Can you save money with a half-filled fuel tanks?

[Hugo_za]

http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/78139/can-you-save-money-with-a-half-filled-fuel-tank/

I have been doing this for many years.

Using the formula in the article it show a 0.5l/100km increase in fuel economy if I were to drive with a full tank (calculated on an average economy if 17.5/100km and a fuel tank size of 88l).

However...when you crunch the numbers its only a saving of R0.05 per kilometer. Weighing that up against the inconvenience of having to stop twice as often for fuel make for an "either/or" scenario and it really is much of a muchness.

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

Interesting observations indeed :coolShake:

 

[Charlie Brown]

I think it's laughable as I can't see how that tiny savings warrants having to go the petrol station twice as often.

I can't tell you how much I hate going to petrol station, just a waste of time, and with 330 averaging about 11/100kms it's already tooooooo often.

Could make case to remove things like tow ropes, jumper cables, medical kits, non OEM sound systems and all the other non essential "crap" that we all carry around in an effort to reduce the weight, but gains would be minuscule.

 

[Bayn46]

I'm pretty sure that weight saving has far less impact on cars with a decent power output. I also don't like letting my tank go below 1/4 as the fuel helps keep the fuel pump cooled.

 

[RAArmstrong]

I prefer to keep my tank full and fill up when I get to about half a tank... That way its not such a big hit to my bank balance each time :rollsmile:

 

[ChefDJ]

I prefer to keep my tank full and fill up when I get to about half a tank... That way its not such a big hit to my bank balance each time :rollsmile:

It's half the hit, but twice as often :fencelook:


Good practice in any case. You know you have plenty fuel in case you're in an unfamiliar area and can't find a garage.

 

[RAArmstrong]

I prefer to keep my tank full and fill up when I get to about half a tank... That way its not such a big hit to my bank balance each time :rollsmile:

It's half the hit, but twice as often :fencelook:


Good practice in any case. You know you have plenty fuel in case you're in an unfamiliar area and can't find a garage.

That too... I fill up now about once a week which is fine really...

 

[Doomsdaya]

I'm pretty sure that weight saving has far less impact on cars with a decent power output. I also don't like letting my tank go below 1/4 as the fuel helps keep the fuel pump cooled.

:withStu:

I also don't like driving with tank below 1/4 as all the gunk at the bottom of the tank will go through the fuel pump and get clogged in the fuel filter...

 

[Pho3niX90]

Just taking into account the extra trip to the fuel station. I would actually be loosing money.

 

[ChefDJ]

Just taking into account the extra trip to the fuel station. I would actually be loosing money.

Yup +1

 

[Zound]

No more half-fill fuel tanks for me :ty:

 

[Hugo_za]

Hahahaha with an 88l tank in the 7 I fill only halfway just to not cry every time I'm at the petrol station

 

[Bernard///M3]

I prefer to keep my tank full and fill up when I get to about half a tank... That way its not such a big hit to my bank balance each time :rollsmile:

I prefer driving until light is on Ive driven around many a time with the range saying 0km. With BMW it isn't too bad but With Prado at old prices I would hit R2k to fill up 150L
Another reason I like to empty it out is to get most of the fuel out so u not left with gunk, a friend of mine also had a Prado like mine but he like to fill up often before it reached half way, now the Prado has to tanks a 80L main tank and an additional 70L tank, but because he would never use the 2nd tank it built up with gunk and he had to have the tank drained and cleaned plus some filters had to changed cost him a couple of grand

 

[Andy1GP]

+1 on what Phoenix90 said.

And for kicks here's an interesting story.

On the Boeing 747-400 for every 10,000kg of fuel you would load you needed to load an additional 1,000kg to actually use that 10 tonnes.

Purely the weight to drag vs thrust to lift components. Hectic isn't it.

 

[DieselFan]

I disagree on the point about having to go to a fuel station, although I suppose it depends where you live. But in the last 5 kms of your journey when you're running low you would pass atleast 2 garages...

I dont know about you guys but I rarely ever just make a trip to the petrol station. It will generally be one that I pass when I need to fill up. Although I do have my preferred sasol which I pass fairly regularly.

 

[Bayn46]

I disagree on the point about having to go to a fuel station, although I suppose it depends where you live. But in the last 5 kms of your journey when you're running low you would pass atleast 2 garages...

I dont know about you guys but I rarely ever just make a trip to the petrol station. It will generally be one that I pass when I need to fill up. Although I do have my preferred sasol which I pass fairly regularly.

Diesel prices range so much along my route that I make a point to go by the best priced one, when I get to quarter tank, while avoiding every BP station along the way.

 

[Hugo_za]

I disagree on the point about having to go to a fuel station, although I suppose it depends where you live. But in the last 5 kms of your journey when you're running low you would pass atleast 2 garages...

I dont know about you guys but I rarely ever just make a trip to the petrol station. It will generally be one that I pass when I need to fill up. Although I do have my preferred sasol which I pass fairly regularly.

I never "just" go to the fuel station either. 99% of the time I use the same station because it's on my morning route and theres a branded convenience shop where I can get coffee.

 

[KPM3_30]

I think it's laughable as I can't see how that tiny savings warrants having to go the petrol station twice as often.

I can't tell you how much I hate going to petrol station, just a waste of time, and with 330 averaging about 11/100kms it's already tooooooo often.

Could make case to remove things like tow ropes, jumper cables, medical kits, non OEM sound systems and all the other non essential "crap" that we all carry around in an effort to reduce the weight, but gains would be minuscule.

You probably sit in a lot of traffic and do short runs :fencelook: My OBC shows 8.5l at the moment but I travel 80kms return, daily.

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I'm pretty sure that weight saving has far less impact on cars with a decent power output. I also don't like letting my tank go below 1/4 as the fuel helps keep the fuel pump cooled.

I'm the same, I very rarely let it fall below quarter and it doesn't cost as much to fill because there's already fuel in the tank :rollsmile: Mind over matter in this case.

 

[Ratslaaf]

I actually drive the car till the reserve light goes on and then fill it. I like to compare mileage on a tank between fills in order to get an idea if the car's consumption is in line. Granted, I can just check the consumption figure on the dash, but I've done it this way forever - before I've had cars that show consumption.

And the work pays for fuel for both cars...:rollsmile:

 

[RAArmstrong]

I actually drive the car till the reserve light goes on and then fill it. I like to compare mileage on a tank between fills in order to get an idea if the car's consumption is in line. Granted, I can just check the consumption figure on the dash, but I've done it this way forever - before I've had cars that show consumption.

And the work pays for fuel for both cars...:rollsmile:

Plus the OBC is never 100% accurate