Fuel range

[Chops]

The complex evap system in our trucks work best between 1/4 full and 3/4 full.

Below 1/4 risks sloshing that can cause evap system aborts and misreads.

Over 3/4 increases the risk of saturated charcoal canisters that will throw a costly to repair code.

Those that run their tanks to near empty or fill “beyond the first click” or just asking to have evap systems issues.

C’mon folks - let’s all keep our breathing air cleaner. Our cats & dogs & other animals will appreciate it too!

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[Aleks]

and the wives' tale still lives on to this day...

everybody has one.

 

[Ranko Kohime]

The complex evap system in our trucks work best between 1/4 full and 3/4 full.

Below 1/4 risks sloshing that can cause evap system aborts and misreads.

Over 3/4 increases the risk of saturated charcoal canisters that will throw a costly to repair code.

Those that run their tanks to near empty or fill “beyond the first click” or just asking to have evap systems issues.

C’mon folks - let’s all keep our breathing air cleaner. Our cats & dogs & other animals will appreciate it too!

Maybe manufacturers could design evap systems that don't suck then.

I didn't pay for 1/2 gas tank, I paid for the whole thing. If the evap can't handle that, well...

 

[Tbone91]

It’s a personal preference I guess. Go empty and fill to half or full.
Go half and fill to full.
Both cost the same in time.
I would hate to be the person that keeps a tank near empty when an emergency or great opportunity happens. I guess those people will then convert to having gas in their tank.

I go to half tank then fill. Makes me feel better knowing that when I might need it I have it. One winter in my old Impala I slid off the road into a snow pile during a bad storm. I sat there for about 3 1/2 hours until the tow truck was able to make it there. I was happy that I filled the night before as I was able to keep it running and stay warm. And for all who are wondering I did get out and make sure my tailpipe was clear of the snow bank. I also dug out as much as possible so when the tow truck did make it he was just able to hook up and pull me out. Ya just never know what may happen on your drive, why chance it

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I think there is a difference here between people going 100+ miles per day and those going 100 miles per month.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.


I'm 90 miles per day. 100 if I run errands or take some detours.

Running as low as practical saves me time and money.

Time: 52 fill ups per year vs 100?
Ya. I'm doing the first.

Money: loyalty card paints get me $1 off per gallon up to 25 gallons. Deducts 100 points PER VISIT no matter how many gallons are pump. I shoot for between 14 and 15 gallons per visit. Saves me $14 to $15 per visit.

Burning ~14 gallons DOES ZERO HARM.

Debatable beyond this.

 

[TiberiusWise]

I never like to buy fuel until it gets exciting wondering if I'll make it to the next gas station. I'm kind of a bad a$$ that way. I also run with scissors.

 

[Chops]

Deducts 100 points PER VISIT no matter how many gallons are pump.

I agree with your point that every driving/mileage situation is unique. The expression “YMMV” is an apt clique.

Also think your specific fueling strategy makes sense.

I do wonder about the gas station’s policy of penalizing frequent stops at their station?

Visiting 100 times for 10 gallons cost more than visiting 70 times for 14 gallons - for about the same amount of fuel. What could their reasoning be?

Pumping 14 gallons takes longer than pumping 10 gallons. Do they have a convenience store attached?

 

[MavStangVa]

Well, some of us end up filling 5 times per day, because of towing, in head winds, when gas prices vary wildly even when you can't blame it on a foreign nation or a local one, it's just that region you need to stop in has $1/gal higher prices always because *shrug*, and you definitely wouldn't make it to the next price region.

Exactly why I've just purchased a 55 gallon tank to put in the bed. That'll be a thread for a later date.

Let's say you get 15 mpg towing, 15 X 13.8 (listed size) = 207 times 5 = 1035! WOW that is a lot of driving. Towing at 60 MPH will take you 17.25 hours, add in the time for 5 fill ups, when do you eat sleep and sh*t?
You are a unique example not the normal DD commuter who wants to see just how far they can go on a tank. I have a feeling that tank in the bed will affect your MPG.

 

[Master Blaster]

Lubricated? Lubricates what? Its a sealed unit...

You do know that it has moving parts in it with bearings, right? Those are not lubricated by magic pixie stuff.

 

[Ranko Kohime]

Let's say you get 15 mpg towing, 15 X 13.8 (listed size) = 207 times 5 = 1035! WOW that is a lot of driving. Towing at 60 MPH will take you 17.25 hours, add in the time for 5 fill ups, when do you eat sleep and sh*t?
You are a unique example not the normal DD commuter who wants to see just how far they can go on a tank. I have a feeling that tank in the bed will affect your MPG.

Weight, while it will increase rolling resistance, somewhat, cannot be accounted for in an real-world, non-laboratory testing. As in, the difference in wind speed between A & B tests, between a vehicle with only a lightweight driver, and the same vehicle loaded to GVWR, will make more difference than the weight, and a 2mph headwind on test A vs a 2mph tailwind on test B would yield results suggesting that more weight is good for fuel economy.

Here's some insights into how bad things can get, at times. The trailer I was moving towards the end of the list, on 6/20, started out the day with 80% in the tank, and I had to fuel twice before delivering it just after noon. I drove close to 100 miles unloaded before the 3rd fuel up that day.

 

[Ranko Kohime]

You do know that it has moving parts in it with bearings, right? Those are not lubricated by magic pixie stuff.

I mean, they could be...

 

[MavStangVa]

Weight, while it will increase rolling resistance, somewhat, cannot be accounted for in an real-world, non-laboratory testing. As in, the difference in wind speed between A & B tests, between a vehicle with only a lightweight driver, and the same vehicle loaded to GVWR, will make more difference than the weight, and a 2mph headwind on test A vs a 2mph tailwind on test B would yield results suggesting that more weight is good for fuel economy.

Here's some insights into how bad things can get, at times. The trailer I was moving towards the end of the list, on 6/20, started out the day with 80% in the tank, and I had to fuel twice before delivering it just after noon. I drove close to 100 miles unloaded before the 3rd fuel up that day.

As I said you are an EXCEPTION.

 

[Chops]

You do know that it has moving parts in it with bearings, right? Those are not lubricated by magic pixie stuff.

Gasoline is a solvent not a lubricant. Having a bit of gasoline in your engine oil (oil dilution) might keep bearings a bit cleaner - but they will wear out faster for lack of lubrication.

edit - correction:
“Gasoline lubricates fuel pump bearings through hydrodynamic lubrication. [1]

Even though gasoline is a strong solvent with low viscosity, it still functions as a liquid barrier under specific mechanical conditions.”
Source - google search engine

 

[samspritzer]

Well, some of us end up filling 5 times per day, because of towing, in head winds, when gas prices vary wildly even when you can't blame it on a foreign nation or a local one, it's just that region you need to stop in has $1/gal higher prices always because *shrug*, and you definitely wouldn't make it to the next price region.

Exactly why I've just purchased a 55 gallon tank to put in the bed. That'll be a thread for a later date.

This is my "55 gallon tank" and it doesn't take up much space in the bed....just enough to get to the next gas station.

 

[MavGeek]

I go to half tank then fill. Makes me feel better knowing that when I might need it I have it. One winter in my old Impala I slid off the road into a snow pile during a bad storm. I sat there for about 3 1/2 hours until the tow truck was able to make it there. I was happy that I filled the night before as I was able to keep it running and stay warm. And for all who are wondering I did get out and make sure my tailpipe was clear of the snow bank. I also dug out as much as possible so when the tow truck did make it he was just able to hook up and pull me out. Ya just never know what may happen on your drive, why chance it

Winter is definitely when I care most about keeping my gas tank as full as possible.

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