When to fill up?
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New User
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 11
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When to fill up?
Experts have stated to fill up your tank when 1/4 is left. The reason is to save on wear and tear of your fuel pump. The 1/4 mark on the fuel gage is an only estimate. But my question is how many miles left would you equate to 1/4 of a tank left? In some ways, I think that’s hard to determine. For me lately, I’ve been choosing to fill up when I have 50 miles left.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,950
Likes: 510
From: Foothills, CA
Experts have stated to fill up your tank when 1/4 is left. The reason is to save on wear and tear of your fuel pump. The 1/4 mark on the fuel gage is an only estimate. But my question is how many miles left would you equate to 1/4 of a tank left? In some ways, I think that’s hard to determine. For me lately, I’ve been choosing to fill up when I have 50 miles left.
My $.02...
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 20
From: brigham city Utah
We, me and my wife fill up at half tank. We do this really for one reason. this is part of our emergency preparedness plan. with at least 1/2 tank if I ever needed to get out of town fast I can get down the road over 100 miles in both of our rides with out stopping. This has only been an issue once in our married life but it was very nice when we needed it.
just my two cents.
just my two cents.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 681
Likes: 11
When I look down at the gauge and think...Hmmm, gettin kinda low, probably should fill up. Never considered a fuel pump issue and if our fuel pumps really want a quarter tank or more to stay happy then we all got engineering issues way bigger than a stupid fuel pump.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,463
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From: Calgary Canada
I've been using this system for about 15 years. Didn't like the results with the system before that.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
I have heard since about 1996 that we should fill up at no lower than 1/4 tank, due to the pumps using the fuel for cooling. I have heard that many vehicles now have deeper designed tanks with bigger fuel bowl in the tank for the pump to mount in and bigger volume of reserve fuel now for that reason. I'm guessing by now, pumps can handle the exposure to air, due to pump improvements, but maybe not, that makes too much sense. When I get down to a third of a tank I start looking for fuel, only because I have found at 63 I have forgot to get the fuel too many times and have pulled into filling stations with only fumes left in the tank. So happy that little ding ding and light are there now.
I will say, I have to give credit to the engineer that picked the spot for that ding ding and the low fuel light to go on, it left me with just enough fuel to get to the next open station, how did they figure that one out.
I will say, I have to give credit to the engineer that picked the spot for that ding ding and the low fuel light to go on, it left me with just enough fuel to get to the next open station, how did they figure that one out.
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Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,216
Likes: 1,231
From: San Antonio, TX
Don’t know why you need to know how many miles are left, 1/4 on the gauge is all you need to know. On my truck, with a 36 gallon tank, that means that I have about 150-170 miles left to drive depending on how I drive it. Also, whenever I stop to get fuel I fill it up. Stop when it clicks off. Don’t keep stuffing fuel in.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 103
From: FL
I never really go by DTE, just fill when I get below 1/4. On the 36 gallon tank you still have 9+ gallons left when you hit a quarter tank.
Sound advice to keep the from having Evap problems.
Sound advice to keep the from having Evap problems.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 410
I start pondering between 1/2 and 1/4. I have found that Sunday seems to be the cheapest day to buy gas. It really depends on when I last bought gas. With a 36g tank, and no trips on the horizon, I can go over a month without getting gas, I like to run it down to a 1/4 tank to try and cycle 'getting old' gas out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 72
You are all doing it wrong. Keep no more than 1/4 tank in the truck at a time unless you plan to take a long trip. It reduces weight, which means an increase in mpg, acceleration, and braking distances.
Today's gasoline goes bad quickly since it is more volatile than just 10 years ago. You'll always have fresher gas if you replace it more often.
Just refill when the truck stops moving. It's great opportunity to work your legs and help stay in shape.
Actually, I refill between 1/8 and 1/4 tank on my truck. It has the 36 gallon tank, so there is plenty of range still left.
Today's gasoline goes bad quickly since it is more volatile than just 10 years ago. You'll always have fresher gas if you replace it more often.
Just refill when the truck stops moving. It's great opportunity to work your legs and help stay in shape.
Actually, I refill between 1/8 and 1/4 tank on my truck. It has the 36 gallon tank, so there is plenty of range still left.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 1,629
I usually fill up at about half a tank.
That said, newer fuel pumps are held inside a canister that is constantly being filled by the pump, then that fuel is pushed to the motor. The recommended '1/4' tank thing is really bogus, it's more before you run out - as long as the pump can suck up fuel (which it needs about a 1/4" depth of fluid to be able to do), it will continue being cooled.
Never trust DTE. It is not consistent from vehicle to vehicle. I have seen some vehicles run out with 50 miles to empty, I have seen some vehicles able to run well past their 0 miles to empty. Trust your gage. If it stops working, get it fixed.
That said, newer fuel pumps are held inside a canister that is constantly being filled by the pump, then that fuel is pushed to the motor. The recommended '1/4' tank thing is really bogus, it's more before you run out - as long as the pump can suck up fuel (which it needs about a 1/4" depth of fluid to be able to do), it will continue being cooled.
Never trust DTE. It is not consistent from vehicle to vehicle. I have seen some vehicles run out with 50 miles to empty, I have seen some vehicles able to run well past their 0 miles to empty. Trust your gage. If it stops working, get it fixed.