Tip from my car mechanic over at Lamb’s Tire and Auto: don’t let your gas tank get under quarter tank.
This was interesting to me. I’d always heard that it’s ok, and even good, to run low, but not too low, on your gas tank before filling it up, because the stuff that collects in the tank should be “used up” by your filter and engine in small amounts over a long period of time instead of just letting it hit all at once.
He told me, no, you want to let that stuff get into your fuel lines at all, and fill up the tank before it gets too low.
So I’m still wondering about it tho – if I fill it up at 1/4 tank, then it seems to me the bad stuff will *really* pile up and the one time I go down below 1/4 tank, it’ll kill my fuel filter. And it’ll happen at the worst time.
I dunno. I’ll do what he says because I love Lamb’s and always get great advice. Today I got my oil changed, a tire fixed (it was under Road Hazard Warranty), tires rotated and the fuel filter changed. I need to go back and fix some plugs, wires, and other general 60,000 mile tuneup stuff.
Who told you that it is good for your car to run it low? That’s not at all true.
You should fill up at a quarter tank… At least, do it as a practice so you don’t run out of gas.
As for crap in your tank, use decent gas (I still use unleaded, not supreme or anything), but I am extremely anal about all of the services required on my car. My car is in impeccable shape, and I always keep a quarter tank or more in my car….
Dude, where DO you get this information?
I dunno – just one of the million things you hear as advice. Then you hear it a second time and you assume it to be as good as anything else you ‘know’. I can’t imagine how busy I’d be if I mentally challenged every assumption or recommendation I’ve heard.
I’ve only used super or supreme in both our cars and I believe it to help in long term ownership. But then again, I don’t _really_ know.
I also check the air pressure in my tires weekly, to help on gas mileage. But then again, I don’t _really_ know.
There are lots of things I ‘just do’ because someone knowledgable said so. I change my oil every 3k miles, but some people swear by 5k, some 6k and others never change their oil. I also rotate my tires every oil change. I never change oil brands, ever. I put in stp treatment a few times per year. I always go to the same mechanic/shop. I keep all my receipts. I always buy Road Hazard on my tire purchases. I don’t wash or detail my car very often.
With as many preferences (or habits) as I have, anyone could find at least one that differs from their preferences or habits. What interests me is finding out the differences and then learning _why_.
You mean I’m not supposed to let it do this (this is from this morning)
You can notice the bright red “you’re an idiot and I need to point out that you need to look at the panel because something’s important” message it’s giving me, also.
Well, it’s a good thing you do all those things to your cars, since you drive domestic… Yuck.
Great. I’m filling up my car _right now_ and it’s not even down to quarter tank! See how this blog thing affects my life? I’m already wasting my time trying to save a stupid fuel filter who won’t even thank me later…sheesh!