[bladeomatic]

I've had trouble filling up my new M235i with gas. Not sure what all the other states have but in CA, gas pumps have the big vapor recovery accordion boot that seals over the filler pipe.

At at least 3 different-brand gas stations in the LA area, I've not been able to pump more than about a gallon before the pump auto-shutoff clicks off. Even when I know It'll take 7-10 gallons.

I've tried inserting the nozzle in deep or shallow. No change. It happens whether I use my hand to hold the pump trigger down or use the clip on the pump handle to hold it open. Shuts off after only a second or two. I've also tried tipping the handle down after inserting.

I've been pumping gas for a couple decades now and have never had this happen with my other cars at the exact same pumps. Takes me about 10 minutes to fill my tank as I jack around with this and it's too difficult to know when it's really full due to this.



Any ideas?

[Lucky13]

Drive to Nevada to fill up.

[wazzza]

Happened to me in one gas station. Fill up manually using your finger on the pump trigger, however, do not press it all the way or it will auto-shut-off. Press it about half way down. It pumps slightly slower but still better than the auto-shut-off every other second.

[ska///235i]

Never seen a huge handle like that here (no homo)

[///M235i]

Originally Posted by utsavized

Happened to me in one gas station. Fill up manually using your finger on the pump trigger, however, do not press it all the way or it will auto-shut-off. Press it about half way down. It pumps slightly slower but still better than the auto-shut-off every other second.

I had the same exact issue as OP many years ago... THE solution to the problem is EXACTLY as UTZSAVIZED described above!!!
It works....
Press half way down...

[hyperzulu]

Just turn and hold the pump sideways (gangsta style) and it won't shut off. I turn the handle away from the door and I never have an issue.

[ibimmer954]

I occasionally have this issue on my 650i and Shell pumps. I lift up on the filler handle to change the angle of the nozzle. That makes it not shut off early.

[dreamspeed]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

I occasionally have this issue on my 650i and Shell pumps. I lift up on the filler handle to change the angle of the nozzle. That makes it not shut off early.

Usually lifting the handle and angling the tip downwards remedies the problem but the OP said he tried that and it didn't work. Holding the trigger halfway also sometimes works.

Anyone know why this happens? I've occasionally has this happen over the years

[Canti]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

Anyone know why this happens? I've occasionally has this happen over the years

I was told (while visiting CA) that this was due to a sensor in the vacuum. If you don't get a good seal on with the nozzle it doesn't detect the right amount of vapors and shuts off the pump. I had lots of trouble with these

[basiluf]

I have this problem sometimes on high pressure pumps and no matter what I do it keeps on shutting off after a couple of gallons.

[Oyinko]

No issues with my M235i in CA...

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by basiluf

I have this problem sometimes on high pressure pumps and no matter what I do it keeps on shutting off after a couple of gallons.

Did you turn the handle 90 degrees?

I'm not kidding. It works. Thank me later.

I almost always fill up at Shell. Don't know why their pumps seem to be worse with this.

[Uridian]

I had this happen to me for the first time ever last weekend (at a Mobil). I was driving a couple friends around and when I got back in the car after trying to fill up and told them about it, they were not at all surprised. "You have to tilt the nozzle sideways... " Apparently this is some sort of club of which I'm finally a member!

I've driven and filled up any number of different ages/makes/models of cars with any number of different vapor recovery systems at the pump and never had this happen. It's so odd I saw a thread pop up about it just days later.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Just turn and hold the pump sideways (gangsta style) and it won't shut off. I turn the handle away from the door and I never have an issue.

This works for me here in the UK

[dmboone25]

I have had this problemt a few times here in Indy and Chicago too - the half trigger squeeze seems to work the best for me.

Never heard of the 90 degree turn - will give that a shot next time.

[bladeomatic]

Originally Posted by utsavized

Happened to me in one gas station. Fill up manually using your finger on the pump trigger, however, do not press it all the way or it will auto-shut-off. Press it about half way down. It pumps slightly slower but still better than the auto-shut-off every other second.

I tried this. Manually held the trigger at low, medium and full positions with the same results.

Will try turning the pump handle 90 degrees sideways "gansta style" and see if this works any better.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[threepac3]

If you don't want to turn it 90 degrees... Just hold the handle upwards. I had the same issue you describe and that's all I had to do.

[bladeomatic]

Official gas-up hack.

As stated earlier, I've had trouble fueling up with the auto-shut-off kicking in almost immediately. The suggestions of going "gansta style" and turning the nozzle sideways has worked perfectly, but it's a pain in the ass to have to hold it that way until the tank is full.

I found on several pumps, that by opening the trunk, I can lightly curve and hook the hose around the corner of the trunk opening and it will hold the hose in the proper sideways position until it shuts off by itself.

Problem solved!

Hope this helps others.

[alz0rz]

So how do you guys know when it is full if you are holding half-way or with some other trick to get it to pump correctly?

[Ricfutures]

Originally Posted by alz0rz

So how do you guys know when it is full if you are holding half-way or with some other trick to get it to pump correctly?

Math. It's a 13gl tank so depending on where the needle is I can estimate how much fuel I'll need to fill her up.

[alz0rz]

Originally Posted by Ricfutures

Math. It's a 13gl tank so depending on where the needle is I can estimate how much fuel I'll need to fill her up.

Math is not going to save you when you 'estimate' where the needle is when you get out of the car and it settles higher then you thought as you walk out to pump and you have gasoline spit back in your face.

The needle varies quite a bit and it is not digital. I would not 'estimate' this way IMO.

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by alz0rz

So how do you guys know when it is full if you are holding half-way or with some other trick to get it to pump correctly?

It auto shuts off... it's just that this way, it does so at the right time, instead of stopping at quarter full and every ten seconds.