majic
01-17-2006, 01:44 PM
I figure we should have a thread where we post the most common misconceptions about .. well anything really.. mainly car related but we did just have a shampoo discussion (http://torontomazda3.com/forum/read.php?TID=4806) ;)
so stuff like.. granny it \'till 1000km or your engine will break.. premium fuel is better than regular.. changing shampoos is not good for your hair.. installing a sway bar w/o springs is bad.. etc etc..
a few rules to keep in mind:
1) please limit your posts to FACTS.. (provide links as necessary) as opposed to hear-say \"he said she said bull$hi7\"
2) if you disagree with what\'s written (and you have facts to back it up), please PM the author or the mods to ammend the post
3) try not to post too much chatter/flaming as it will make it harder for others to sift through the material..
4) share and enjoy the info!
so without further adieu, lets hope this can limit the repeatedness of some posts..
------------------------------------------------------------
Myth1: low amount of fuel in the tank will cause condensation and gas line freezing.
Reality: gas lines can freeze even on a FULL tank.. so you\'re screwed if you do and screwed if you don\'t :)
BUSTED
in addition, MOST (if not all) gasoline is blended with ethanol, which acts as an antifreeze (http://www.ncga.com/ethanol/main/your_car.htm) (preventing gas lines from freezing).. the companies may market this gasoline as \"winter gas\" \"canadian gas\" etc etc..
Myth2: low amount of fuel in the tank will cause condensation and thus the tank will rust easier/faster
Reality: OUR cars have plastic/fiberglass tanks.. and last i checked those don\'t rust.. maybe i\'m wrong
PLAUSIBLE but in our case BUSTED
Myth3: low amount of fuel is detrimental to the fuel pump
Reality: yes, the fuel pump uses gasoline as a lubricant and a coolant, if designed properly this pump will be at the BOTTOM of the tank to use every little last drop of gasoline.
PLAUSIBLE but if designed properly it is BUSTED (can someone verify the location of the pump relative to the tank?)
Myth4: low amount of fuel left in the tank will cause the pump to pick up debris left at the bottom of the tank and destroy the pump/engine/injectors..
Reality: read Myth3 and Myth2.. the fuel pump DOES pick up gasoline from the bottom of the tank.. in addition there is a filter on the pump to prevent the debris from getting into the chambers.. the miniscule debris that pass through the filter, are small enough that they will vapourize when gasoline is burned.
BUSTED
In theory, the longer you wait to fill up, the lighter your car gets and that can save you some $$ (small savings)
i just did some googling and it\'s funny how a lot of the people just don\'t know any better.. out of all replies there\'s only ONE guy who knows that all the stuff is just a myth.. the rest believe in wives tales ;)
source (http://www.detroitgasprices.com/Forum_MSG.aspx?master=1&category=1054&topic=173037 &page_no=1)
EasyMPG
Message Posted: 12/17/2005 7:12:01 PM
The sediment myth is just that, a myth. The fuel tank pickup IS at the bottom of the tank, so it always sucks fuel in from the bottom of the tank, and that\'s why there are fuel filters on cars to catch any debris.
The detergents in gasoline do a good job of keeping tanks clean, gas tanks, tanker truck tanks, underground gas station tanks, etc. All that crap ends up eventually in your gasoline tank, and that\'s why gasoline detergents are not a really good idea.
more on tank condensation can be found here (http://www.yachtsurvey.com/myth_of_condensation_in_fuel_tanks.htm) - a scientific proof ..
there you have it.. QED ;)
so stuff like.. granny it \'till 1000km or your engine will break.. premium fuel is better than regular.. changing shampoos is not good for your hair.. installing a sway bar w/o springs is bad.. etc etc..
a few rules to keep in mind:
1) please limit your posts to FACTS.. (provide links as necessary) as opposed to hear-say \"he said she said bull$hi7\"
2) if you disagree with what\'s written (and you have facts to back it up), please PM the author or the mods to ammend the post
3) try not to post too much chatter/flaming as it will make it harder for others to sift through the material..
4) share and enjoy the info!
so without further adieu, lets hope this can limit the repeatedness of some posts..
------------------------------------------------------------
Myth1: low amount of fuel in the tank will cause condensation and gas line freezing.
Reality: gas lines can freeze even on a FULL tank.. so you\'re screwed if you do and screwed if you don\'t :)
BUSTED
in addition, MOST (if not all) gasoline is blended with ethanol, which acts as an antifreeze (http://www.ncga.com/ethanol/main/your_car.htm) (preventing gas lines from freezing).. the companies may market this gasoline as \"winter gas\" \"canadian gas\" etc etc..
Myth2: low amount of fuel in the tank will cause condensation and thus the tank will rust easier/faster
Reality: OUR cars have plastic/fiberglass tanks.. and last i checked those don\'t rust.. maybe i\'m wrong
PLAUSIBLE but in our case BUSTED
Myth3: low amount of fuel is detrimental to the fuel pump
Reality: yes, the fuel pump uses gasoline as a lubricant and a coolant, if designed properly this pump will be at the BOTTOM of the tank to use every little last drop of gasoline.
PLAUSIBLE but if designed properly it is BUSTED (can someone verify the location of the pump relative to the tank?)
Myth4: low amount of fuel left in the tank will cause the pump to pick up debris left at the bottom of the tank and destroy the pump/engine/injectors..
Reality: read Myth3 and Myth2.. the fuel pump DOES pick up gasoline from the bottom of the tank.. in addition there is a filter on the pump to prevent the debris from getting into the chambers.. the miniscule debris that pass through the filter, are small enough that they will vapourize when gasoline is burned.
BUSTED
In theory, the longer you wait to fill up, the lighter your car gets and that can save you some $$ (small savings)
i just did some googling and it\'s funny how a lot of the people just don\'t know any better.. out of all replies there\'s only ONE guy who knows that all the stuff is just a myth.. the rest believe in wives tales ;)
source (http://www.detroitgasprices.com/Forum_MSG.aspx?master=1&category=1054&topic=173037 &page_no=1)
EasyMPG
Message Posted: 12/17/2005 7:12:01 PM
The sediment myth is just that, a myth. The fuel tank pickup IS at the bottom of the tank, so it always sucks fuel in from the bottom of the tank, and that\'s why there are fuel filters on cars to catch any debris.
The detergents in gasoline do a good job of keeping tanks clean, gas tanks, tanker truck tanks, underground gas station tanks, etc. All that crap ends up eventually in your gasoline tank, and that\'s why gasoline detergents are not a really good idea.
more on tank condensation can be found here (http://www.yachtsurvey.com/myth_of_condensation_in_fuel_tanks.htm) - a scientific proof ..
there you have it.. QED ;)