Is It Bad to Wait Until Your Tank Is Empty? Fueling Frequency Explained

Ask ten different people, “How often should I fill up my gas tank?” and you’re likely to get several different answers, each with their own logic behind them. Whether it’s “you always need enough gas to get out of town in an emergency” or “letting your tank get too low can damage the car,” there are plenty of opinions out there. But is there one solid answer to this question? Are any of the reasons given rooted in reality? Or is this a maintenance task that you can do however works best for your life?

Should You Fill Up Your Gas Tank On a Monthly Schedule?

To some degree, the answer will vary. Everyone has different driving habits. This is true both in terms of the frequency and length of their drives as well as the kinds of roads they’re driving on. Someone who barely uses a quarter of a gallon every two weeks is going to have to refill far less often than someone who uses a half tank a week. It can be helpful to designate a specific day as “gas day” to make it easy on yourself. But that day should be much more heavily influenced by your own driving habits than by the calendar.

How Low Can Your Gas Tank Get Before Refueling?

For practicality’s sake, most auto enthusiasts recommend keeping your car at at least a half tank of fuel. This way, if you’re caught in a storm or some other emergency, you can still get to safety. Contributors to the Subaru Forester Forum have stressed the dangers of letting your vehicle’s tank get too low. They often explain that your chances of ending up stranded are much higher if you drop below a half tank. You should always be prepared for the unknown. So, for practicality’s sake, the general consensus is that it’s best to refill when you hit a half tank.

Will Too Little Gas Damage Your Car?

In addition to practicality, another oft-cited reason to keep your tank full has to do with the potential damage to your car itself. Contributors to the Honda Odyssey Forum warn that too little fuel in the tank can damage your fuel pump. Progressive Insurance backs up these claims. According to them, too little gas in the tank can overwork the fuel pump, causing it to draw in too much air and overheat. Additionally, the insurance company warns that low fuel can cause your engine to misfire and your catalytic converters to overheat. Their recommendation is that you always keep at least a quarter tank of fuel in your car at any given time to offset these risks.

Source

Fuel Light – how much gas is left when it lights?, SubaruForester.org, 2018.

Running on Empty Gas, OdyClub.org, 2023.

Is driving on empty bad for your car?, Progressive.

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