As we all know, the fuel tank is an important part of a car, but have you ever wondered what it does? Is it just a place to store fuel? What should you do to help it run optimally? In this car fuel tank daily tips and tutorial, let’s find out 3 basic things to know about car fuel tanks.
Car Fuel Tank Detailed Guide: What is Car Fuel Tank?
A cart of gas canisters (or fuel tanks) is a safe container for flammable liquids. Although it can be referred to as any fuel storage tank, the term is generally applied to a part of an engine system where fuel is stored and propelled or released into the engine. You may be wondering what gas tanks are made of. The answer: the fuel tank can be made of plastic high-density polyethylene, which can be made into complex shapes, saving space and improving crash safety. Gas tanks can also be made of steel or aluminum, welded from stamping plates.
Where is the car fuel tank in your car? Source: NASA
3 Essential Things to Know About Car Fuel Tanks
Fuel tank capacity
All cars are designed to be used with gas tanks of a specific capacity. The size of the fuel tank depends on the type of car, the brand of the car. In a large car like an SUV, the truck has a larger fuel tank than usual, while a nano car has a smaller fuel tank. But in general, the size of the fuel tank is between 45 and 65 liters.
In the past, due to the rarity of gas stations, some car brands designed a second fuel tank, calling it a “spare tank”. This spare tank can hold approximately 15% of the main tank’s capacity. Nowadays, instead of designing a second tank, car designers combine two tanks into one.
The tank capacity and tank columns are displayed on the screen. Source: Nissan Owner Channel
If the write capacity is 60 liters, it means that the fuel tank capacity can hold 60 liters of fuel. The number also includes reserve fuel tank capacity, which simply indicates the level at which the fuel light will warn you of low gas levels. You will receive a warning about low fuel, and you will not be able to drive the car if there are only 5 to 10 liters of petrol left due to the car being stopped.
Types of motor fuels
A Detailed Guide to Car Fuel Tanks: There Are 6 Popular Types of Fuel Used in Cars Now. They are:
Gasoline
It is the most popular fuel for most vehicle models, allowing for fast acceleration, fast starting, quiet operation, and easy combustion. In addition, it is a ready-made fuel that dates back to the early 1900s. A typical gasoline blend contains about 150 different hydrocarbons, including butane, pentane, isopentane, and BTEX compounds.
Diesel engine
Diesel is another fuel that is commonly used in automobiles, especially those with diesel engines. For large vehicles such as trucks, vans, etc., they have to walk a long way, so they need some fuel that can travel long distances or use frequently, and diesel is their favorite. While diesel releases less carbon dioxide, it is generally a more natural resource that releases nitrous oxide, which causes smog.
Liquefied petroleum
Car Fuel Tank Daily Tips and Tutorials: Another name for liquefied petroleum is propane. It is a very clean source of energy, but at the same time it is difficult to find. Liquefied petroleum is known as the volatile component of gasoline. Almost 40% of passenger cars in Turkey run on automotive gasoline, which is slightly higher than gasoline. This makes Turkey the world’s second-largest automotive gas market.
Another name for liquefied petroleum is propane. Source: Tonga
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Compressed natural gas is another environmentally friendly alternative to the largest fuel type. Natural gas is lighter than air, so the leak doesn’t form puddles like gasoline and doesn’t get close to the ground like propane. The use of natural gas fuel significantly reduces costs for vehicle and fleet owners. The feeling of driving a CNG car is exactly the same, as the performance of a gas engine is the same as that of a diesel or gasoline engine with the same power output.
The use of natural gas fuel significantly reduces costs for vehicle and fleet owners. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg
Ethanol
Ethanol comes from sugar cane, corn, and barley plants, as well as countless other natural resources, and can be found in alcohol. It is actually very safe and is a biofuel among the types of automobile fuels. The first production car to run entirely on ethanol was the Fiat 147, which was launched in Brazil in 1978.
Ethanol is very safe and is a biofuel among the types of automotive fuels. Source: Scotty Kilmer / Youtube
Ethanol fuel has a “gasoline gallon equivalent” (GGE) value of 1.5, which means that 1.5 volumes of ethanol are required to replace 1 volume of gasoline.
Biodiesel
As the name suggests, biodiesel is made from natural resources such as rapeseed, palm oil, sugar beet, etc., which can be produced locally in most countries. Compared to diesel, which is made from fossil fuels, biodiesel is cleaner and less polluting. In fact, it acts as a solvent and it cleans the engine to the point where it can pull out old dirt from the engine and clog the filter. It’s fine after replacing the filter.
Always keep a 1/4 tank of gas in your car
Car Tank Daily Tips and Tutorials: Have You Ever wondered what is the minimum amount of gas that should always be kept in your car’s tank? Some experts say that you should always keep the fuel level in your car’s fuel tank at at least 1/4 of the level. But why?
In the past, experts gave this advice because of the formation of sediment at the bottom of the gas tank. Insufficient fuel in the tank can cause some troubles for your car, such as: mechanical problems, fuel consumption, safety, …… Recently, car manufacturers have improved the functionality of the tank. As a result, it is believed that gasoline or diesel fuel helps to keep the fuel pump cool in modern tanks, making it less of a hassle to have less fuel than 1/4 of the tank.
You should always keep 1/4 tank of gasoline in your car.
However, letting your fuel run too low can seriously damage your car. The fuel tanks of older cars manufactured before the 1990s were made of metal and rusted over time. This can cause problems if the fuel pump sucks in any sediment inside the fuel tank. Fortunately, the fuel tanks of the new generation of cars are made of high-density plastic. This can reduce the problems caused by sediment.
A Detailed Guide To Car Fuel Tanks: 12 Facts About Car Fuel Tanks
1. Quality gasoline doesn’t get better fuel consumption. If your jar can be downgraded, go for it and save money.
2. The fuel gauge tells you which side the tank is on – In new models, automakers are starting to include a “secret triangle” to show which side the tank is on.
3. Your car only needs a quick drink to start- Experts have found that an average car needs about half an ounce of gas to start.
4. The 30-second rule – You should only turn off your engine if you think you’re going to stop for more than 30 seconds, idling doesn’t consume much fuel at all.
5. Outside of North America, gasoline is referred to as gasoline.
6. Cars are getting cleaner, but the oil is getting dirtier. Cars are becoming more efficient, about 20% higher in the last decade, which means that emissions from driving a mile are declining. But emissions from producing a gallon of gasoline are rising.
7. When it was first introduced, Ford’s Model T cars had a fuel burn of about 25 miles per gallon.
8. If ethanol is not added, a gallon of gasoline produces 19.64 pounds of carbon dioxide when burned. On the other hand, diesel produces 22.38 pounds.
9. The country with the most expensive natural gas prices is Norway. The price per gallon is about $6.53.
10. There were more gas stations in the United States in the 1920s than there are today.
11. Your car can run on alcohol. Ethanol is actually a type of alcohol. As a result, alcohol may be used in your car.
12. The country with the cheapest oil price is Venezuela. The price per gallon is about $0.02.
Car Fuel Tank Daily Tips and Tutorial Summary
The article “3 Basics About Car Fuel Tanks” provides you with the basics of fuel tank capacity, the types of car fuels, which are popular and which are not, which are safe for the environment, and the minimum fuel level you should maintain in your car’s tank. Keep updating with automotive news from Japan to get more information about cars and maintenance tips.
