Fuel fill-up question

[Meeka]

I’ve always filled up my vehicle’s fuel tanks when it gets to half. Is that a good idea or no, cause I’m wondering if the ‘older’ fuel goes bad, but no big deal if mixed with newer gas. Thanks. Remember, there are no dumb questions .

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[d7602002]

I was told by my father 42 years ago, when I first started driving, that you shouldn't let your tank get below half. I never asked why, and to this day I still have no idea why he said it. But I have always filled my tank when it gets just a little below half, except if I'm on a trip then I go as long as I can. I've never had a problem on any of my vehicles so to answer your question, I have no idea.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Just don't overfill it. Stop on the pump stops on the first click.

 

[JD71]

I was told by my father 42 years ago, when I first started driving, that you shouldn't let your tank get below half. I never asked why, and to this day I still have no idea why he said it. But I have always filled my tank when it gets just a little below half, except if I'm on a trip then I go as long as I can. I've never had a problem on any of my vehicles so to answer your question, I have no idea.

My understanding is that it minimizes the probability of condensation forming on the walls of the tank due to the air space. This happens in cold weather. Obviously, water in the tank is not good. I never let mine get below half a tank.

 

[Cherokee]

The main Idea behind keeping lots of gas in the tank is to limit the empty space where condensation happens.
Regular use limits this to the point of being a non issue.
I fill mine at a half tank always, unless on a trip on known routes.
My Empty is one quarter of a tank no matter what.
That last quarter tank is for SHTF only.

If my truck is going to sit a week or two it will sit with a full tank.
Peace :XD

 

[AzureBlueBill]

I always was told that it's not good to run it below 1/4 tank, by my Dad. I always thought he was a very smart man. So I've always played by those rules. I'm pretty sure it's so you don' suck up water or debris off the bottom of the tank. Or so that water, or ice don't form due to condensation. I'm sure cars are designed differentl today, vs how they were built in the 1920s. But all I can tell you is that I can't recall ever having a fuel issue in any car I've owned since 1972 when I started driving!

 

[d7602002]

The condensation stuff makes sense because he also told me to throw a can of heet in the tank to get the water out. But I haven't done that in 30 years.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

The condensation stuff makes sense because he also told me to throw a can of heet in the tank to get the water out.

Shouldn't be necessary any more with gasoline that contains ethanol. The main ingredient in HEET is alcohol.

 

[dhaskit]

The previous posters are correct.
Keeping your tank full reduces the Condensation of water from the air that is in your tank.
It also reduces Oxidation of the fuel, having less air in the tank, so the gas doesn’t go bad as fast when you don’t drive it for awhile.

Talk to some guys who own motorcycles. The ones who store their bikes with less than full tanks will tell you about the perils of having Rust form inside their tanks (steel tanks) and it’s not a happy situation.

Another positive aspect (if it applies) is that if you always have full tanks, you can boogie out of there if your wife and girlfriend ever meet up and talk to each other.
….just sayin’.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Condensation is more of an issue with motorcycles than cars, because they tend to sit around more, especially seasonally.

The main reason to not let your fuel get too low is because the fuel pump is submerged in the tank and the gasoline is its coolant. If you run the tank down low, the pump will still pump fuel and the engine will keep on going, but you are stressing the pump by running it when it is not fully submerged. Keeping the tank 1/2 full is probably overkill for that, but everybody's driving (and fueling) habits are different...

 

[Master Blaster]

I'm not sure that fuel oxidation is a concern on the Hybrid, since unlike the EcoBoost and every other vehicle on the road, the fuel tank is not open to atmosphere and is pressurized. The fuel cannot oxidize under those conditions.

 

[icegradner]

I'm not sure that fuel oxidation is a concern on the Hybrid, since unlike the EcoBoost and every other vehicle on the road, the fuel tank is not open to atmosphere and is pressurized. The fuel cannot oxidize under those conditions.

It still has a vent for pressure equalization, so air must get into the tank still.

 

[Meeka]

I was told by my father 42 years ago, when I first started driving, that you shouldn't let your tank get below half. I never asked why, and to this day I still have no idea why he said it. But I have always filled my tank when it gets just a little below half, except if I'm on a trip then I go as long as I can. I've never had a problem on any of my vehicles so to answer your question, I have no idea.

Well if you’ve never had any problems then you've just answered my question, thanks. I

 

[The Real Maverick]

I’ve always filled up my vehicle’s fuel tanks when it gets to half. Is that a good idea or no, cause I’m wondering if the ‘older’ fuel goes bad, but no big deal if mixed with newer gas. Thanks. Remember, there are no dumb questions .

All the fuel industry experts say gasoline is good for 1 year in a sealed container.

Is your fuel tank a sealed container?
You can bet your sweet ass it is.
It is a REQUIREMENT by law, and designers make sure it is sealed and you have tons of extra "anti emissions" equipment added to guarantee it is sealed.

In fact, you'll get a check engine lamp if the seal ever fails.

"Vented" for pressure equalization allows minimal, trivial amounts of air to exchange with the fuel.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I always was told that it's not good to run it below 1/4 tank, by my Dad. I always thought he was a very smart man. So I've always played by those rules. I'm pretty sure it's so you don' suck up water or debris off the bottom of the tank. Or so that water, or ice don't form due to condensation. I'm sure cars are designed differentl today, vs how they were built in the 1920s. But all I can tell you is that I can't recall ever having a fuel issue in any car I've owned since 1972 when I started driving!

Every single minute of every single drive fuel is sucked from the bottom of the tank. This is so water as you say NEVER EVER EVER has opportunity to accumulate in your tank.

It's time this myth is busted.

If your mythical way of thinking were true, in Florida after a couple of years you'd have GALLONS of water in your tank!

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