There’s almost nothing worse than getting into your car and realizing you don’t have enough gas to get to your destination. The time it takes to make a detour to the nearest gas station, in addition to the cost of the gas itself, can be quite inconvenient. So, is there a specific amount of gas you need to keep in your car’s tank at all times?
You don’t have to keep your car’s tank completely full at all times
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While it may be a good idea to keep your car’s gas tank full so you don’t need to worry about making pesky trips to the pump, keeping it a quarter full is enough. . According to Family handymanKeeping your car tank at least a quarter only negates the need to dart to the gas station at the worst possible time, but it can also help extend the life of your car’s engine.
Your car’s fuel pump is also at risk
Your car’s gas tank feeds fuel through a fuel pump, which then pumps fuel to the engine. As the fuel pump runs, it gets really hot. But when immersed in fuel, the liquid cools it. This means that if you use less than a quarter tank of gas, the fuel pump may overheat and fail over time.
To make matters worse, the fuel pump can start picking up sediment from the bottom of the tank if it’s run on empty for too long. Therefore, if you have at least a quarter tank of gas all the time, you can extend the life of your fuel pump in addition to reducing the need to go to the gas station.
Here are some fuel saving tips
If you want to avoid unnecessary trips to the gas station and save fuel overall, here are some tips to fuel economy state farm:
- Combine your trips: One of the best ways to save fuel is to combine your trips when possible. Making multiple trips throughout the day or week can impact how much gas your car uses on average.
- Continue on with your car’s routine maintenance: Ensuring your car’s routine maintenance is up to date will ensure it gets the most miles per gallon.
- Driving at a moderate speed: If you like constantly accelerating around town, your heavy right foot can equate to poor fuel economy. Drive slower to save gas.
- Keep your car’s tires properly inflated: Under-inflated or over-inflated tires can equate to fewer miles per gallon. In this case, make sure your tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended specifications at all times. Check tire pressure at least once a month.
Following these recommendations can keep your car in top working order and ensure that you don’t have to keep filling it up. Plus, keeping your car’s gas tank at least a quarter full will save you from having to go to the gas station at the most inopportune times and will extend the life of the car’s gas pump. After all, replacing it can be quite expensive.
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