How low do you let your car's gas tank get?

[Exterous]

Are you one of those people who never lets it get below half a tank? Freak out once the light comes on? Squeezes every last drop out of a tank before finally driving or walking to a gas station?

 

[lxskllr]

I pay cash for gas, so I try to get it low enough to take some even amount of money with a bit of room left over so I don't have to get change. Currently, a hair below .25 left takes $40.

 

[KMFJD]

i usually fill up after about 20-30 km's of the light being on when i'm going to work, i have around 60-70 km's once the light turns on

 

[Fritzo]

I let it get pretty low, but I have a gas station right next to my office and one 1/4 mile from my home, so it's not a big deal.

 

[Brainonska511]

Depends. Not driving around as much these days. Usually only before modest to long trips out of town or when it drops to ~1/4 tank

 

[JulesMaximus]

Usually fill up when it gets down to 1/4 tank. Sometimes it gets down lower than that and the low fuel warning comes up on the display and my infotainment systems asks me if I want to start looking for the nearest fuel station.

 

[ctbaars]

Think about it when the light comes on. It displays 30/50 mi/km range left when the light comes on. I get concerned at 5/8 mi/km. I ran into 0/0 mi/km a few times with careful planning. I think I was 20 years old the last time I ran dry. The toughest time was running out on Sunrise Highway on the inside. .here

 

[velillen]

The commuter car (which the committee is all of 7 miles a day) I fill up around 1/8 to 1/4 tank generally. The truck it depends. I generally try to keep it full so if we want to go somewhere we don't have to stop for gas first. I usually keep it over half a tank if I'm close to home. When on the road it's usually around a 1/4 tank I'll stop for gas since that's usually when I need to stretch the legs and use the bathroom

 

[pauldun170]

1/8 of a tank in the car.
Bike always gets parked with a full tank.

 

[ultimatebob]

I fill up when the Low Fuel light comes on in my car. It comes on when I have a 1/4 tank, though, since it has pretty lousy gas mileage.

 

[nakedfrog]

Usually a little before the fuel light comes on, but sometimes after. Very rare to run it down to "E".

 

[clamum]

Usually at a half tank. Sometimes it gets down to like a quarter tank but 90% of the time or so it's at half tank.

 

[Rifter]

never below 1/4 tank. Ive changed 1 fuel pump in my driving lifetime.

Girlfriend waits untill 20-30kms after the light goes on and has changed 4 fuel pumps in her driving lifetime.

 

[local]

Generally whenever the gauge gets buried in the red, driven over a million miles and never changed a fuel pump in my life.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Generally whenever the gauge gets buried in the red, driven over a million miles and never changed a fuel pump in my life.

Why even chance it when a fuel pump change is such a pain in the ass? You're sucking up trash and running the possibility of running it hot and or even completely out of fuel.

 

[Ajay]

Typically when the meter reads empty, because there is still about 1.5 gallons left in the tank at that point.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Was confused for a second. Off topic. Makes sense now. Average person treats their vehicle like a garbage receptacle. Thought this was a question in garage forums.

 

[local]

Why even chance it when a fuel pump change is such a pain in the ass? You're sucking up trash and running the possibility of running it hot and or even completely out of fuel.

Probably the same reason I have only done annual oil changes for the last 20 years. Maybe I am just stupid lucky with vehicles.

 

[rh71]

I know I shouldn't but I let it get to near empty every time. I just can't be bothered to fill a half tank every time half a tank is gone. I have a 20 gallon tank for a reason. I can do 1/8 perhaps, but... just whatever dude.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Usually when the car tells me I have about 75 miles to go on that tank of gas.

I have a Costco on my way to work and no one is there at 6:00 in the morning. Love seeing the long lines for gas at Costco on the weekends.

 

[SKORPI0]

I fill up when the empty light goes on, which is still good to drive for 30 miles. Sometimes at Costco before going to shop inside, I hate the long lines every time I want to fill gas.

 

[pete6032]

Mine is usually not below 2/3 of a tank. I drive 5-10 miles per week so condensation in the tank is a concern.

 

[kn51]

Depends. Do you want a bunch of rotting ethanol in the tank or keeping your fuel pump cool depending on the climate and how much you drive?

 

[JTsyo]

30 miles to empty.

 

[BoomerD]

I pay cash for gas, so I try to get it low enough to take some even amount of money with a bit of room left over so I don't have to get change. Currently, a hair below .25 left takes $40.

Damn...I wish. F150 has a 36 gallon tank...and with gas prices here between $3.35 and $4.00, fill ups are over $100. 22 mpg ain't bad for for this truck though.