Topping off your fuel tank

Ok I have jsut haerd some info about topping off your fuel tank when you fill up, they told me it puts strain on your fuel pump. Who else does it? and is it really bad for the pump.

 

How could topping off your tank strain your fuel pump?

I've heard that runnng it out of gas can hurt the pump.

 

x2 its sucks up all the gunk from the tank

 

That doesn't make any sense. The only way you can really damage your fuel pump is by running it dry, because there wouldn't be any fuel to cool it. How could adding fuel to your tank cause damage to the pump? The pump doesn't care if you add 2 gallons, or 20 gallons...all it does it pump fuel.

 

So I should keep it at half full/empty ?

I always top it off. Always give it a few drops more after the nozzle clicks off on its own. I have done this for years with many different vehicles and never had a fuel pump issue. I did have a fuel pump go bad but on my fathers truck and I had filled it the day before. Coincidence as far as I'm concerned. My mechanic says the pumps always go bad when the tank is full. Never empty.

 

Thats what i was wondering how can preasure on the pump be bad for it? thats why i asked here.

 

This ^^.

The only "downside" to topping off is some aren't careful and spill fuel all over the ground... which obviously isn't bad for your fuel pump, it only pisses off the attendant/store employee. Costco I've noticed is really touchy about topping off, I've had some of the attendants yell at me for doing it. I tell them to F off, I'm careful .

As always, running it low constantly will keep the pump hotter and could damage it over time. Plus, ze gunk! So I try to fill up before it goes below 1/4. That's the only thing I would ensure in respect to fill-ups.




TL;DR - You won't hurt your truck topping it off... Just don't run it empty constantly.

 

You're basically saying "adding gas to my tank will damage my fuel pump." Does that make any sense to you?

 

Do not top off! There are vents and ports for California emissions in the filler neck. When the pump stops, don't put more in. This will allow gasoline to go down into the closed canister system damaging the filter. Then you'll be spending money for a repair. Happens all the time at my shop. This vent system allows fresh air to enter into the emissions system and pressurize for constant diagnosis while driving. It can set off your check engine lamp and can cause some intermittent spitting and sputtering. Just don't top off.

 

WTF?

Is this some Cali-only thing...? I've always topped off, every vehicle pretty much every tank. Never had a problem. My truck was even made in Cali...

 

BAAAHAHAHA!! Jackie Chan! Someone put a quote on it!!

 

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/Hybrid13.pdf

Check this out

 

there is no gunk in the tank.. my 86 had 8 or so holes from rust on the outside of the tank and when i dropped it and emptied it it looked just like it would have when it came off the line in 85.

pics



holes

 

OP do you mean the people that constantly try to get more and more gas in the tank after its filled up?

 

This ^^^ is all I've read on this subject .

 

It's possible I'm just retarded, but I'm not sure why that document is supposed to convince me topping off is bad. You do realize how gas will settle because of all the air in the line going into the tank, right...?

I'm not talking about topping up 15x so gas spills out all over the bedside, ground, and leg. That's dumb.

 

Any time you top off, gas goes down the evap tube. Period.

 

This. It also hurts my head when people want to change the fuel filters in their Toyota vehicles.

Toyota designed their EFI system from the beginning to NEVER need a fuel filter change, and if you read up on how it was designed, it truly never needs to be, unless you're dumping creek mud down your gas filler.

Here is why:

http://www.supramania.com/forums/content.php?121-The-great-fuel-filter-myth