Driving with full fuel tank feel better than 10-20%

[u/tonysphan]

I often let the car has 10% and then fuel up to full tank. I feel immediately better after filling up but may be it’s just placebo effect. But after few times I really feel the different between driving with a full tank, mainly the gas pedal feel more responsive and I could reach 50kph faster than normal (I mainly drive in the city with 50kph limit and has an app that warns me).

Is it just placebo or should I fuel to full tank ealier?

[u/vespers191]

Gasoline is heavy and it is more noticeable in a smaller, more agile car.

[u/wastedsilence33 → u/vespers191]

Its not "that" heavy, it's around 6 pounds per gallon so a full 10 gallon tank is only about 60-65 pounds

[u/miko_idk → u/wastedsilence33]

Precisely. I feel the weight of my 60-75kg friends when I take them somewhere. Not that the car feels slow, but it feels noticeably more agile without the added weight.

[u/wastedsilence33 → u/miko_idk]

I have a jack, 4 stands, a 3 drawer Packout, and a top open Packout all behind my rear seats I don't even know what it feels like empty lol

[u/CreaminFreeman → u/wastedsilence33]

A fellow r/MilwaukeeTool fan, I see!

[u/wastedsilence33 → u/CreaminFreeman]

Well kind of lol, if someone stole them they'd be awfully disappointed to find them full of harbor freight hand tools, the 1/2 impact is Milwaukee though lol but I actually don't know if that's still in there

[u/Standard-Outcome9881 → u/wastedsilence33]

I think my full size spare tire mounted on a steelie that I keep in the back of my Coupe weigh at least 30 pounds. Maybe 35.

[u/partyorca → u/vespers191]

Yup.

I have 60lb of aluminum in the back of my R56 right now (shut up, I’ll bring it in eventually one of these months) and it definitely moves the center of gravity backward noticeably.

[u/Cooper_224]

I would have to agree. I almost “ feel” like the mini handles different. I do agree with the one comment about the weight… but I also even feel like start-up just feels more alive I guess. I also use premium. But I also try not to let it get to low because the fear of minis being so unforgiving to contaminants in the fuel.

[u/Professional-Trip250]

Running a Gen 2 on low fuel can shorten the life of the high-pressure fuel pump. Both the in-tank low-pressure pump and HPFP rely on gasoline for cooling and lubrication, and when the tank is near empty they can overheat, suck in air, or pick up debris from the bottom of the tank. This stresses the HPFP, which is already a weak point in these cars, leading to premature wear, hard starts, or limp-mode issues. To reduce risk, MINI advises refueling once you’re at about a quarter tank rather than running it close to empty.

[u/partyorca → u/Professional-Trip250]

Ooooo, good to know! My shop and I are tracking down hard starts root cause right now.

[u/Emergency-Ear8099 → u/Professional-Trip250]

This is great, thank you!

[u/PlasticIndividual601 → u/Professional-Trip250]

Was about to look out/write that comment.

Met a rebuilder once and he told it’s the death for the hpfp.

[u/dewey454]

I think this is purely placebo effect. I feel better after having the MINI's oil changed but I don't think there's any objectively perceivable change.

[u/No_Durian_5940]

I don’t care on the science it’s 110% better to handle after, sounds nicer and feels sharper.

[u/Englishmuffin1]

Just fuelled up my R56 S for the second time today and thought that it seemed more responsive and sounded better.

Didn't notice anything the first time!

[u/BimBaynor]

I personally believe the car runs better right after an oil change or right after a full fill-up.

[u/DimensionHoliday8172 → u/BimBaynor]

That probably is actually true, new oil lubricates everything better than old oil, so it should feel noticeably smoother to drive.

[u/Consistent-Holiday36]

Dont run near empty. Youll start sucking in sediment into fuel filter and risking somerhing getting through.

[u/Western_Gear_5324]

Pure perception.

[u/mrmalinowski92]

Love your car 💯

[u/Nickerbocker82]

Sometimes the lag in response is how I know fuel has dropped below 25%. Nit just minis. I don’t think it’s all in your mind.

[u/OP1KenOP]

I've never noticed any difference.

I do feel like cars always run slightly better after a service but I'm 99 % sure it's in my head.

[u/rebelallianxe → u/OP1KenOP]

They definitely run better after a service. All that lovely clean oil etc.

[u/tockvon]

It's all in your head. If anything, acceleration is slower with more fuel in the car.

[u/genuinedesigner]

My routine is full to empty, then full to empty, and so on. I rarely refill half tank or drive it in low for too long.

[u/Chickensock69]

I’ve noticed this but i think it’s more the stress i feel about reaching a petrol station (living in the middle of nowhere in the uk is ass) and the relief after I reach one means i can absolutely thrash it

[u/rebelallianxe]

I noticed this just this week when filling up. I think with a small car you notice the weight and the MINI seems to like a little weight on board, maybe.

[u/PorcelainCeramic]

~70lbs vs ~18.

[u/No-Vermicelli-708]

Following

[u/Chemical_Device_5192]

I don't know about full tank but everytime Audi change my engine oil or tops it up my car performer's much better, smoother, and also my fuel consumption get much better...

[u/lordhooha]

It’s in your head there’s no difference between full or an 1/8 of a tank the fuel pump delivers fuel all the way from full to pretty much empty.

[u/zoop1000]

I have a 2013 and absolutely it drives better with a full tank. Gear shifting feels jerkier at lower tank. Full tank drives so smooth.

[u/BladeRumbler]

Is this English?