Torque Cars chat forums - View Single Post - Increasing fuel economy by decreasing fuel load!

giraffe82 · 15-10-2007, 08:30 PM

I just read an interesting post about reducing the weight of your vehicle and it basically said that, "For every extra 100 pounds you carry in your vehicle, you reduce gas mileage and fuel economy by roughly 2%.".

Then in one of the follow up posts someone quite cleverly pointed out that by filling your fuel tank to the top you are burning more fuel by carrying fuel!

quote:
"You mention weight. Do you only fill up to 1/2 or 1/4 a tank at the pump in order to save on fuel weight? I mean you shouldn’t waste gas to haul around other gas right?

1 gallon of gasoline equals 5.8 to 6.5 lbs. So if you fill up to a full tank (10 gallons) the avg weight of the tank is more than 60 something lbs concidering that you don’t go down to zero. Filling it up to only halve full yeilds a avg fuel weight of 30 lbs. filling to only a quater tank yield a weight savings of 45+ lbs"

Thought it was an interesting point to share.

15-10-2007, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
giraffe82 Junior Member Wrench Kid Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 16	Increasing fuel economy by decreasing fuel load! I just read an interesting post about reducing the weight of your vehicle and it basically said that, "For every extra 100 pounds you carry in your vehicle, you reduce gas mileage and fuel economy by roughly 2%.". Then in one of the follow up posts someone quite cleverly pointed out that by filling your fuel tank to the top you are burning more fuel by carrying fuel! quote: "You mention weight. Do you only fill up to 1/2 or 1/4 a tank at the pump in order to save on fuel weight? I mean you shouldn’t waste gas to haul around other gas right? 1 gallon of gasoline equals 5.8 to 6.5 lbs. So if you fill up to a full tank (10 gallons) the avg weight of the tank is more than 60 something lbs concidering that you don’t go down to zero. Filling it up to only halve full yeilds a avg fuel weight of 30 lbs. filling to only a quater tank yield a weight savings of 45+ lbs" Thought it was an interesting point to share.