# Why do you top off your gas tank? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 5, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296 "2011-02-05T17:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/41 "2011-02-06T17:39:21Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I always have mine go to a specified amount, ending in the same cents every single time. For example, $8.12, $42.12, etc. That way if anyone ever swipes my card to buy gus, I’ll know which charges are fraudulent if they don’t end in .12. this. I also write checks a certain way that is unique to me. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/42 "2011-02-06T18:00:19Z")
I do not top off the tank. When the pump clicks off, that’s it. However, last week I was at a pump where the automatic shutoff failed. I was watching the numbers and thinking, “Based on what the gauge said, there’s no way it should be taking this much, right?” A couple of seconds later gas started pouring down the side of the car and on the ground. So yeah, I guess I topped off my tank there. I went inside to complain about the malfunctioning pump and they came out and washed the gas off my car. Next time I’ll listen to my instinct, but never having had an experience with a broken automatic shutoff and thus not knowing it was possible, I stupidly stood around waiting. No more! ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/43 "2011-02-07T03:00:52Z")
My work truck is a Suburban. It has a 44 gallon tank. Sometimes the automatic shutoff hits with 5 or more gallons to go. I have to give it a few more clicks just to be sure. That and the gas gauge sometimes fails to work, so I depend on the tripometer. 300 miles = must fill up now! Sometimes the truck is left to run at high idle for 8 or more hours (it’s a live truck for my TV station). Every ounce counts. I have run out of gas in it. It sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/44 "2011-02-07T16:46:40Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > OK, I get it. > > If you top off, instead of having to go to the gas station 25 times a year, you only have to go 24 times. > > However, the extra minute you spend at the gas station topping off, means that you could has spent that extra 24 minutes of your time doing something else. I can get 3/4 to a whole gallon into my tank after the pump clicks. In my little Cavalier, that’s 20-30 miles. Conservatively, that’s an extra day in terms of my commute. Some hand-flexing and extra seconds at the pump buys me a whole day between tank fills which seems worth it to me. My emissions system is still dandy fine after 8 years so I fail to see a downside to having extra fuel. I can pay for it now or later, I’d rather have it in my tank. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/45 "2011-02-07T16:59:15Z")
I do it to get it to an even number. Just a bit of OCD on my part. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/46 "2011-02-07T17:17:06Z")
I don’t, because I live in NJ. But occasionally the pump jockey does top it off and it pisses me off. Look- I’m paying with a credit card. There’s no difference to you (other than you’re getting a few more cents out of me) if it comes to $43.87 or $44.00. It’s not like you had to fish some change out of your pocket. Just put the pump away when it clicks off, pal. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/47 "2011-02-07T17:23:18Z")
One, I make sure my total miles doesn’t change much, this way loosely monitoring my engine’s efficiency. If it varies much I find out why. Two, I put in even dollar amounts, that way when I get my bill a cursory glance suggests the purchases are mine and no fraudulent activity. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/48 "2011-02-07T17:48:17Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I always have mine go to a specified amount, ending in the same cents every single time. For example, $8.12, $42.12, etc. That way if anyone ever swipes my card to buy gus, I’ll know which charges are fraudulent if they don’t end in .12. I do that too. Besides, do you have absolute faith that the gas pump will cut off at exactly the right fill level for every vehicle on the road? There’s going to be a margin of error, a little topping off is not going to hurt anything. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/49 "2011-02-07T17:59:45Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Instead of going 200 miles before you have to fill up again, you can now go 203 miles? Yes, exactly. No further reason is necessary. Life is short and stopping to buy gas is boring so I’d like to do it as seldom as practical. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296/50 "2011-02-07T21:33:08Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > However, last week I was at a pump where the automatic shutoff failed. I was watching the numbers and thinking, “Based on what the gauge said, there’s no way it should be taking this much, right?” A couple of seconds later gas started pouring down the side of the car and on the ground. So yeah, I guess I topped off my tank there. I went inside to complain about the malfunctioning pump and they came out and washed the gas off my car. 😮 I bet your paint finish is going to be swirly in that area now. Especially if your car was dirty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-top-off-your-gas-tank/570296.md?page=2)