Fuel Question...
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Baltimore, MD
Fuel Question...
Ok, so we all know lugging around extra CRAP in the back of your truck is not advised, because more weight means lower MPG. I read some where that an extra 400# can cost you 1 MPG. In our trucks I bet its worse. I was thinking today what about if you also did the same with your gas tank.
Ok here goes if you fill up your gas tank 30 gallons with gas at 6.7# per gallon lets just round up to 7#.
7# * 30 = 210#
If you filled up you tank with 15 gallons or to just under 1/2 tank everytime you fill up wouldn't that help with your fuel economy?
Sure you would have to stop for gas more often but couldn't that help?
Ok here goes if you fill up your gas tank 30 gallons with gas at 6.7# per gallon lets just round up to 7#.
7# * 30 = 210#
If you filled up you tank with 15 gallons or to just under 1/2 tank everytime you fill up wouldn't that help with your fuel economy?
Sure you would have to stop for gas more often but couldn't that help?
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Grand Island, NY
In theory you are correct, using your #'s you are talking about 100 lbs less, so your net gain would be .25 mpg. Depending on how convenient it is to get gas I would think the gain would be offset by red light and stops idling to get to the gas station 2x as often. I would be interested if someone had data on a lower spoiler or air dam on the front. I realize it would be a ground clearence issue for some uses but look at the new semi's they really try to keep air from going under the rig. I knew a guy with a 1976 camaro during the late 70's gas crunch that put on a low spoiler on the front and did 4-6 hours thruway travel a day he claimed it helped improve milage about 2mpg.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
I suppose it would, but if 400 lbs = 1 mpg then a half tank (by your reasoning) equals 105 lbs which equals 1/4 mpg savings. Not enough in my book to worry about. Even if you double that I'm still not going to worry about.
Think of it this way, at 1/4 mpg savings with current prices (around me at least) at $2.449 a gallon I'm saving about a 1/2 cent per mile driven. I typically drive about 125 miles in a week. That adds up to a whopping $0.63 a week or 32 bucks a year. When you figure that my time is money and here in stupid Oregon we can't pump our own gas so I have to wait for a slow as crap pump jockey to pump it, it's not worth the extra time to fuel up twice as often.
Think of it this way, at 1/4 mpg savings with current prices (around me at least) at $2.449 a gallon I'm saving about a 1/2 cent per mile driven. I typically drive about 125 miles in a week. That adds up to a whopping $0.63 a week or 32 bucks a year. When you figure that my time is money and here in stupid Oregon we can't pump our own gas so I have to wait for a slow as crap pump jockey to pump it, it's not worth the extra time to fuel up twice as often.
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From: North Attleboro, MA
Now pitrow, don't knock the octane slingers. It's a tough job and somebody's gotta do it. They come from a long line of, of, aw hell who am I kidding. They suck... I can relate to your pain having traveled in Jersey.
Smitty
Smitty
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From: Baltimore, MD
So this guy seems to think like I do...
"3) Don't fill up on so much fuel. You have to keep atleast a quarter tank because most modern day cars have fuel pumps that are cooled by the gasoline inside the tank. But you don't need to lug an extra 10 gallons of fuel at 8lbs a gallon. "
http://stockton.craigslist.org/aos/67870566.html
"3) Don't fill up on so much fuel. You have to keep atleast a quarter tank because most modern day cars have fuel pumps that are cooled by the gasoline inside the tank. But you don't need to lug an extra 10 gallons of fuel at 8lbs a gallon. "
http://stockton.craigslist.org/aos/67870566.html
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Pennies saved!
I always fill up my tank! Every Tuesday the local gas station has 7 cents off the regular price. I use a tank a week, so extra weight doesn't matter if I can save that extra 7 cents a gallon on Tuesdays!
I just thought of some thing, just think of the savings if I keep my Expo empty of the junk I always lug around, if you figured that right plus the 7 cents savings!
I just thought of some thing, just think of the savings if I keep my Expo empty of the junk I always lug around, if you figured that right plus the 7 cents savings!
Last edited by 99questions; May 4, 2005 at 02:25 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Maryland
I have a similar situation. Every Friday and Monday I have to drive about 30 miles out of town (away from home, the opposite direction from work), which is a bit of a hassle. But the advantage is that the gas is about 20-30 cents cheaper out there than anywhere else around my house. (the Costco in Frederick MD has good prices on gas, but where I live in Gaithersburg the gas is waaaaay more expensive). Anyway, it makes more sense for me to fill up with the cheaper gas when I can. If I get low during the week, I won't fill up -- I'll just add a few gallons here and there until I can get back to the cheaper $tuff!