Fill up. How often?

[SJ2000]

This is somewhat related to MPG, but instead Im asking not how many miles you make per gallon, but how often do you have to fillup.
I recently noticed that my fortwo has taken up close to 2 Gallons to travel 70 miles. In calculations that is admirable for my commute, 35MPG roughly. But I am trying to gauge how often I will have to fill up my tank.

My 09 Camry, which was my original commuting car, was a tank that is 13 gallons about, and I had to fill it up every 1 1/2 weeks at $40. If I need to fill a 8.7 Gallon fortwo everyweek for $21, then that would mean I paying $2 more to be fuel efficient. haha. Dumb logic I know.

But I want to gauge other commuters fueling habits:
So please include

1.) Year fortwo
2.) Commute average length in miles
3.) Duration a "tank" of gas runs you
4.) Usual marking (1/2, 1/4, fuel level low light) when you fill up gas.
5.) and how much it costs YOU to fill up

If this thread seems like a repeat, please accept my apologies, but I tried google searching the forum to make sure it dont repeat.

Sj2000

[SuperGeek]

It's related to MPG and distance traveled. I fill up once every 3 weeks if I'm commuting to work and back. If I travel out of town, I fill up twice in a weekend.

My answers won't give useful information, but here:


1.) Year fortwo
2008
2.) Commute average length in miles
4.5
3.) Duration a "tank" of gas runs you
3 weeks
4.) Usual marking (1/2, 1/4, fuel level low light) when you fill up gas.
1/8 - 1/4
5.) and how much it costs YOU to fill up
$2.75/gallon - depends on how many gallons I put in.


So yes, your logic that it costs $2 more to fill up in a given time frame is flawed. It's costing you fewer dollars per fillup but you're filling up more often because you don't get as many miles per tank. The best way to reconcile that confusion is by using the MPGs. Whether you travel 300 miles in the Camry or in the fortwo, you're still going the same distance.

People on the street still ask me how often I fill up, or how far it'll go on a tank. That means nothing, for those exact reasons. If MPG is hard to envision, consider cost per mile. At $2.75/gallon, 40MPG gets you a mile for 6.88 cents. A 30MPG car will cost 9.2 cents to get the same mile. So 70 miles, the smart costs under 5 bucks and the Camry costs 6-7 bucks, and that's one day's round trip. Multiply that by a month and you're saving 20-40 bucks a month even though you fill up more often.

[SmartDigger]

Originally Posted by SJ2000

1.) Year fortwo
2.) Commute average length in miles
3.) Duration a "tank" of gas runs you
4.) Usual marking (1/2, 1/4, fuel level low light) when you fill up gas.
5.) and how much it costs YOU to fill up

If this thread seems like a repeat, please accept my apologies, but I tried google searching the forum to make sure it dont repeat.

Sj2000

1) 2009
2) 13 mile one way + running kids after work
3) 5-6 days
4) fill up on last bar
5) about $20.00

I average 300 mile/ week

[mvaldes]

1.) Year fortwo
2008
2.) Commute average length in miles
40
3.) Duration a "tank" of gas runs you
7 - 10 days
4.) Usual marking (1/2, 1/4, fuel level low light) when you fill up gas.
1/4
5.) and how much it costs YOU to fill up

[rfernatt]

1) 2008
2) ~75 miles per work day round trip (drive truck once per week)
3) ~once a week
4) fill up during the last two bars or lately during the countdown
5) ~$24.00

I average 350 miles during the typical week.

[tvengineer]

1.) Year fortwo
2009
2.) Commute average length in miles
2.1
3.) Duration a "tank" of gas runs you
21 days
4.) Usual marking (1/2, 1/4, fuel level low light) when you fill up gas.
usually on one bar.. sometimes.. less than 1 gal
5.) and how much it costs YOU to fill up
$20... about...

My commute is very short. .but has 5 red lights and 5 stop signs..
so it is the WORST for MPG's
I do go home for lunch.. so I travel at least 8.4miles every day..
sometimes more if I have to run errands...

I don't like having to tell people that I only get 33mpg in my Smart....
people dont take into account how bad my commute is on milage.. and just assume the smart does not get good MPG...

so instead.. I say .. I only have to fill up every three weeks. and it only holds 8 gallons :-)

[jimvw57]

1) 2009 Pure
2) 85 MILES/DAY
3) refill at 1/2 tank -about 2-3 days
4) $12-13 bucks.

compared to my Expedition.... well lets just say I was considering a government loan for awhile..