This Is How Much Gas You Should Be Keeping in Your Tank (2024)
Nothing is more annoying when you’re cruising on a road trip or commuting to work and realize something urgent: you need gas. Between the time it takes to fill up, the cost of the gas, and just the general inconvenience, you might be wondering whether you can just cruise a little bit longer without stopping. Maybe not so much, according to experts who say there’s actually an ideal amount of gas to keep in your tank, which is one of many ways you can help extend the life of your vehicle.
For starters, it’s important to understand how your gas tank works. In your gas tank is a fuel pump, says Bill Evans, who’s worked with cars for over 30 years and is now manager of J & E Auto Body in Clark, New Jersey. This pump runs from the gas tank to the motor, supplying fuel. As the pump runs, it heats up—but when it’s submerged in gas, the fuel acts as a coolant to stop the pump from overheating. If you’re running on less than a quarter tank of gas, the pump will overheat and end up failing sooner than it should. What’s more, driving around on empty can cause condensation in the walls of your gas tank, diluting your fuel, and causing rust, according to Richard Reina, a product training director at CARiD.com.
You may still feel driving on empty gives you more fuel for your buck. But, in addition to increasing the potential of longterm damage to your car, driving on empty actually hurts your gas mileage. “If you’re driving around on empty, the fuel pump is going to start picking up everything on the bottom of the tank,” Evans says. This includes sediment from dirty gas and tank condensation. Not only can this damage your fuel pump and motor, but it actually makes your gas mileage worse. “As long as you have a quarter tank of gas, your gas mileage is going to stay as optimal as it could,” Evans said. “The filter isn’t getting hot. The motor isn’t working as hard. That all helps on your gas mileage.If you’re keeping a quarter a tank of gas or more in the car, you’ll prolong the life of the fuel system parts.”
So there you have it—maybe it’s time to break your habit of using the last drops of the final gallon of fuel to roll to the gas station. And while you’re at it, focus on breaking these other habits that are shortening the life of your car.
AAA is a privately held not-for-profit national member association and service organization with over 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA provides services to its members, including roadside assistance and others. Its national headquarters are in Heathrow, Florida. American Automobile Association.
recommends always keeping at least a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle to reduce your potential for costly tows, repairs or safety incidents. However, if you live in regions that are prone to extreme weather, half a tank is recommended.
On average, you can drive around 16 hours on a full tank of gas, but your results will vary. However, you can calculate how many hours you can drive on a full tank of gas in your used car or truck. For example, you get 25 MPG and have a 25-gallon tank. That means you can drive 625 miles.
The less fuel in your tank, the greater the risk of running out completely in a bad spot. While different experts have different suggestions, it's typically agreed that drivers should refuel their vehicle when they have anywhere between a quarter of a tank or half of a tank left for maximum efficiency.
Save yourself from costly repairs and dangerous situations by keeping your gas tank more than a quarter full at all times, and at least half full in the winter.
Letting your car get below an eighth of a tank increases the odds you'll damage your fuel system. To be on the safe side, refill by the time you're down to a quarter tank. Each time you fill your car's gas tank, you end up adding some particulates and sediment that settle at the bottom of your tank, he explains.
Regular gasoline has a shelf life of three to six months, premium or high-octane fuel should last close to nine months, while diesel can last up to a year before it begins to degrade. On the other hand, organic-based Ethanol can lose its combustibility in one to three months due to oxidation and evaporation.
When you leave your gas tank partly full — especially for an extended time — it allows for dirt, rust, sediment and other pollutants to build up in your tank and mix with the gasoline. These debris can flow into your fuel lines, straight up to your engine! Yikes. That is some costly damage right there.
Ideally, store your car in a climate-controlled facility. Fill the gas tank completely full. An empty or low gas tank will lead to internal rust as condensation and moisture builds within the tank.
It can interfere with the vehicle's fuel injection system, resulting in decreased power and acceleration. Overfilling your gas tank can have serious consequences, both for the environment and for your safety. Not only can it cause environmental damage, but it can also lead to a potential fire or explosion.
NO, NO do NOT fill your tank to the top. Many people have the habit of “topping off” their gas tanks. Don't do it because there are systems in later model cars, one of which is to filter fumes from your gas tank to reduce harmful substances from the atmosphere. In summer, at least 1/4 tank.
Ultimately, the difference you save in terms of the weight of the tank is minuscule compared to the amount of time you will save and the mileage of filling up each time.
It depends on what fuel mileage the vehicle gets, how big the fuel tank is and how much you drive it. Typically a car would have a tank that would hold enough fuel to go 300 miles comfortably.
However, once the fuel price hikes hit and you find yourself on a budget, it would be more advisable to fill up your tank just enough so you don't overpay for a full tank of gas. For some cars, a full tank can last as long as a week or two depending on how much you drive your car.
On average, a full tank of gas in newer vehicles will take drivers about 350 miles. At $5 a gallon, that's $70 for each fill-up (excluding tax). The average American drives 14,263 miles a year. Using these numbers, that equates to approximately 41 fill-ups and roughly $2,853 spent on gas per year.
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