instead of topping off your gas tank at every fill up, keep it at a bout 3/8 of a tank. i figured with less weight in the gas tank you could get more MPG. i told this to my dad and he just laughed. either way i am getting bout 30 mpg mixed highway and city.

 

I have heard that the only problem with this approach is that during the summer you can get condensation in the tank (water) due to the heat and cool liquid.

 

alright, thanks for that input. still cost like $40 dollars to fill. seems cheaper just to put ten and 15 in a little more often

 

That's only about 50 lbs., insignificant compared to the total weight.

 

Costs more in the long run as you have to stop in the gas station four times to my one.

Earl

 

maybe he was laughing because his son is driving a twenty thosand dollar new car and is worried about saving 10 cents.

 

does this make sense?

NOPE

 

It's true, better to stay full, also if the tanker is in the station filling the ground tanks, find another station as he is just stirring up all the sediment in the ground tanks, and yes I know they have filters, but just when was the last time they were changed better safe then sorry

 

And you have to factor in the added mileage you'll be putting on your MINI driving through gas station parking lots that you would not have driven through otherwise.. . .

 

You'll save the same weight if you toss your rear seats. It's a novel concept, but the 'shoe leather' costs of repeatedly gassing up would outweigh, IMO, the miniscule savings you might obtain by carrying 2% less weight. If you want a psychological pressure to reduce gas consumption, spending the $30+ it takes to fill up the tank.
Don't forget to drain your windshield washer tank in summer.

If you want to save gas money, ride your bike for short trips.

 

Even more so is that you lose any benfit by going through the start stop cycle, which is when the most gas is consumed.

 

uumm. Just because he owns a $20k car dosent change the fact of high gas prices and how they effect people. Maybe he had savings and bought the car but would like to save some money now. Maybe his dad bought him the car. OR he just likes saving money in general. Just thoughts.

Anyways, as good of an Idea this is, in paper it dosent work because like others have mentioned, the weigh difference is so small that it dosent really add up, mostly when you might have to once drive out of your way to get Gas, it will already eat the difference. Interesting thought though none the less

 

I used to be able to drive 50 miles across the county line fill up drive back and it would still save me $3 on the tank, but that was in FL where I never paid less than $3 per gallon since Sept.

 

thanks guys for shooting down what i thought was the best idea ever.
just kidding.
i did buy the car myself and maybe i will take out the backseats. then i would have a real excuse to not drive my friends to parties. i think it is better for me to only use $15 dollars on a fill up as i am on a very tight budget and taking $40 bucks out in one pop might not be that good of an idea.
thanks for the constuctive input

 

Taking out the back seats drops about 40lbs, which will dramatically help MPG.

 

^^ sounds like a plan to me.

 

An obvious tactic would be to minimize the usage of the AC compressor. I sometimes see how long I can last in the summer heat with just the sunroof tilted up and only the fan on

 

i dont use the ac at all. windows down and sunroof open is good enough for me

 

Did you consider that you will have more pit time? What you saved will cost you more time, miles and gas to the gas station.

 

They keep the fuel tanks filled on small airplanes to help prevent that. But unless you have a fuel pump on your driveway and you top off your Mini's tanks every night you are going to have voids.

You are 100% correct about the condensation in fuel tanks that are not full.

If your going to park the Mini for awhile then fill her to the gills and mix in Stab-Bil. You'll be good to go!

 

I've found that gas stations, particularly ones with low prices because they're so busy now, are the most dangerous part of my daily drive. Everyone is so pissed off at the hi price of gas that they tend not to paay attention when driving through the parking lot. I saw a guy get hit as he exited the mens room the other day.

 

Now I have heard it all....

 

Not at all.

 

No, If you cant afford the gas, then you cant afford the car.
I maintain that his dad probably laughed because his young son just went out and dropped all his money on a car he cant afford. and is now worried about how to save 10 cents on gas. this guy just posted in another thread, about where to find e85 stations, and is probably out dumping e85 in his tank now All the while he is losing more money on depreciation than he is spending on gas.... His father is probably quite amused by his son figuring out how life works on his own.

 

I just got back from a trip the Scotland and England. All I have to say is gas is all but free here in the States. There were places in Scotland where gas cost more than 1 Pound per liter. At 3.8 liters per gallon and the exchange rate being just about $2 per Pound, well, you can all do the math. And for those that can’t, that’s $7.60 per gallon at 1 Pound per liter.