in a preemptive strike. (Of course measuring pressure or DTE won't get down to zero, time to replace)

I would replace electric pump first. Even in my case where pump was running ok and turned out to be siphon pump was the main problem, the pump was weak, amplifying the problem. I could maybe get to 70-80 DTE before replacing the fuel pump and down to 40-50 once I did replace the pump.

Now I'm confident I can get to -30 miles DTE with the 6.6L of gas that isn't measured.

In case anybody missed it: apparently when the computer measures 0.0L remaining there still will be more than a gallon of gas putting the pump several inches below the surface meaning there is no benefit to help the engine or fuel pump all the way down to 0 miles DTE.

I will confirm visually when I get Lumba2 (car's name)! Down to either 0L gas reported or 0 miles DTE whichever comes first.
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  #30  
Old 01-22-2017, 02:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bcredliner View Post
I know that I never fill up until the readout constantly reads 12-14 miles before I run out. At 117,000 miles, still running the original fuel pump, if it dies, my opinion will be that it died of old age, having lived a long, giving and 93 octane life,


My philosophy on filing up is to maximize range. If you fill up at 1/4 the only benefit is if you are in a hurry you won't have to stop for gas for a reasonably short trip.

Not worth it in my opinion to lop 100 miles off the range.

In 100,000 miles the "fill at 1/4" mindset means 77 additional gas stops. "Ain't nobody got time for that".

It also drops your range from 530 to 390 miles every time. (Hwy miles 3.0 engine).

Now that I understand how the fuel supply on x5 works I'm very happy it is designed quite specifically to run down to zero DTE with no extra wear and tear on the parts.

I start looking for gas only once the low fuel light comes on, the ONLY time that has EVER been a problem was literally CAUSED by my wife always filling up at 1/4 tank and camouflaging the fact the fuel pump/s weren't working.

It actually cascaded into me being stranded with 70-80 miles DTE TWICE in one week, specifically and ONLY because she used the fill at a quarter rule with no objective reasons behind it. Anybody sorta understand why it bugs me that people irrationally have a fear of driving a car with less than 100 miles (and actually 120) to go?

If there was a fact based not mythical irrational fear behind the concept I'd be on board. There really is no objective reason to put gas in before the low fuel light comes on unless you live more than 20miles from nearest gas station.

(Naturally there are exceptions to the rule such as filling up before going on 400 mile trip so you don't need to stop on the way, that's not the meaning behind don't fill up at 1/4) that's not the discussion: it's whether or not to never dip below 1/4 tank. There are no objective reasons for that belief with the x5.
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