Sylvie Willis
Filling up your fuel tank at the right time can save you money and keep your vehicle in good condition. Allowing your tank to run close to empty can cause damage to your fuel pump, as dirt and other particles can settle and cause a build-up. To avoid this, try not to let your fuel drop below a 1/4 tank. Filling up your tank first thing in the morning when the temperature is cooler can also get you more gas for your money, as gas contracts in colder weather. Generally, gas prices are cheapest at the beginning of the week, so Mondays and Tuesdays are the best days to fill up.
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What You'll Learn
- Avoid letting your fuel drop below 1/4 tank to prevent damage to your fuel pump
- Filling up in the early morning can get you more gas due to gas contracting in cold weather
- Gas prices are typically cheapest on Mondays and Tuesdays
- Filling up during winter can save you money as winter gas is cheaper than summer gas
- Do not fully fill your tank as gasoline expands and contracts?
Avoid letting your fuel drop below 1/4 tank to prevent damage to your fuel pump
It is recommended that you avoid letting your fuel drop below a quarter of a tank. While this was previously due to the risk of sediment forming at the bottom of a gas tank, modern fuel tanks are made of high-density plastic, making rust formation unlikely. However, the fuel pump in modern vehicles is located within the engine, and fuel helps keep it cool. When the fuel level falls below the fuel pump, the pump starts taking in air, generating more heat and potentially leading to overheating. This can cause the fuel pump to wear out prematurely or even fail completely if the temperature rises excessively.
The fuel pump plays a critical role in your vehicle's fuel system by ensuring that fuel is delivered to the engine via the fuel lines. Additionally, it maintains the necessary fuel pressure as the fuel travels to the engine. A well-maintained fuel pump should typically last for at least 100,000 miles. However, letting your fuel drop below a quarter of a tank can increase the risk of fuel pump issues, such as clogging from sediment or failure due to overheating.
While it is uncommon, sediment can still enter your fuel tank, usually from contaminated fuel. This sediment can cause problems with the fuel pump, leading to difficulty in starting your vehicle or even a complete failure to start due to insufficient fuel reaching the engine. By maintaining a fuel level above a quarter of a tank, you can help protect the fuel pump from sediment-related issues.
Furthermore, keeping your fuel tank at least a quarter full can also benefit the fuel filter, which is located outside of the fuel tank. A clogged fuel filter can cause similar issues to a faulty fuel pump, including engine shaking at idle, difficulty starting, and stalling while driving. By preventing the fuel filter from drying out, you can reduce the likelihood of these issues and maintain optimal vehicle performance.
In summary, while modern fuel tanks have reduced the risk of rust, it is still important to avoid letting your fuel drop below a quarter of a tank. Doing so helps protect the fuel pump and fuel filter from potential damage caused by overheating, sediment, or clogging. By maintaining adequate fuel levels, you can ensure the proper functioning of these critical components and extend their lifespan, ultimately saving you time, money, and potential roadside hassles.
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Filling up in the early morning can get you more gas due to gas contracting in cold weather
Filling up your fuel tank in the early morning has been said to provide more gas for your money due to the gas contracting in cold weather. This idea is based on the fact that gas, like all liquids, expands when heated and contracts when cooled.
However, this theory may not always hold true in practice. While gasoline does expand and contract with temperature changes, the effect is relatively minor. For example, when the temperature rises from 60° F to 75° F, gasoline's volume increases by only 1%, while its energy content remains constant.
Additionally, it's important to consider how gasoline is stored at filling stations. Gasoline is typically stored in underground tanks, which experience much less temperature variation compared to the air above. As a result, the temperature of the gasoline coming out of the fuel nozzle varies very little throughout the day.
In a test conducted by Consumer Reports, the temperature of gasoline dispensed from an underground tank similar to those found at typical filling stations was measured during both morning (8:30 a.m.) and early afternoon (12:30 to 1 p.m.) over several summer days. While the air temperature varied by up to 12° F, the fuel in the underground tank remained at a steady 62° F. Consequently, the fuel temperature coming out of the nozzle showed little variation between the morning and afternoon fill-ups.
Therefore, while the basic principle behind the idea of filling up in the early morning to get more gas may be correct, the actual impact on your fuel quantity is likely negligible. Other factors, such as using fuel rewards points, may offer more significant savings at the pump.
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Gas prices are typically cheapest on Mondays and Tuesdays
With gas prices near all-time highs, it is important to know the best time to fill up your tank to get the most bang for your buck. One way to save money is to fill your tank at the beginning of the week, preferably on Mondays and Tuesdays, as gas prices are typically the cheapest during these days. According to a GasBuddy petroleum analyst, gas prices steadily rise as the week progresses, with prices culminating in the highest price during the weekend.
While the national average price of gas may be lowest on Mondays and Tuesdays, it is worth checking your local gas stations to see if other days are cheaper. Additionally, gas prices fluctuate depending on the season, with winter gas typically being cheaper than summer gas due to the use of butane, a cheaper ingredient, in the winter blend. Therefore, if possible, aim to buy more gas during the winter months to take advantage of the lower prices.
Another way to save money on gas is to fill up your tank in the early morning, especially during cold weather. Gas contracts slightly in colder temperatures, resulting in a higher MPG. While this may not provide immediate cost savings, the higher MPG can lead to long-term monetary benefits. However, it is important to note that allowing your tank to consistently get close to empty can damage your vehicle. Dirt and other particles can settle at the bottom of your fuel tank, and if the tank is almost empty, these particles can get into the fuel pump and cause extensive and costly damage.
To summarize, the best times to fill up your gas tank to save money are Mondays and Tuesdays, during the early morning in cold weather, and during the winter months when gas prices are generally lower. By taking advantage of these times, you can maximize your fuel savings and make your gas money go further.
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Filling up during winter can save you money as winter gas is cheaper than summer gas
With gas prices soaring, it is important to find ways to save money. While the price of gas stays relatively close between visits, you can improve your fuel expense. For instance, changing the time of day or adjusting when you fill your tank can help you save money in both the short and long term.
One way to save money is to fill up your gas tank at the beginning of the week, preferably on Mondays and Tuesdays, when gas prices are typically at their cheapest. As the week goes on, prices tend to rise, with weekends seeing the highest prices.
Another strategy is to fill up during the winter months when gas is generally cheaper than in summer. This is because gas is a seasonal product, and its formula changes slightly depending on the time of year. In winter, butane is used to reduce emissions in cold weather, and as butane is cheaper than the ingredients used in the summer blend, winter gas is usually more affordable. By filling up your tank in the early morning before the day's temperature rises, you can take advantage of the slight contraction of gas in cold weather, getting marginally more gas and improving your MPG.
While these strategies may not provide immediate cost savings, they can help you save money on fuel in the long run. It is also important to note that you should avoid letting your fuel tank get too low, as this can cause dirt and particles to get into your fuel pump, leading to costly repairs.
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Do not fully fill your tank as gasoline expands and contracts
Gasoline expands and contracts with changes in temperature. The volume of liquid fuel expands and contracts with temperature change—more than four times temperature's influence on water volume. This means that the density of gasoline changes with temperature. However, fuel pump meters measure volume but also measure temperature and apply a correction factor to account for changes in density. So, it doesn't matter what temperature you buy your gas; you always get the same mass of fuel.
Gasoline at gas stations is stored in underground tanks that have a constant temperature year-round. Depending on how deep the tank is underground, the temperature won't vary much, even when it's very cold above ground. Therefore, the temperature compensators that are applied in the US and elsewhere in the world to formulate the volume of fuel sold and its temperature to what it would be at 60 degrees Fahrenheit are not allowed on gasoline pumps in Michigan.
Since gasoline expands and contracts with changes in temperature, it is recommended to fill up your gas tank before a big warm-up. For example, if you fill up your gas tank when it is very cold outside, you will get slightly more fuel for your money than you would filling up after the warm-up. If the gasoline was as cold as a frigid Wednesday when the temperature was -13, it would be about 4% more dense than at nearly 50 degrees on Monday. If gas costs $2 a gallon, that's about 8 cents of free, additional gasoline per gallon.
However, it is important to note that the changes in volume due to thermal expansion in the container and the liquid inside would be negligible. Any temperature that won't freeze ethanol or cause so much pressure due to heating to rupture the vessel will work.
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Frequently asked questions
As a general rule of thumb, avoid letting your fuel drop below 1/4 tank.
If you consistently let your fuel tank get close to almost empty, dirt and other particles can get into your fuel pump and cause extensive and expensive damage.
In cold weather, gas contracts by roughly 1% per 15-degree change in temperature. Therefore, you can get more gas in your tank by filling up in the early morning before the temperature of the day sets in.
Typically, gas prices are lowest on Mondays and Tuesdays and steadily rise throughout the week, culminating in the highest price during the weekend.
Because gasoline expands and contracts, it's best not to fill your tank completely. This is especially true if you're pumping gas into a portable tank, as the gas can expand by up to 10% and cause a sizeable spill.
