Best time to fill up??
01-19-2007, 08:29 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 207
Best time to fill up??
So is there a best time to fill up?
I know you shouldn't drive to where its completely empty; but short of that, does it make a difference if you fill up when the gas light turns on or much sooner.
My dad for example always fills up when its half empty and claims its good for the car?!?
Any thoughts?
I know you shouldn't drive to where its completely empty; but short of that, does it make a difference if you fill up when the gas light turns on or much sooner.
My dad for example always fills up when its half empty and claims its good for the car?!?
Any thoughts?
01-19-2007, 08:32 AM
#2
I'm no expert, but I really doubt theres any mechanical reason to fill up at a certain point. Like you said, never let it run dry because of fuel-pump issues. In the winter though, for safety purposes, its probably not a good idea to let it go below a 1/4. Thats just personal preference though.
01-19-2007, 09:27 AM
#5
only claim i can see from this is.. when your light is on .... i guess in theory you have a small amount of gas left so if there are particles dirt crap ect in ur tank when u get really low they can be more susceptible to being sucked into the pump thus possibly killing the life of your fuel filter??
>>but just go with what irish said when u need gas get it LOL
(BTW does anyone know about how much gas we have when the light goes on????)
>>but just go with what irish said when u need gas get it LOL
(BTW does anyone know about how much gas we have when the light goes on????)
01-19-2007, 09:37 AM
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 64
My light went on and then I filled up the tank completely, the car took 16.4 gallons.
01-19-2007, 09:46 AM
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
Never, gas is getting too expensive.
01-19-2007, 09:51 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 116
I'll vote for: when fuel prices are low....
Once upon a time, it was a good idea to fill up once the tank was past half empty. The idea here being that once the tank was that empty, there was sufficient air volume in the tank to allow for condensation. Of course condensation could/would allow water to get into the fuel, which could cause your fuel line to freeze during the winter. Or, it could cause the interior of the tank to rust, neither of which is particularly dandy. I don't think that either of these apply anymore, as most cars are fuel injected and have pressurized fuel tanks and the pressurization (it's only a few lbs) should prevent any condensation.
Additionally, it might be advantageous to fill up frequently during the winter so as to have additional weight over the rear wheels - not much point in a FWD car though. I _suppose_ if you were racing, you could use the fuel load as a chassis tuning tool, although it wouldn't give you much flexibility....
It's possible that you could suffer from starvation during extremely hard cornering on an empty tank....But during normal street driving, it's not likely to happen. If you have starvation problems during normal street driving, I'd be inclined to think that there is another problem.
The only truly good reason I can see for filling up often (past half empty) would be as a precautionary measure during winter driving, so as to ensure that you have as much fuel as possible in the event that you become stranded. But even that is a stretch with the proliferation of cell phones....
To argue it from a different angle: Why not fill up to only half full and then run it as empty as you dare. That way, you aren't carrying around a bunch of extra weight, thereby improving your fuel economy....
Once upon a time, it was a good idea to fill up once the tank was past half empty. The idea here being that once the tank was that empty, there was sufficient air volume in the tank to allow for condensation. Of course condensation could/would allow water to get into the fuel, which could cause your fuel line to freeze during the winter. Or, it could cause the interior of the tank to rust, neither of which is particularly dandy. I don't think that either of these apply anymore, as most cars are fuel injected and have pressurized fuel tanks and the pressurization (it's only a few lbs) should prevent any condensation.
Additionally, it might be advantageous to fill up frequently during the winter so as to have additional weight over the rear wheels - not much point in a FWD car though. I _suppose_ if you were racing, you could use the fuel load as a chassis tuning tool, although it wouldn't give you much flexibility....
It's possible that you could suffer from starvation during extremely hard cornering on an empty tank....But during normal street driving, it's not likely to happen. If you have starvation problems during normal street driving, I'd be inclined to think that there is another problem.
The only truly good reason I can see for filling up often (past half empty) would be as a precautionary measure during winter driving, so as to ensure that you have as much fuel as possible in the event that you become stranded. But even that is a stretch with the proliferation of cell phones....
To argue it from a different angle: Why not fill up to only half full and then run it as empty as you dare. That way, you aren't carrying around a bunch of extra weight, thereby improving your fuel economy....
01-19-2007, 10:28 AM
#9
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 91
I agree with the weight theory above. I don't practice it, but I do agree with it.
Fill it up a a quarter tank. There's no proven theory why. Just do it.
Fill it up a a quarter tank. There's no proven theory why. Just do it.
01-19-2007, 10:39 AM
#10
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Pleasanton,CA
Posts: 1,136
Anytime is fine as long as you don't have those large tankers that fill up the stations. They can stir up all the crap out from the bottom of the gas station tanks and then to your fuel filter and then injectors.
I never fill my gas when I see those tankers in the gas stations.!!!
I never fill my gas when I see those tankers in the gas stations.!!!
01-19-2007, 10:46 AM
#11
Don't you know who I am?
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East Granby, Connecticut
Posts: 945
Originally Posted by JohnWEngle
To argue it from a different angle: Why not fill up to only half full and then run it as empty as you dare. That way, you aren't carrying around a bunch of extra weight, thereby improving your fuel economy....
This is the only thing I see mattering. I tested over 6 tanks of gas filling up at 1/4 tank and at E, 3 tanks each one, and on average, letting it go to E yeilded an increase of 0.3 mpg. Average mpg at 1/4 tank: 22.1. Average filling at E: 22.4.
So even thought it matters, it doesn't matter much. Fill up whenever you need gas.
01-19-2007, 11:14 AM
#12
My driveway is on an angle, if you have little gas... like on empty, park it front facing down ( in reverse )
my car didn't start once, said i had 25 miles on the DTE ,had to take a cute little red gasoline tank and go to the gas station with my moms camry.
my car didn't start once, said i had 25 miles on the DTE ,had to take a cute little red gasoline tank and go to the gas station with my moms camry.
01-19-2007, 11:35 AM
#13
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 311
Condensation is an issue in cold weather. If the car is going to sit for a while in the cold especially if the sun is going to be on it during the day, keep it full. If you're driving it every day, do what your wallet tells you.
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