Gas millage: filling up a little bit a time Vs. filling up full tank?
 

ok so recently ive been filling up $5 at a time, so im almost always running on E, but ive notice that my mpg have dropped to about 10mpg?? and when i used to fill up the gas thank all the way, it seemed to get about 14mpg.

so could running low on gas all the time cause worse gas millage?

also isn't bad to run low on gas all the time?

Why are you only putting 5$ gas in at a time?

I don't mean to sound insulting but 5 bucks at a time, fluctuation in fuel prices would change fuel volume.

I can't remember but if the fuel bump is in the tank, It will use the fuel to cool the pump, and if you let the pump become uncovered it will run hot and lead to untimely failure $$$

My owners manual states that low fuel levels can lead to misfires and running poorly.

Good call :)

I fill it up full one time and never let it below half tank I drive like a grandmother use nutral as much as possible I get 23mgs hwy almost 20 city...Smart driving and keeping the tank filled up.

how do you know how much fuel you're using between fill ups?

*pulls out his crystal ball*


I see a fuel pump and spark plugs in your near future. Also you're not running full pressure and sucking all the 'gunk' and dirt that has accumulated in 20 years, because you're putting max 1.5 gallons in at a time?

Are you calculating miles per dollar?

haha can i use that in my sig?

I like it when people tell me they get better gas mileage when they keep the tank over half full. LOL. Whatever

That's a whole bunch of trips to the gas station for a sma

well its 17 gallon tank I read what the gallons say on the gas pumps meter. That is how I know my gas millage MPG's its been better and cheaper to do it this way...

well i fill up when the yellow light turns on, i drive 10 miles and it lights up again

because i recently lost my job, and im broke, and i get a few bucks here and there for driving my friends.

damn ... you're going to have a dirty fuel filter when you're done.

just sayin'

I'm getting less than 10mpg if I calculate by gallons used and mileage driven only. I got 142 miles from full until the light came on.

My dad has always talked about the Cadillac my Grandfather had in the 60's. He said that "with a full tank of fuel, it weighs to much to get to 100 mph, but with out a full tank, it doesn't have enough to get there." lol
There's definitely something to be said about the weight of fuel, but 17 gallons in a toyota, i don't think makes much diffence.
Besides, with a full tank, you have more tractive weight on the rear tires :)

I hate going to the gas station, so that means WAY To many stops for me. Not to mention I would have to stop at least once each way to and from work. . . But I'll bet your windshield is never dirty. lol

Holy crap 4x4907 10 miles to the gallon is bad dude.Im getting 14 in city (About 215 miles on a tank).A gallon of gas weighs 6 lbs. so if your drag racing weight is a factor.I know how you feel SR5,being unemployed myself now for 10 months.Luckily Ive got UI so Im not homeless,but will be keeping my tank above 1/4 from now on.Cant afford breakdowns on unemployment money.

When I have money I fill it up every week. I drive about 200 miles a week give or take and at 200 miles I have a little more than a quarter tank left. I'm getting 17 city and 20 highway which is the EPA estimate for a stock 1990 4X4 when it came out. I don't understand how these guys running 22re's with 31's claim they get 20 city and 23 highway...

i get about 10 to 12 on mine, 92 v6 auto on 32's i drive it easy keep her under 2500rpm's and everything stays in tune. gas mileage just sucks on these vehicles

I keep her as full as I can, never let it go under 1/4.

Going low on gas is a great way to cook your fuel pump, it uses gas to cool it.

In addition, everytime you open the gas cap you loose fuel, a very small amount but it adds up if you are constantly putting in small amounts of gas.

haha i used to be like that i stick in 10 bucks and after a few miles the low fuel light stays on. thats how i got money for gas giving ppl rides. i thought that i was worse sticking in 10 bucks at a time when i was running on low fuel light all day. now i keep my tank above a quarter tank puttin in 20 bucks at a time. it sucks being a poor teenager

OK Generally you should not let the gas level go bellow 1/2-1/3 of a tank. Top it off with 20$ here and there. Your going to be buying a new fuel pump with in the year or two maybe sonner.... you will burn out your pump in time. If money is that tight then yea.... you can't afford that truck sell it. Theres an old saying with fuel guages. You run out of gas quicker from half to empty then full to half. Atleast with most old mechanical gauges. If you fill your truck up all the way for its 17 gals that it hold drive till nearly all gone and that should be to where the fuel light is staying on completely. Then you should be getting close to 190-250 miles to a tank. If not then you are driving crazy and or you truck is not running tip top.

and lose the bigger tires if you can. i put my 33s back on and im like losing like 100km a tank

Well Im running 31s and getting 215 miles to a tank but I dont run it till light comes on.Guess Im not doing to bad then compared to some other posts.I will keep in mind about the gas keeping the temp down on the fuel pump.Also dont know what shape the bottom of my tank is in and Im sure I dont want to know.

On my 95 4Runner 3.0 Auto I was getting 14 mpg highway I believe with 31's and 4.88's

Running on low fuel all the time is bad for your fuel pump.

If you're running it low to cut down on weight, don't bother. Your 4runner holds about 100 pounds of gas. Its total curb weight is around 3750 pounds.

word, mines always for 1/2 tank. sometimes she gets low to a 1/4. but then she gets a nice tank of 92 :baby:

haha ill say id give a freind a ride (for money) they would get in and always ask me "does your gas gadge work?" lol id just say ya it works fine.

this only works if you fill it up to the top each time. otherwise you don't have a constant in your equation.

ok, if you're using the light as your constant, that's rough but works.

i'm just saying you can't compare mileage unless you're filling it to the same point each time. usually this is the full mark, where it won't take anymore. but the light turns on at a somewhat consistent level. of course, if you have a load of crap in the back, the light will come on later than if the bed was completely empty.

if you're going to do the $5 at a time thing I RECOMMEND THIS:

DISCONNECT YOUR FUEL METER, so it always looks on E. do it behind the cluster, so your light still works.

FILL THE TANK TO FULL, THEN RESET YOUR MILEAGE TO ZERO. this way you are keeping tracking of your gas with the odometer, not the gauge.

your friends will always think you're on E and give you money. meanwhile, you'll always have a tank over half full, so you're not sucking up crud from the bottom of your tank or burning out your pump.

just a suggestion. fuel pumps ain't cheap. and the fuel filter is a beyotch to get to.

Well gents, I don't know if it's the cold or an other O2 sensor but i'm currently getting 8MPG, only 2 weeks ago i was in the 15-17MPG. average temp 14F.