Phatboy Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hey guys, searched for this but no cigar I always thought that it doesn't make a difference, but I heard some people say that you're meant to refill before the needle goes down to the last 1/3 or 1/4 or so (something to do with direct fuel injection/clogging up your fuel filter???). I tend to refill when the light goes on. The fuel gets sucked from the bottom of the tank anyway, doesn't it? If you refill at 1/3 full every time, won't that mean you will just have more and more % stale petrol in your tank for longer? eg. 1st tank: 1/3 batch A, 2/3 batch B 2nd tank: 1/9 batch A, 2/9 batch B, 6/9 batch C 3rd tank: 1/27 batch A, 2/27 batch B, 6/27 batch C, 18/27 batch D etc, etc you get the idea Granted stale petrol will never reach more than 1/3 of the tank, but with each filling, a smaller fraction of that petrol you put in last year still remains... Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMW Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Well you pretty much answered your own question in parts, as in "stale fuel at the bottom of the tank" and "the fuel get sucked from the bottom of the tank" ! Main reason to refill before a 1/4 or lower is stop the pump picking up so much crap from the bottom of the tank, ie - more fuel=less condensing of contaminents, also helps prevent surging on acceleration and cornering. Takes a fair while for fuel to go off or stale, unless its race fuel which has a shorter shelf life. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4552317 Share on other sites More sharing options...
krzysiu Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 If your running a standard fuel pump you will be fine to run it pretty low. Some aftermarket pumps dont like it when the tank drops below a certain point. Will let someone with a bit more knowledge about fuel pumps explain this. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4552545 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatboy Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Oh ok, I see. I guess some aftermarket fuel pumps work a bit differently to the stock ones. If your running a standard fuel pump you will be fine to run it pretty low. Some aftermarket pumps dont like it when the tank drops below a certain point. Will let someone with a bit more knowledge about fuel pumps explain this. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4552729 Share on other sites More sharing options...
(OO)SKYLINE(OO) Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I just fill it when it gets to about half tank... But nothing below a 1/4 tank just for safety. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4553241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impact Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 lol i run mine to near bone dry as im a cheap bastard and cant always afford to fill up Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4553949 Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozenwaffles Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 why does it matter if you run till low 'as you'll pick up shit'?!?!? isnt that whats the fuel filter sock is for and then the fuel filter??? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4554101 Share on other sites More sharing options...
br3ndan Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 i like to fill mine up around half tank. Reason for this? I like to be prepared. I hate it when i go out and i see my tank is nearly empty and i have to go out of my way to fill it up. If i fill up around half tank it means i can wait until i pass by a BP and fill her up when its convenient to me. If however its at 1/4 tank left i have to go out of my way to fill it up. From my experience its never good to run a car on less then a 1/4 tank. As hard cornering and launching or even braking the petrol can run away form the pick up point. Stop being stingy people and just fill her up. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4554179 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUN_METAL_GTR32 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 lol i run mine to near bone dry as im a cheap bastard and cant always afford to fill up lol as do i, but if i run it really dry my engine light comes on and stays on till about 15 minutes after i have filled up lol. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4556272 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-turko Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 alot of ppl saying that you'll pick up shit from the bottom of your tank is bullshit in most cases, i cant member where i saw it but a dude took his fuel tank off his r32 gtr and the bootom of the tank had no crap whats so ever, remember there is a sock on the end of the fuel pump and a filter in engine bay Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4556766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basti Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 lol i run mine to near bone dry as im a cheap bastard and cant always afford to fill up i have gotten up to 20km out of the tank, AFTER the fuel light was STEADY on. not just on with braking. im such a cheap karnt Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4556929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipster11 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 i was testing how out my fuel guage is the light hasn't come on yet but i'm well and truly out of fuel was strange tho cos i drove it the day b4 it ran out and no signs of it getting low (no fuel light but low guage) went to start it the next morning and it barely ran jarry can run for me now least i know where the limit is now - i hate being poor Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4557355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatboy Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 Lol... ok. Guess opinion is still divided. Guess I will stick to fill up at 1/4 if it's cheap - otherwise just do it when the light comes on. Filling up at 1/4 means 25% more petrol stops. Can't really be bothered. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4557418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
omega36 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 The last time I tested my fuel level light I ran out of fuel :| Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4557527 Share on other sites More sharing options...
battery Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 i fill up when it gets to 1/4 not because im worried about picking up shit but i just get paranoid about running out of fuel lol Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4557783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smity42 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I tend to fill up when the light comes on. Not because I'm cheap (beleive it or not people, you're still buying the same amount of fuel in total regardless of if you fill up twice with half a tank or once with a whole tank), but more because I'm lazy so don't stop for fuel unless i'm forced to Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4558370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipster11 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 well took the fuel pump out after having run it pretty much dry and was quite suprised what i found it was spotless and there was cool baffles everywhere so there was not much crap on the pump either, put some fuel in it and took it to the servo runs well and not a problem moral of the story, maybe there isn't as much crap in there as you think Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4558825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiR_RB Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 i have never ever let my fuel go low enough for the light to come on....there realy is no reason as to why u would let ur light come on and continue driving for another 50kms i always top up when my fuel gets to 1/3 if u continue to let the light come on, ur more likely to suck up rubbish...but thats what the fuel filter is for i guess Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4558867 Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulr33 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 mythbusters ahoy the pump is ... on the bottom of the tank so regardless of how much fuel is in the tank it sucks from the bottom with a sock (filter) and there is an inline fuel filter before the fuel rail so running empty, does no harm Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4559613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatboy Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 Thanks Paul, that's what I thought. Just had my car serviced today and the fuel filter (which I doubt has ever been changed since the car was made 8 years and 55k ago) was pristine, despite only filling up when the light goes on every time. Put my mind to rest. mythbusters ahoythe pump is ... on the bottom of the tank so regardless of how much fuel is in the tank it sucks from the bottom with a sock (filter) and there is an inline fuel filter before the fuel rail so running empty, does no harm Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/266776-when-to-re-fill-fuel-tank/#findComment-4563429 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now