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Author Topic: What level do you keep your fuel tank? Post a Reply Back to Topics
mcfaith

Rookie Author
Virginia

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Message Posted: May 16, 2011 2:13:23 PM

I have a minivan and I try to keep the tank around half full or higher and my hubby has a smaller car. He doesn't have a problem with letting the tank run down until the light's on. Yes, I've tried to tell him it's bad to do that...

I don't drive much, so fuel lasts a while for me. Does the weight of the fuel make that much of a difference in mpg? Is it better to keep it full if you can (when prices drop) or less?
REPLIES (newest first)
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GBMAX
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 2:18:24 AM

full before the prices increases more
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dgsteven
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 12:40:18 AM

1/2 tank
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forestghost07
Veteran Author Miami

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Message Posted: May 17, 2013 10:29:22 PM

vintage sports car - full as possible to prevent condensation

suv - who cares, it's a gas vampire full or empty
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hyeglenn
Champion Author Fresno

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Message Posted: May 17, 2013 10:26:57 PM

Full
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playtimeCLE
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 8:33:10 AM

Somewhere between full and empty... lol...

I fill the car up when it gets down to 1/4 tank. The gauge falls fast after that.
The wife wont tell me if the truck needs gas until the light comes on. Drives me crazy...
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 7:16:14 AM

to full
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 7:15:42 AM

3/4
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OilerFan
Champion Author Tulsa

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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 5:52:25 AM

I hope to keep it from being empty.
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: May 10, 2013 8:02:54 PM

Often up to 1/2 capacity, hardly any over that, away from home with a lower price I have room to take advantage on a fill-up.
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kellyoneal
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: May 10, 2013 11:46:07 AM

1/4 tank
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 10, 2013 2:40:20 AM

Topped up
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 10, 2013 2:40:10 AM

Full
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ricebike
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: May 9, 2013 10:27:33 PM

i don't let it get to the light that often

at least at 1/4 tank, i'll start looking for the lowest priced gas station along my route
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carinthuist
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: May 9, 2013 10:19:37 PM

half full then fillup
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GLM4205
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: May 9, 2013 3:39:17 AM

At least half full.
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pupule777
Veteran Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 9:53:45 AM

I fill up every Tueday when we are out shopping and that is approx. a litle more than half full !!
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 10:11:02 PM

Nope
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 10:10:53 PM

No
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krazkar
Veteran Author Calgary

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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 9:37:10 PM

Somewhere between empty and full
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Desoto49
Sophomore Author KW

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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 8:32:44 AM

Seldom below 1/2
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going up
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: May 6, 2013 5:26:58 AM

Usually pretty full.
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Pari4gas
Rookie Author Charlotte

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Message Posted: May 5, 2013 12:45:33 PM

Fill up the tank whenever I find a low cost gas. Filling tank full is a good choice always.
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 5, 2013 4:35:57 AM

Always
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: May 5, 2013 4:35:42 AM

Yes
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gassprite
Champion Author Toms River

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Message Posted: May 4, 2013 6:05:13 PM

I've tried filling my tank with all kinds of different gasoline. But none of them keep the level at full. The level falls with every different brand, blend, octane, etc.I give up.
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carinthuist
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: May 4, 2013 4:04:43 PM

keep full to lower cost on fill ups strategy
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davisadm
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 9:50:36 AM

From F to E
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73CH13
Rookie Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 9:35:27 AM

The weight of the fuel is something like 6.25 per gallon. If you have a 17 gallon tank, that's about a hundred pounds when full and only 50lbs when half full. I think your fine where your at. I don't actually believe 50lbs makes that big of a difference.
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streetirsx
Veteran Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: May 3, 2013 6:34:51 AM

usually when i hit 1/8 tank.
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DanFMA
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2013 2:41:35 AM

1/2+
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dgsteven
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2013 12:07:32 AM

normally 1/2
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Infidels
Rookie Author Alberta

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2013 8:46:34 PM

I fill up at 1/4 tank. I was told by a Chrysler Mechanic that running under 1/4 was hard on the fuel pump
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GLM4205
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2013 3:09:36 PM

At least 1/2 full.
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Houckster
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 27, 2013 9:32:11 AM

I try to keep my tank near full, at least over 3/4's.
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2amy
Champion Author Fresno

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 2:57:09 PM

I try to stay above the low fuel warning.

[Edited by: 2amy at 4/18/2013 5:58:05 PM EST]
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sbcaprice305
Rookie Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 11:00:05 AM

Davis, running it on fumes every tank hurts it, if not by the added heat it's by the junk in the tank.
How else does the fp keep cool? Spend two minutes researching it and you'll find that its true.

[Edited by: sbcaprice305 at 4/18/2013 2:03:22 PM EST]
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GrumpyCat
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 10:58:34 AM

The only thing wrong with running until the idiot light comes on is that idiot lights are not always that smart.

I let the tank run down until the light came on a couple of times. Drove 40 miles one time, 70 another, and figured there was still over a gallon left. The third time I ran out of gas about 2 miles after the light came on and took 11.2 gallons in a 11.9 gallon tank.

I don't let it get down that far anymore.

Those who claim fuel pump failure from "overheating" are spreading F.U.D.
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davisadm
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 8:09:40 AM

Full to empty. Why waste time just adding a few gallons. And there is nothing bad about running the tank to empty. Does not hurt the car or person driving it.
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 6:03:12 AM

Try to keep it full always
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 6:02:59 AM

3/4 to full
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Dennis783
Champion Author Des Moines

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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 5:04:41 AM

all leves... I fill to full, then run to empty
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BartandLisa
Champion Author Newfoundland

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Message Posted: Apr 15, 2013 2:27:26 PM

Usually full
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pilotmass
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2013 12:31:45 PM

Any level as long as I can get to where I want to go.
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redx590
Sophomore Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2013 10:23:21 AM

full
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carinthuist
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2013 9:34:23 AM

full when possible
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dgsteven
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2013 7:55:17 AM

3/4 full
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davisadm
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 28, 2013 8:01:15 AM

From F to E, then repeat
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reb4
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:38:28 PM

Never below e...
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pawnkingfour
All-Star Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 5:34:32 PM

I do not know if there is any scientific evidence that keeping low level of gasoline to about less than 1/4 do have negative effect.

I need to fine out!
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5p33df73ak
Sophomore Author Gary

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 4:26:06 PM

at least half but the lowest at 1/4
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