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Is it better to top up fuel at half a tank or to refuel when almost on reserve?

Is it better in the long run to top up fuel at half tank on a regular basis or to refuel when almost on reserve?

Asked on 11 August 2023 by Peter Lane

Answered by David Ross
In general it is recommended not to regularly run your car close to empty, as any detritus in the fuel tank can then be pumped into the engine. However, if you always refill at half a tank eventually some of the fuel in the tank will be quite old and possible degraded. We would suggest refilling between halfway and close to the fuel reserve, making sure that occasionally you get close to the reserve level depending on how frequently you need to refill.
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