I would imagine it depends on what your priorities are. I prefer to get gas as little as possible, so whatever extra weight a full tank adds is worth it to me. Besides, I can't imagine that your mileage takes that much of a hit between starting with a full tank and a 1/2 tank.
If you don't fill to full that means more trips to gas stations. I'd wager more fuel would be wasted than saved.
You are carrying extra weight with a full tank. Airliners fly with partial tanks most of the time for this very reason. It's not as big a deal on the Prius, since it isn't flying. Also, since the tank is small, the amount of extra weight isn't too bad. At about six pounds per gallon, the difference between a full tank and a half tank is about 30 pounds. It's up to you to decide if the weight is worth the inconvenience. Tom
In tank fuel pumps may have their lives significantly shortened by continually driving around at or near empty. The fuel in the tank serves as a means of cooling the submerged pump.
Last year, I had a coworker carpooling with me. This year, I don't. There's little to no difference in my MPG... and he weighed significantly more than a full tank of gas! I prefer a full tank. Especially since every time we fill Rudy up, the cost per gallon has been higher. Sigh.
I drive 600 miles per week, so I prefer to fill up all the way, for fewer trips to the gas station. Once every four days is plenty for me! If you drive just a few miles per week, feel free to fill up with just a few gallons each time.
we're talking what here, 6 gallons of gas? this site Weight of One Gallon (U.S.) of Water, Gasoline, and Ethanol says gas weighs between 5.8 to 6.5 lbs/gallon. thats an extra 40 lbs at the high end. on the other hand, driving my overweight roommate, his equally overweight girlfriend, and my somewhat overweight best friend around gives me a nice little hit in mileage. tell your friends to lose some weight compensate for a full tank. itll be healthy for them.
i was under the impression that anything extra counts. even a few psi lower pressure in your tires. I was just wondering what negative impact filling your tank to full every time would have on mpg. i guess its very minimal at best.
It all depends what your time is worth... I suppose too, a person would have to take into account if a really hot cashier worked at the local service station Nah, fill-r-up...
MIKKFORCE - wow, i find your comments a bit humorous. loosing weight will definitely help YOUR mpg, then, help your friends hopefully live a bit longer! it's humorous because i once drove alongside a very darkly tinted prius, but i noticed that the car was "LOWERED" to an almost PERFECT RIDE HEIGHT - i lowered my window and asked him, hey, did you cut the coils? what lowering springs did you use? then, a VERY large person rolled down the window on the passenger AND rear passenger side and they said................NOTHING LOWERED, JUST FOUR FAT RIDERS...............i was very embarrassed and said NOTHING more. (( to put my 2 cents to this thread.......................it's VERY cheap to fill up our cars..............i prefer to fill it up all the way, monitor my fuel consumption both ways, the computer and the old fashioned way and laugh when i dont see the gas station for another week or two.
I've been filling up at half-full, on the days prices are best lately. The last 5 gallons I considered my "emergency gas supply", in case of power failures (Priups) or who knows what. AFAIConcerned, when prices keep rising, everyday is best price day.
