There are some questions many (future) car owners ask Google about. One of ’em, undoubtedly, is the one you’ve clicked on before ending up here. That being said, there’s no reason for it to stay unanswered!
Okay, so how long does it take to refuel a gasoline car? In other words: how much will it take ya to refill your vehicle at a gas station? Needless to say, you’re about to find out! Here at GasAnswer, we’ve got a special agenda! We’re dedicated to answering each and every one of your gas-related questions!
On average, folks spend 5 minutes sipping fuel inside their gas-powered cars. Of course, whether those numbers will be higher or lower depends on the gas pump itself. Also, it has been said that most people spend about 15 minutes at the petrol station in total. If the process takes too much of your time, consider visiting the mechanic.
A couple of neat little sentences ain’t nothin’, right? Right. Keep on scrolling to find out just what we’ve prepared for today!
Table of Contents
Gasoline cars 101
Now, before we tackle the main question with all our might, it might be good to consider something else! To phrase it differently: we’ll answer some FAQs closely related to our today’s topic! Shall we start?
Why does it take so long to fill my car with gas?
You don’t have to be new to the world of gas-powered vehicles to inquire about this one! There’s a chance some of you are reading this because you’ve noticed their car takes too long to refill. Anyway, let’s continue!
One can wonder: if it takes me too long to fill my car, is there an issue I should be worried about? We know it can be very frustrating, but could it be a sign something’s gone awry inside your vehicle? You might’ve tried manually controlling the flow of gas into the tank. Did you notice that the pump automatically shut itself off after one or two seconds? If so, here’s what’s the deal:
- there might be an issue with your vehicle’s evaporative emissions system (EVAP). You should be worried if you’ve noticed the issue while your “service engine soon” light’s on. It might be a signal that there’s a not-be-taken-lightly issue
- if the “service engine soon” light’s not on, we’ve got another suggestion. Check both the large-diameter and small-diameter vent hoses. The ones that are attached to the fuel filler opening. If one or the other’s compressed, the aforementioned shut-off will stop the flow of the fuel. Needless to say, you’ll wanna resolve the issue by visiting your local mechanic.
If none of these seem to be the problem, it might be best to consult a professional. Just so you don’t end up paying for more in the long run! Pulling the good ol’ DIY-gone-wrong trick isn’t something that’s recommended!
Is it better to fill gas tank full?
Well, it depends on the season. Here’s what you’ll wanna know:
- during winter, it’s best you keep your tank at least 1/2 full.
- during summer, it’s best you keep your tank at least 1/4 full.
Now, why’s that so? You don’t want to fill your tank all the way up since you want your car to be light. In other words: more pressure on the vehicle’s weight means more gas you’ll spend. Also, your pumps will be pumping cleaner gasoline.
Can you open car door while pumping gas?
Here we’ll consider something you’d call a safety issue. That’s always very important when talking about this highly-flammable substance. Anyway, it’s best you avoid getting back into the vehicle while you’re refueling your tank. Now, if you absolutely must do so, you’ll wanna touch something metal. Discharge the static electricity that could release when you touch the gas nozzle. Even the tiniest spark could ignite hazardous gasoline fumes.
While we’re on the topic, let’s consider other safety issues concerning sipping gasoline:
- Don’t smoke or light matches anywhere near the station.
- Always turn off the engine before you sip gas.
- Don’t overfill your tank, just so you avoid spilling.
- Keep the gasoline container always mounted on the ground.
One can never be too safe when it comes to handling gasoline! It’s a highly-flammable substance that requires your utmost attention and care. For more tips on the safe usage of gasoline, visit this page.
How long does gasoline last in a car gas tank?
It depends on the type of gas we’re talking about. Regular gasoline will stay between three to six months inside your tank before going bad. Diesel will stay a bit longer before turning bad: from six to ten months. It’s also worth knowing that all these numbers will also depend on the time the gas has been sitting at the pump.
All in all: your best bet’s to use all the gas inside your fuel tank before a couple of months have passed. Bad gasoline might damage your engine. Running your vehicle on it might result in the corrosion of your fuel system.
Now that we’ve handled these, there’s nothing else to do but to answer our main question. That is: how long does it take to refuel a gasoline car?
How long does it take to refuel a gasoline car?
Without further ado, let’s see how long should an average car take to refuel! Okay, so an average gas-powered car will take about 5 minutes or so to fill. Also, some note that it really depends on the pump. However, the total time that folks spend at the station’s about 15 minutes. That’s because we’re counting the time it takes to get gas, buy some road food, use the toilets, and so on.
Some folks say that you’re “wasting” about 15 hrs a year just sipping gasoline. To be completely frank, it doesn’t seem like that much of a waste of time. Anyway, let’s tackle another frequently asked question related to the subject!
How to refuel a gasoline car?
Here we’ll show you a step-by-step guide on refueling your trusty car.
Step #1: Get that fuel cover open
There are usually two ways you can handle this phase. In other words: two ways you can open the fuel cover. You’ll either:
- push the button you’ve noticed on your car’s interior near the driver’s seat.
- push onto the fuel cover and that’s about it.
Step #2: Fuel cap gotta be opened, too
There’s a good chance you’ll see something of a simple tutorial on how to open it. Most likely, you’ll wanna turn the cap to the left until it comes out. Or: you’ll turn it to the left until you can’t turn it anymore.
Step #3: Lift the gas pump nozzle
The next thing you’ll wanna do is simply lift the gas pump nozzle. It’s usually located on the right side of the pump. And there you go!
Step #4: Selecting the fuel grade
To find out what fuel grade to sip in your car, check the owner’s manual. We can differentiate:
- regular gasoline (octane rating: 87). The most common grade of fuel out there.
- mid-grade gasoline (octane rating: 89-90). Only about 7% of vehicles demand you use this type.
- premium gasoline (octane rating: 91+). Most expensive of the three, about 10% of vehicles require it.
Here’s a little hint: don’t put regular gasoline in a premium car. To find out why’s that so, read this article that we’ve published! Also, speaking about warnings… Never put diesel fuel inside a gasoline-powered car!
Step #5: Start filling!
It’s showtime! You’ll wanna hold down the nozzle right until it auto-stops the fuel pump.
Step #6: Return the fuel cap
Once you’re done sipping, you’ll wanna return the gas cap. Turn the fuel cap all the way to the right until you hear a click. Make sure it’s closed by pushing it until there’s nowhere to push.
If you’re wondering does gasoline evaporate without a gas cap, click here.
Step #7: Well…
That’s right, just close that cover, and the whole ordeal’s over! You’ve successfully sipped gasoline into your fuel tank!
Bonus round: How to fill a gas can?
The process is very similar to the one we’ve described above.
First of all, make sure that the gas can’s placed on the ground. Lift the gas nozzle and put it into the can. Next up, squeeze the pump just so that gasoline’s able to flow. Avoid filling your gas can all the way to the top. Why? Well, because you want to avoid potentially-harmful gasoline spills.
Once you’re finished sipping, remove the nozzle. Close off the vent and make sure the gas cap’s sealed tightly. And that’s all there’s to it!
Final words
Okay, we’re getting ready to hit the end margin of this text. Needless to say, that was that on the how-long-does-it-take-to-refuel-a- gasoline-car story! Hopefully, now you’re well aware that gas stations aren’t time-wasters or something! Most likely, it won’t take you more than 5 minutes to sip gas!
For more interesting thoughts on gasoline-related subjects, don’t hesitate to visit our blog page. Until next time!
