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How much does a gallon of gas weigh?

I’m trying to think of creative ways to save on gas money. If I drove everywhere with a half-empty tank, I know that my car would be lighter, and that would increase its gas mileage. Say I was able to drive with seven fewer gallons of gas in my tank (on average)—how much weight would that remove from my car? How much does gasoline weigh per gallon?

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Samuel Todd · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That is, indeed, a creative way to increase fuel efficiency! The average gallon of gas weighs about six pounds, depending on the type of fuel you use and its additives. So, removing seven gallons of gas from your tank would reduce your car’s weight by about 42 pounds.
Unfortunately, because your vehicle likely weighs over 3,000 pounds, dropping 50 pounds won’t make a huge dent in your fuel expenses. In fact, because there are several dissolved gasses in fuel, a gallon of gasoline weighs less than a gallon of water (which weighs about 8.4 pounds).
Even though you won’t be able to boost fuel efficiency by driving with a half-empty tank, it’s helpful to know the weight of gas in case your car ever breaks down. Carrying one gallon from the nearest gas station wouldn’t be too tough, but if you tried to carry a five-gallon container (30 pounds), you might struggle on your way back to the car!
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