A Winter Storm is Coming. Why When You Fill Up With Gas Matters

digitalplatform.g@gmail.com 4 hours agoLast Updated: March 13, 2026

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A Winter Storm is Coming. Why When You Fill Up With Gas Matters

As a winter storm rolls in, drivers often hear the same advice: Fill up when it’s cold. Keep your tank full. Pump slowly to avoid wasting fuel.

But how much of that advice really saves you money – and how much is just fiction?

While winter weather affects driving conditions and fuel consumption, many popular gas-saving tips also appear during storms despite having little impact at the pump.

Is it better to pump gas in the cold?

You’ve probably heard this tip before: Fill up your tank when it’s cold because you’ll get more fuel for your money. Fuel expands and adapts to the weather, so when it’s cold outside, the fuel is denser and you get more bang for your buck.

While that’s scientifically correct – temperature affects fuel density – here’s the catch: The fuel you pump doesn’t stay as cold as you do. It is stored in underground tanks where the temperature is barely constant, usually around 50 degrees throughout the year.

According to a study conducted by Consumer Reports, even if your local gas station has put a large amount of gasoline into the items, changes in temperature have little effect on the volume – only a few cents difference.

If the temperature doesn’t vary, so does the density, and you may be unnecessarily cold if you only pump gas when it’s cold. Whether it’s morning or night, summer or winter, the temperature of the fuel – and the density – are basically the same.

What drivers should do instead during winter storms

Some people fill up whenever their gas tank is empty. Perhaps this is a habit, or perhaps it is due to various concerns, even in a gas-powered car.

Some rumors say that it makes good financial sense to fill half the tank to prevent splashing and evaporation (and therefore waste) of fuel.

But, filling the tank about halfway is good practice, especially during winter storms or when the temperature drops, according to Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman for AAA of Michigan.

“We advise drivers, especially in the winter, to keep their tank about half full,” said Woodland. That advice is for safety, in the event of an emergency, and is not superstition or concern about fuel evaporation.

Running on empty is also not good for your car’s longevity

Inside the gas tank is a small passage called the fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for bringing fuel from the tank, through the fuel lines, to the engine where it is burned and converted into horsepower. The fuel pump relies on a continuous stream of fuel to flow through it, which lubricates the pump and bearings and keeps them cool.

If you use smoke, that can lead to a dry, overheating fuel pump. Changing that costs more than a few tanks of electricity.

If you run out of gas in an emergency, don’t sweat it. But constantly driving your car until the gas light comes on is probably a bad idea. For that reason – not because of evaporation or range concerns – it’s usually a good idea to fill up when you’re about a quarter of the way from the tank to make sure, you’re not putting too much strain on your fuel pump.