415 miles today!

[UberSilver]

Went from Oakland to Reno and back on one tank! took 10.5 gallons to fill, with an average speed of 64 mph. So 39 mpg.:thumbup:

All readings off a GPS.:smile:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Not bad (really good actually), especially with those hills/mountains. lol. You should get a Scan Gauge II. It'll be very beneficial. Also, I don't recommend letting your gas tank fall below 2 bars. I let my tank get down to the blinking bar, and I kid you not, my mpg's went from 42 mpg to 29 mpg for three tanks, and then started climbing back up. I think some low laying debris got sucked up???? I never let my tank go below 2 bars now.

[fnkngrv]

Not bad (really good actually), especially with those hills/mountains. lol. You should get a Scan Gauge II. It'll be very beneficial. Also, I don't recommend letting your gas tank fall below 2 bars. I let my tank get down to the blinking bar, and I kid you not, my mpg's went from 42 mpg to 29 mpg for three tanks, and then started climbing back up. I think some low laying debris got sucked up???? I never let my tank go below 2 bars now.

Good advice as if it ever came to having to get into the tank it is a chore and can get expensive if you need a shop to do it. Great mpg :w00t:

[nookandcrannycar]

Went from Oakland to Reno and back on one tank! took 10.5 gallons to fill, with an average speed of 64 mph. So 39 mpg.:thumbup:

All readings off a GPS.:smile:

That's pretty darn good, considering that it includes climbing from Oakland to Emigrant Gap on the way up and Reno to Emigrant Gap on the way back. The best MPG I've gotten on a tank in my Yaris, if I remember correctly, was between 48 and 49 MPG from Winnemucca, NV to San Rafael, CA.

[UberSilver]

Not bad (really good actually), especially with those hills/mountains. lol. You should get a Scan Gauge II. It'll be very beneficial. Also, I don't recommend letting your gas tank fall below 2 bars. I let my tank get down to the blinking bar, and I kid you not, my mpg's went from 42 mpg to 29 mpg for three tanks, and then started climbing back up. I think some low laying debris got sucked up???? I never let my tank go below 2 bars now.

Thats the only time I've done it. I just wanted to see if I could make it.

I normally fill up at the half way point.:smile:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Good, good. Let us know if you see a decrease (or increase) in your next few tanks. ;)

[screenprintr]

That's weird. You get better mileage filling up more?

[Kaotic Lazagna]

That's weird. You get better mileage filling up more?

You should. The theory behind it is you have less weight in the car, so you have less weight/mass to move. Makes the engine work more efficiently.

[bobolinko]

You should. The theory behind it is you have less weight in the car, so you have less weight/mass to move. Makes the engine work more efficiently.

Dude, You got it backassards...

More gas - more weight
less gas - less weight <-Power-to-weight ratio better for fuel efficiency here....

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Dude, You got it backassards...

More gas - more weight
less gas - less weight <-Power-to-weight ratio better for fuel efficiency here....

I took it as filling up more often (like filling up to half tank only). I should have probably read it twice. I will re-reply to him.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

That's weird. You get better mileage filling up more?

Since I wasn't sure if you meant filling up more often, or filling up more per fill up, and since I answered in terms of the former, I will answer for the latter now.

Filling up more per tank will not get you better mpg as it'll be adding more mass/weight to your car. I fill up to full because I don't want to have to keep filling up often, so I take that mpg hit. I don't let my tank go lower than 1/4 tank (which isn't really 1/4 tank because the gas tank isn't a perfect square) because in my experience, it did something that caused my mpg to decrease a lot. I'm assuming it's sucking up sediments/debris that settled at the bottom of the tank or something.

[why?]

If you do not commonly let your gas tank go to near empty, you should not start doing it, because Kaotic is right, crap sinks to the bottom and sucking anything up could cost lots of money.

I never fill up until the bar starts to blink, and I almost never have to put ten gallons into my car.

[bobolinko]

If you do not commonly let your gas tank go to near empty, you should not start doing it, because Kaotic is right, crap sinks to the bottom and sucking anything up could cost lots of money.

I never fill up until the bar starts to blink, and I almost never have to put ten gallons into my car.

Just FYI:
Any and every automobile gas tank has the gas taken out from the BOTTOM. The pickup tube might be located on the top of the tank, but inside, it goes down to just about the bottom, NOT Flush, to the bottom, but almost. Think about it! Otherwise, how can the gas get emptied while driving anyway???
Next time, try drinking a drink with the straw half way to the bottom of the glass and see if you can empty the cup.:bonk:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Why do you feel the need to post in bold large font?

If you want to run your tank near empty, so be it. I do know that the pick up line is at the bottom, but that does not automatically mean that any sediments will be sucked right in. Furthermore, the fuel pump is in the tank and is cooled and lubricated by the gas, so by letting your gas levels lower, you take away its lubrication. This can damage it. So, even if you don't believe in the sediment reason, it's still bad to run your tank near empty, unless you don't mind replacing your fuel pump more often than it normally needs to be.

[nookandcrannycar]

I guess I must have gotten a 'Wednesday' fuel pump :biggrin:. I almost always take my tank as close to empty as possible before filling up. The original fuel pump still works, and I'm still getting over 40 MPG combined.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I guess I must have gotten a 'Wednesday' fuel pump :biggrin:. I almost always take my tank as close to empty as possible before filling up. The original fuel pump still works, and I'm still getting over 40 MPG combined.

That's good that you're getting 40 mpg averages. For some reason, my car really hates this winter blend crap, and my average went down to ~36. Doesn't help that I have the wrong size exhaust piping and 43.5lb tire/wheel combo. :laugh: When ever I do any city driving, I'll watch my average go down, lower, and lower, and lower...

But yeah, I have no clue how much shorter running your tank near empty will do to your fuel pump's life. May not see it until ~150k miles or somewhere near there.

[why?]

Think about it. acting like an asshole does not make you correct. It just makes you an asshole.

Your logic is flawed. No tank is perfectly straight anywhere. Crap will always fall below the gas level, and unless you run the tank near dry, it will stay there until the car is crushed.

And the Yaris' inner liner is rubber. That means the weight of the gas will always flex the bottom lower.

But most importantly, something believed and repeated by so many people for so long usually has a kernal of truth somewhere. Look at what we call old wives tales. Science is finally catching up to their truths.


Just FYI:
Any and every automobile gas tank has the gas taken out from the BOTTOM. The pickup tube might be located on the top of the tank, but inside, it goes down to just about the bottom, NOT Flush, to the bottom, but almost. Think about it! Otherwise, how can the gas get emptied while driving anyway???
Next time, try drinking a drink with the straw half way to the bottom of the glass and see if you can empty the cup.:bonk:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Think about it. acting like an asshole does not make you correct. It just makes you an asshole.

Your logic is flawed. No tank is perfectly straight anywhere. Crap will always fall below the gas level, and unless you run the tank near dry, it will stay there until the car is crushed.

And the Yaris' inner liner is rubber. That means the weight of the gas will always flex the bottom lower.

But most importantly, something believed and repeated by so many people for so long usually has a kernal of truth somewhere. Look at what we call old wives tales. Science is finally catching up to their truths.

Well said

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/images/smilies/claps.gif

[Kaotic Lazagna]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/124376/why-running-on-low-fuel-is-bad-for-your-car/

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/bad-driving-habits-can-wreck-your-wallet-1.aspx

http://tankonempty.com/viewstory/71

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/04/running-on-empty-running-dumb/

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=59901


All those links either talk about debris at the bottom, lubricating the fuel pump, or other negative things about running your tank near empty.

[nookandcrannycar]

:laugh: When ever I do any city driving, I'll watch my average go down, lower, and lower, and lower...

....and the same in horrible traffic on I-80...:biggrin:

May not see it until ~150k miles or somewhere near there.

I have 239k miles on my Yaris :biggrin:.

[nookandcrannycar]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/124376/why-running-on-low-fuel-is-bad-for-your-car/

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/bad-driving-habits-can-wreck-your-wallet-1.aspx

http://tankonempty.com/viewstory/71

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/04/running-on-empty-running-dumb/

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=59901


All those links either talk about debris at the bottom, lubricating the fuel pump, or other negative things about running your tank near empty.

I'm sure you're right. I'm normally paranoid about possible problems/issues, but this is just one i won't follow. I've always had the same mindset re when to fill up and I don't want to change. Also, when I start to miss the normal 'benchmarks' for my fuel bars, I try to drive even more economically re habits to make up for the lag. In the comments on your first link and on your third link, a fair number of people posted who (like me) run their tank low and have done this on all the cars they've owned and have never had a fuel filter fail.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

....and the same in horrible traffic on I-80...:biggrin:



I have 239k miles on my Yaris :biggrin:.

Gotta time your travel if you'll be on I-80. :laugh:

Congrats on reaching that milestone on your Yaris. :wink:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I'm sure you're right. I'm normally paranoid about possible problems/issues, but this is just one i won't follow. I've always had the same mindset re when to fill up and I don't want to change. Also, when I start to miss the normal 'benchmarks' for my fuel bars, I try to drive even more economically re habits to make up for the lag. In the comments on your first link and on your third link, a fair number of people posted who (like me) run their tank low and have done this on all the cars they've owned and have never had a fuel filter fail.

Some people are lucky, and others aren't, which is why I didn't just link specific posts, but rather the whole threads of those links. I would rather take precautionary measures to prevent unneeded parts repairs/replacements, however. I'm not going to push people to do (or not do) things to their cars, as it is their choice. I simply just try to help people and possibly save them money and/or headaches down the line.

I have many friends who run their cars to near empty, and almost all of their cars have noticeable diminished performance and mpg's, so as for me, I'll stick to not running below "1/4" tank as it's been working for me :wink:

[Kaotic Lazagna]

And before I head off to bed, just a few more links (it is mentioned in one that debris at the bottom is debated, again, not going to purposely leave that link out).

http://www.live5news.com/story/14635196/running-on-empty-tank-is-dangerous-bad-for-car

http://www.ridelust.com/top-10-everyday-things-people-do-to-ruin-their-cars/

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/05/running-on-empty-low-gas-in-the-tank-can-be-costly.html

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7160717_effects-car-running-out-gas.html


Again, personal preference. I don't see any benefits of running the tank to empty, but that's just me.

[nookandcrannycar]

Some people are lucky, and others aren't, which is why I didn't just link specific posts, but rather the whole threads of those links. I would rather take precautionary measures to prevent unneeded parts repairs/replacements, however. I'm not going to push people to do (or not do) things to their cars, as it is their choice. I simply just try to help people and possibly save them money and/or headaches down the line.

I have many friends who run their cars to near empty, and almost all of their cars have noticeable diminished performance and mpg's, so as for me, I'll stick to not running below "1/4" tank as it's been working for me :wink:

Oh, I wasn't trying to convince you to change :redface:. I think one reason I do my fill ups the way I do is that if I'm 'falling behind' on my MPG goal as the tank starts its last 3/8 or 1/4, then I have more time and miles to improve my habits so that I have the best chance of staying over 40 combined....but as you correctly stated, it's personal preference...each person has a way that works best for him or her.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Oh, I wasn't trying to convince you to change :redface:. I think one reason I do my fill ups the way I do is that if I'm 'falling behind' on my MPG goal as the tank starts its last 3/8 or 1/4, then I have more time and miles to improve my habits so that I have the best chance of staying over 40 combined....but as you correctly stated, it's personal preference...each person has a way that works best for him or her.

:laugh:

Yeah, I know you weren't trying to convince me. I was just throwing that statement out there just for the record. I know how you feel about mpg goals. That's why I set my Scan Gauge to read lower than what I'm actually getting to make me feel bad. :laugh: :tongue:

[nookandcrannycar]

:laugh:

Yeah, I know you weren't trying to convince me. I was just throwing that statement out there just for the record. I know how you feel about mpg goals. That's why I set my Scan Gauge to read lower than what I'm actually getting to make me feel bad. :laugh: :tongue:

:thumbsup:

[UberSilver]

Drove to Reno again. This time with the AC on both ways. Did not make it on one tank!

422 miles and 11.46 gallons.

[yougojay]

Drove to Reno again. This time with the AC on both ways. Did not make it on one tank!

422 miles and 11.46 gallons.

OMG time to get a new car, that's only 36.823734 mpg! :eek:

Seriously, it's cooking hot in the Southwest right now, isn't it?
That is great, especially with the AC on the whole time :smoking:

[nookandcrannycar]

Drove to Reno again. This time with the AC on both ways. Did not make it on one tank!

422 miles and 11.46 gallons.

In late summer or early fall I plan to do some mountain driving. It will be interesting to see what my MPG in such areas will turn out to be. It's pretty flat here...which makes higher MPG readings easier.

[screenprintr]

Have you noticed your car bogging down with the Air on?

[Hershey]

Happy with this for now . It'll likely drop tomorrow with 3 in the car , groceries , rain soaked roads , and a few steep hills to deal with . Predict 39.2 for calculated gas mileage and Eco-Meter will show 39.4 . 38+ is nothing to scoff .

[UberSilver]

Have you noticed your car bogging down with the Air on?

Did not notice any, but I keep it in third on the up hill climes, as I dont like it when its bouncing in and out of 4th.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Have you noticed your car bogging down with the Air on?

When the AC is on in my car, I can definitely notice a power loss.

[screenprintr]

Mine seems to have either gotten better or I just don't notice since I'm using it more.

[Hershey]

Well , gas gauge dropped to 2 bars not long after leaving home , so filled up . Calculated 41.68 , Eco-Meter set at 96 .

[albee213]

I want to spend as little time as possible at the fuel station, I would like a larger tank, the benifit of carrying less weight by not filling all the way up to me is outweighed by the time to drive to a station and the amount of fuel used everytime you are there pulling up to the pump and so on. My car is almost always empty but at times I carry 2 to 3 cases of water around (to lazy to take it out) and never notice any difference in MPG.

My goal is to fill up once per week vs my 2 to 3 times per week with my other car that only got 16 mpg.

[nookandcrannycar]

my other car that only got 16 mpg.

:eek: Make? Model? Year?

[ezhacker1]

Well a gallon of gas weighs somewhere like 6-7 pounds. That's not that significant.

[Jcp123]

I want to spend as little time as possible at the fuel station, I would like a larger tank, the benifit of carrying less weight by not filling all the way up to me is outweighed by the time to drive to a station and the amount of fuel used everytime you are there pulling up to the pump and so on. My car is almost always empty but at times I carry 2 to 3 cases of water around (to lazy to take it out) and never notice any difference in MPG.

My goal is to fill up once per week vs my 2 to 3 times per week with my other car that only got 16 mpg.

I agree! I think any car with less than 14g capacity is almost criminal...if I had another 2 gallons or so, I'd have enough range to fill up every other payday (monthly ).

... Though I'll admit 500+ miles is pretty good range, on a roadtrip it'll outlast my body in those awful seats Toyota put in.

45,7mpg this tank, played with fire a little bit and got 519miles out of the tank before filling. Sweet!

[albee213]

I have taken apart several cars and repaired many fuel pumps and seen inside of the fuel tanks and in my time I have never seen anything in the tanks other than fuel. I wonder if older cars used to get crap in them, but anything since the 90's the tanks have always been clean.

[albee213]

1998 Cadillac Deville D'elegance... I love that car, but its having some issues and I am in the process of replacing the Northstar (Deathstar) V8.

I have had my Yaris only a few months and I like it, but I drove my Cadillac one day just around the block and wow it has so much more power and its 50 times quitter at all speeds. I normally average 16 to 17 mpg driving in city but it gets 26mpg on the freeway.

I also have a 98 Dodge RAM 2500 v10 4x4... 9 mpg in the city and maybe 13mpg on the freeway.

[nookandcrannycar]

1998 Cadillac Deville D'elegance... I love that car, but its having some issues and I am in the process of replacing the Northstar (Deathstar) V8.

I have had my Yaris only a few months and I like it, but I drove my Cadillac one day just around the block and wow it has so much more power and its 50 times quitter at all speeds. I normally average 16 to 17 mpg driving in city but it gets 26mpg on the freeway.

I also have a 98 Dodge RAM 2500 v10 4x4... 9 mpg in the city and maybe 13mpg on the freeway.

:thumbsup:Wow, what an interesting trio of vehicles.

[aspro]

Since I wasn't sure if you meant filling up more often, or filling up more per fill up, and since I answered in terms of the former, I will answer for the latter now.

Filling up more per tank will not get you better mpg as it'll be adding more mass/weight to your car. I fill up to full because I don't want to have to keep filling up often, so I take that mpg hit. I don't let my tank go lower than 1/4 tank (which isn't really 1/4 tank because the gas tank isn't a perfect square) because in my experience, it did something that caused my mpg to decrease a lot. I'm assuming it's sucking up sediments/debris that settled at the bottom of the tank or something.

I always drive her until bone dry. Have been doing it in all my cars for the last 10+ years in all kinds of cars from jeeps to super duties (gas) to STI and with my yaris. I have never once had to change a fuel pump and a good half of these cars have seen well over 250,000 km's. I think the theory of sucking up debris is bogus. That or I have been blessed with bullet proof fuel pumps from all sorts of car manufacturers :wink:

[nookandcrannycar]

I always drive her until bone dry. Have been doing it in all my cars for the last 10+ years in all kinds of cars from jeeps to super duties (gas) to STI and with my yaris. I have never once had to change a fuel pump and a good half of these cars have seen well over 250,000 km's. I think the theory of sucking up debris is bogus. That or I have been blessed with bullet proof fuel pumps from all sorts of car manufacturers :wink:

^^^^^This. I don't have much knowledge re fuel pumps and gas tanks, but my habits re when I do a fill up + lack of any issues = similar to aspro.