Ran low on Fuel, now car jumps RPM and Struggles to accelerate

330istocknot · 03-09-2018, 10:21 AM

Hello,

JUst bought 330i 2006 140k miles.

Yesterday i was at a location where i ran low on gas, to where the computer said 7miles left on the tank.

After i stopped and refueled at the nearest location, the car would jerk RPMs a little, from 600-750 and back down to 600 when idling, about once every stop.

Then when taking off, on low RPMs around 2-3K you would feel the car struggle, as if the fuel would cut a couple times, and feel the car strumle until it passed 4k RPM.

Can running low on fuel this low might cause the fuel pump to go bad or to get clogged with junk in the tank? is there a way to clean the fuel pump?

No check engine light, no codes. Any help would be appreciated.

Phyrexia · 03-09-2018, 10:36 AM

I think the fuel filters are built into the fuel pump on these cars. But it does sound like it could be a fuel filter issue.

401FlaGATOR · 03-09-2018, 10:55 AM

I'm certainly no expert but it sounds like something got clogged.

Maybe try some fuel detergent additive like Techron first to see if it clears up?

GoRomeo · 03-09-2018, 11:18 AM

it could be, but i am a very bad example as I always drive on empty. Even when there is -- i always tend to drive it for another 20 miles and never ran out of gas...

it may take a few trips to get the fuel pressure back...

avocet · 03-09-2018, 11:28 AM

Where did you fill up? Maybe it is bad gas(which might also mean clogged filter). Like Gator says, try an additive first.

Did you fill right up? You can either run it down and fill with fresh fuel from a reputable source or try and dilute the fuel by topping off. I would also run some Seafoam or Heet if there is any moisture or water. I don't think something like Techroline will do much for moisture, but it won't hurt to throw some of that in if there is some other crud in there.

dsjr2006 · 03-09-2018, 01:18 PM

It's more likely you clogged the filter with crap in the bottom of the tank. The filter is in the tank and part of the pump assembly. It's not cheap, but it's not a very difficult job to do. You'll have to pull up the rear seat. Hardest part is the stupid lock ring on top of the tank.

330istocknot · 03-12-2018, 02:13 AM

I will take a look at the fuel pump tomrorow and see i9f i can clean it somehow before replacing it.

I read online that a bad fuel pump will have a hard time starting the car, my car start strong as it should, however it does struggle to accelerate on lower speeds.Will pull out the pump tomorrow and see if i can do anything to clean it before i have to buy a new one.

hassmaschine · 03-12-2018, 09:31 AM

I drove mine once all the way to --- on the range. I filled it up to 16.3 gallons - the tank holds 16.4 gallons with the reserve

. But I always run it down to the reserve (~20 miles left), so I don't build up a ton of crap in there to begin with.

These cars have plastic tanks too IIRC, so it's not like they can rust and cause stuff to get sucked in.

I'd bet the filter can still be replaced separately, of course BMW likes to make simple filter or fluid changes impossible these days so I could be wrong. i would try that first though.

03-09-2018, 10:21 AM	#1
330istocknot First Lieutenant 186 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 330chino Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: chino iTrader: (0)	Ran low on Fuel, now car jumps RPM and Struggles to accelerate Hello, JUst bought 330i 2006 140k miles. Yesterday i was at a location where i ran low on gas, to where the computer said 7miles left on the tank. After i stopped and refueled at the nearest location, the car would jerk RPMs a little, from 600-750 and back down to 600 when idling, about once every stop. Then when taking off, on low RPMs around 2-3K you would feel the car struggle, as if the fuel would cut a couple times, and feel the car strumle until it passed 4k RPM. Can running low on fuel this low might cause the fuel pump to go bad or to get clogged with junk in the tank? is there a way to clean the fuel pump? No check engine light, no codes. Any help would be appreciated.
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03-09-2018, 10:36 AM	#2
Phyrexia Resident Pedant 504 Rep 792 Posts Drives: '15 335i 8AT Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Limbo iTrader: (1)	I think the fuel filters are built into the fuel pump on these cars. But it does sound like it could be a fuel filter issue.
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03-09-2018, 10:55 AM	#3
401FlaGATOR First Lieutenant 70 Rep 328 Posts Drives: E90 325i ZSP, F30 320i ZSP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL iTrader: (0)	I'm certainly no expert but it sounds like something got clogged. Maybe try some fuel detergent additive like Techron first to see if it clears up?
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03-09-2018, 11:18 AM	#4
GoRomeo Brigadier General 1012 Rep 3,914 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	it could be, but i am a very bad example as I always drive on empty. Even when there is -- i always tend to drive it for another 20 miles and never ran out of gas... it may take a few trips to get the fuel pressure back...
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03-09-2018, 11:28 AM	#5
avocet Major 252 Rep 1,157 Posts Drives: 2007 328i 2011 X5d Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vancouver bc iTrader: (0)	Where did you fill up? Maybe it is bad gas(which might also mean clogged filter). Like Gator says, try an additive first. Did you fill right up? You can either run it down and fill with fresh fuel from a reputable source or try and dilute the fuel by topping off. I would also run some Seafoam or Heet if there is any moisture or water. I don't think something like Techroline will do much for moisture, but it won't hurt to throw some of that in if there is some other crud in there.
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03-09-2018, 01:18 PM	#6
dsjr2006 Captain 157 Rep 848 Posts Drives: '01 E39 540iA, '09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2001 BMW 540i [0.00]	It's more likely you clogged the filter with crap in the bottom of the tank. The filter is in the tank and part of the pump assembly. It's not cheap, but it's not a very difficult job to do. You'll have to pull up the rear seat. Hardest part is the stupid lock ring on top of the tank. __________________ E90 M3 DCT LCI \| E90 LCI N54 M-Sport(retired) \| E90 Technical Docs download: http://j.mp/bmwe90docs *good read, very detailed.
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03-12-2018, 02:13 AM	#7
330istocknot First Lieutenant 186 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 330chino Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: chino iTrader: (0)	I will take a look at the fuel pump tomrorow and see i9f i can clean it somehow before replacing it. I read online that a bad fuel pump will have a hard time starting the car, my car start strong as it should, however it does struggle to accelerate on lower speeds.Will pull out the pump tomorrow and see if i can do anything to clean it before i have to buy a new one.
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03-12-2018, 09:31 AM	#8
hassmaschine Major General 3975 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	I drove mine once all the way to --- on the range. I filled it up to 16.3 gallons - the tank holds 16.4 gallons with the reserve . But I always run it down to the reserve (~20 miles left), so I don't build up a ton of crap in there to begin with. These cars have plastic tanks too IIRC, so it's not like they can rust and cause stuff to get sucked in. I'd bet the filter can still be replaced separately, of course BMW likes to make simple filter or fluid changes impossible these days so I could be wrong. i would try that first though.
	Appreciate 0 Quote