When do you fill your gas tank?

[SevenBizzos]

I usually fill up 15-25 miles after the "Get gas" light tells me to.

 

[Brons2]

No, there's many others who have observed the same on their older vehicles
Yes, that's what I meant. sorry I'm in a meeting atm.

Well if you never ever take it below half, maybe you need to drain the tank and start over to get the contamination out. I daily drove carbureted domestic and foreign cars for years, never had a problem running the tank down to near E. When I started driving in the 80s, fuel injected cars were just coming into wide usage, and I never had one until the mid 90s.

 

[GSCJR]

I usually fill up 15-25 miles after the "Get gas" light tells me to.

This or at 1/2 a tank if in unfamiliar territory.

 

[Bud]

Never below 1/4 tank.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

Interesting thread. I am probably most like Quattro Pete in my answer.

However this begs me to ask the question to all of you on BITOG with the wide range of autos and knowledge that you all have.

Do you know how many gallons give or take a 1/2 gallon or so you have left in the tank when the low fuel light comes on?

I have two cars that have drastic differently answers. My 2003 Dodge Durango has 5 gallons left in it's 25 gallon tank when the low fuel light comes on. My famous recital to my wife when she is riding in it and we experience that situation is....."still have 5 gallons left". My 2013 Dodge Dart is another story. When the low fuel light comes on you better find the nearest station.....as you have about 1/2 gallon left in the 15.2 gallon tank.

Cheers to all....looking forward to reading your answers.

 

[Kawiguy454]

The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Constantly driving down to empty heat stresses that realllly expensive pump. Guy at work replaced it twice in a few years his kids had a dumb habit of always near empty and putting in few gallons at a time. For me 1/4 is empty with exceptions.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

1/8-1/4, maybe 40-50 miles of range left. Gas light may come on once in a while, not that often maybe every fifth tank or so.

 

[mightymousetech]

The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Constantly driving down to empty heat stresses that realllly expensive pump. Guy at work replaced it twice in a few years his kids had a dumb habit of always near empty and putting in few gallons at a time. For me 1/4 is empty with exceptions.

The fuel going through the pump is what cools it.

 

[GSCJR]

The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Constantly driving down to empty heat stresses that realllly expensive pump. Guy at work replaced it twice in a few years his kids had a dumb habit of always near empty and putting in few gallons at a time. For me 1/4 is empty with exceptions.

As a dumb kid, I used to run our cars out of gas and NEVER replaced a fuel pump. As a dumb adult, I could run my Toyota to the kilometer and coast to the gas station and NEVER replaced a fuel pump EVER.

 

[ka9mnx]

1/4

 

[supton]

Typically around 1/8, or when comes on, occasionally when the needle is on E. Usually never far from a station. On a long trip, sure I will fill up sooner. But usually I can glance at the gauge and decide when I feel like it.

 

[Kestas]

Wow. Sounds like a defect.
Really? You mean vaporization?? Poor design, or some misunderstanding.

This is a real issue for classic carburated cars. Today's gasoline can more easily cause vapor lock than gas from decades ago.

 

[Zee09]

As gas gets higher i will fill at 1/2 tank as that keeps the shock value down. I'm lucky though as I work from home.

 

[Krieg]

In the morning!

 

[Wolf359]

But, I’ll plan fuel stops to avoid filling up in NJ, because I detest the lines, the slowness of the process, and the lack of care shown by attendants.

I always liked filling up in NJ, don't they have the lowest gas price? It's cheaper than NY, Maryland or Delaware.

 

[wemay]

On the weekends.

Currently...
That's about 1/2 tank for the Santa Fe 2.0T
That's about 1/2 tank for the Tucson

 

[Starman2112]

The fuel in the tank cools the pump. Constantly driving down to empty heat stresses that realllly expensive pump. Guy at work replaced it twice in a few years his kids had a dumb habit of always near empty and putting in few gallons at a time. For me 1/4 is empty with exceptions.

This ^

 

[Aredeeem]

I hang out at the pumps and wait until I see somebody getting supreme. I pull up and give the supreme nozzle a quick shake into the tank and then top it with regular. Sounds crazy but the Versa idles smoother and has quicker acceleration.

 

[Astro14]

I always liked filling up in NJ, don't they have the lowest gas price? It's cheaper than NY, Maryland or Delaware.

No longer true. No substantive difference between NJ, DE, or MD. Not much of a difference between NJ and CT, even. For a buck or two in total savings per fill up, the lines aren’t worth the hassle.

 

[Pablo]

This is a real issue for classic carburated cars. Today's gasoline can more easily cause vapor lock than gas from decades ago.

Sure ok. But filling a somewhat modern car at 1/2 tank is related how? Just seems freaky weird in most everyday situations. I can see if the NEXT station is a full tank away during an excursion from home base.

This ^

OK again......why fill at 1/2 tank?

Taking it down to 1/8 or 1/4 tank will in no way harm anything. If so, terrible design and/or execution.