Fill her up?

[Toffer]

Having a pub conversation yesterday about the pros and cons of filling-up your car's fuel tank and how it may impact on fuel consumption? So do we always fill up and maybe get better traction, or do we minimise the vehicle weight and only part fill the tank? A 70 litre tank of fuel weighs about 60kg.

[kambites]

I always fill up. The saving in mpg from having a 30kg lighter car is typically going to be more than offset by having to drive to the petrol station more often, at least for me.

[Tyre Smoke]

In a Supercharged Range Rover Sport, it makes very little difference.

You part with circa £120.00 and the range shows 250 miles.

[Jimmy No Hands]

I've always just done a set amount per week or whenever else I need to. Don't think I've ever brimmed a tank in my entire car ownership. But I do less than 8k a year easily.

[jimmy156]

I brim it, run it to empty then brim it again. Just because its easier then filling up twice as often. A tank usually only lasts around 10 days anyway.

[LouD86]

I brim mine whenever I need fuel. Gets a tad annoying when its a company demo, and it gets sold with almost a full tank, but I can claim it back.

I hate visiting the fuel station, and with circa 330 to a full tank (35 litres) im not really too fussed, I fill up once a week!

[The Moose]

I do 3 tanks every fortnight. The thought of going to a fuel station twice as often drives me mad. Hate the idea!!

[The Moose]

What amuses me is the people who watch it tick over to exactly £5.00 and that's it. Surely that only gives them enough fuel to get to the next fuel station?

Hell, on some of our cars £5 wouldn't even register on the gauge

[bakerstreet]

Fill it up every time.

Just like others, I can't stand going to the petrol station.

[CampDavid]

I just brim it. I'll need it eventally and I hate petrol stations. £120 a go is a killer though

[davepoth]

at the last place I was working the petrol station was en route so I would rarely put more than £20 in at a time so I had more opportunities for buying lottery tickets and crisps. If I'm on a long trip I'll brim it though.

[kambites]

CampDavid said:

I just brim it. I'll need it eventally and I hate petrol stations. £120 a go is a killer though

I don't see why it's any worse than £120 in two goes. £120 is £120.

[KaraK]

I generally just fill mine up - I don't do starship miles but it's enough that I go to the petrol station often enough as it is, and for some reason I get a warm fuzzy feeling from having a full tank?

The only exception for me is on the rare occasions when I know that I'm not likely to be using the scooby for a couple of weeks and I'll just stick £30-40 in to make sure I've got some for if I need it, reason for this that I've read some info suggesting that the 99 RON stuff can "lose" ocatane in that sort of timeframe and be back down do 95-97 - any petrol experts care to comment?

[kambites]

Petrol doesn't degrade that fast; you're talking months not weeks to get a significant difference.

[Coldfuse]

I remember when i first passed my test about 9 years ago when i was driving around in my mums 206 i would always put in a tenner, but back then fuel was like 74p and in a 1.4 206 you could go for 100 miles on a tenner...

[KaraK]

kambites said:

Petrol doesn't degrade that fast; you're talking months not weeks to get a significant difference.

Good to know

[kambites]

KaraK said:

kambites said:

Petrol doesn't degrade that fast; you're talking months not weeks to get a significant difference.

Good to know

On the odd occasion it gets drive my, MG runs fine on the five year-old petrol in the tank.

[Tyre Smoke]

CampDavid said:

I just brim it. I'll need it eventally and I hate petrol stations. £120 a go is a killer though

It is. I re-read my post and thought "Worst I've got more money than you" post ever. Wasn't meant to come across that way.

Sorry chaps.

[XJSJohn]

Always run it to the last few KM on the estimated range then full tank!

Do this for 2 reasons.

1 - I am a lazy git
2 - I reset the trip and know I get 500 on normal driving, if that drops then a sign of possible engine problems etc.

[Podie]

I fill the car, unless I'm in a hurry.

The credit crunch must be biting though - see a lot of people putting in a tenner.