Sometimes Saving Money Costs You More: A Lesson From My Fuel Tank

There was a piece of advice I heard about a month ago that I never got around to sharing. As I was driving to a local detox facility to bring a recovery meeting, it came back to me.

It was one of those simple pieces of car care advice that makes perfect sense once someone explains it.

Most gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol. The exact blend varies depending on the season and location. Alcohol has impressive cooling properties. That reminded me of my drinking days.

Back then, a bottle of Jack Daniel's often lived in the freezer. Since alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature than water, there was no need for ice. If I was drinking it straight—or with Coke—it stayed ice cold without getting watered down. (Side note: Applebee's serves Pepsi products. Jack & Pepsi? No thank you.)

Anyway... back to the car.

I recently heard that during the hot summer months, it's a good idea to keep your gas tank at least half full whenever possible. Why? Because the electric fuel pump sits inside the gas tank. The gasoline surrounding it helps keep the pump cool while it's working, and having more fuel available reduces the chances of the pump working harder than it needs to.

That advice made a lot of sense.

Unfortunately, I didn't follow it.

Not too long ago, I found myself driving around with less than a quarter tank of gas. I was trying to time the market, waiting to see if gas prices would drop a few cents before filling up.

Then it hit me.

The price of gasoline might fluctuate by a few dollars per tank. Replacing a failed fuel pump can cost hundreds—or even well over a thousand dollars once you factor in labor. On many vehicles, the technician has to remove the fuel tank to access the pump.

That's a pretty expensive way to save five bucks.

Sometimes we focus so much on saving a little today that we forget the much higher cost tomorrow.

I think I'll stick with keeping my tank at least half full from now on. My wallet—and hopefully my fuel pump—will thank me.

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