Fuel fill-up question

[Ozarkbeard]

...water would accumulate in the bottom of the tank; also considering that water and gasoline are practically insoluble with each other.

Water will mix with the ethanol in most gasoline sold these days. So it will not accumulate in the bottom of the tank (unless you're running real gas, AKA ethanol-free).

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[Bob The Builder]

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

Unless you run E-Free like I do, then keeping a full tank in our miserable weather is a must in my book.

 

[mr mojo risen]

Water will mix with the ethanol in most gasoline sold these days. So it will not accumulate in the bottom of the tank (unless you're running real gas, AKA ethanol-free).

Ethanol Specific Gravity = 0.79, and is soluble in both gasoline and water. It will dispense throughout the gasoline phase so mixing with water will be limited. But yes, ethanol-free gas is the safest way to go.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Someone posted once that if you had not filled up after several months the ice would run more frequently to need gas sooner.

There's no evidence of that in a hybrid.

I've read that does occur in a plug-in hybrid. Since they may go ten times as many all electric miles or more.

 

[AircraftEngineer]

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.

Condensation. Not sure if that is still true. I use gas with no ethanol. My belief is that the premium no ethanol gas will be better for the entire system.

 

[MetalsGeek]

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 .

I think the main reason to keep at least half a tank is for the SHTF scenario. If you fill up at least every couple months, you will have nothing to worry about. If your vehicle sits a lot, you're best to keep it full because that minimizes the tank surface exposed to air, where corrosion tends to start. I use a fuel stabilizer whenever I burn less than a tankful in 5 or 6 months (mostly small engines). Modern fuels containing ethanol will absorb moisture from the air, and when the ethanol eventually gets saturated, you will have "phase separation" (water in the bottom of your tank). At this point, you're in deep Bandini since there is no easy way to clean out that rusty gunk. Adding Heet can help absorb this water so the engine will burn it.

 

[Dale Baker]

Question, does the Maverick have a metal fuel tank? My 2000 Ranger had a plastic tank. I find it hard to believe we’ve gone backwards on technology.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I think the main reason to keep at least half a tank is for the SHTF scenario. If you fill up at least every couple months, you will have nothing to worry about. If your vehicle sits a lot, you're best to keep it full because that minimizes the tank surface exposed to air, where corrosion tends to start. I use a fuel stabilizer whenever I burn less than a tankful in 5 or 6 months (mostly small engines). Modern fuels containing ethanol will absorb moisture from the air, and when the ethanol eventually gets saturated, you will have "phase separation" (water in the bottom of your tank). At this point, you're in deep Bandini since there is no easy way to clean out that rusty gunk. Adding Heet can help absorb this water so the engine will burn it.

The tank is plastic. There is virtually NO AIR in the tank. Did you read this entire thread? No. You did not. Your loss.

Heet is methanol but works just like ethanol. Thought everyone knew that.

And how much "Heet" do you add? A pint? Or a quart? A full tank of E10 the most common fuel used in the USA will have 1.5 GALLONS of "HEET" in there from the gas station. But.... it's your money.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Question, does the Maverick have a metal fuel tank? My 2000 Ranger had a plastic tank. I find it hard to believe we’ve gone backwards on technology.

Please read post 46 and prepare to be amazed.

 

[Tbone289]

Water will mix with the ethanol in most gasoline sold these days. So it will not accumulate in the bottom of the tank (unless you're running real gas, AKA ethanol-free).

Yes it will settle at the bottom. In fact, to separate ethanol out of gasoline, you pour water in, shake it, and wait for it to settle so the water/ethanol mixture can be drained off the bottom:

https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Ethanol-from-Gas

 

[Automan21]

Fuel won’t go bad like that in the tank unless you haven’t driven the car in a year.
I’ve driven cars til the light comes on and past E on fumes just for fun even til it starts to sputter. Luckily I was alway close to a gas station.

 

[MYNOMAV]

The tank is plastic. There is virtually NO AIR in the tank.

The would be no air if the tank is/has a bladder/bag in it. I don't know if it is/does.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Condensation. Not sure if that is still true. I use gas with no ethanol. My belief is that the premium no ethanol gas will be better for the entire system.

We have stations that sell no ethanol (aka real gas) in all three grades. Why is the premium grade better ?

 

[The Real Maverick]

We have stations that sell no ethanol (aka real gas) in all three grades. Why is the premium grade better ?

It's not. Just a myth.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Yes it will settle at the bottom. In fact, to separate ethanol out of gasoline, you pour water in, shake it, and wait for it to settle so the water/ethanol mixture can be drained.

Sure it separates, if you purposefully add at least one part water to 16 parts gasoline. The more the merrier. But in our "about" 16 gallon fuel tanks, you'll need to add one gallon of water.

Anyone think that is going to happen "by nature".

By the way, I wrote a wiki for separating gas from ethanol way back in 2007, primarily to test for ethanol content in various blends. I used to go 50-50 to make the math easy since I was measuring for specific content.

NO ONE uses this technique to "purify" gasoline. Well, some back woods hillbilly shiner might. I can't be sure.

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