Not sure how to put gas in a car? We can help explain in our jam-packed guide. Read on for instructions on how you can go about putting gas in your car. Maybe you’ve just passed your driving test or you’re learning. But it’s one of the basic steps to learning to drive.
We’ll also go through some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to putting gas in your car.
Alternatively, you might be a parent and your son or daughter has recently passed their driving test. If you’re looking for a helpful guide that you can walk them through really quickly and effectively, we can help you out too.
How To Put Gas In A Car
1. Which Gas Does Your Car Need
If you’re not sure how to put gas in a car, you might not be aware that there are different types of gas that can fuel your vehicle. There are three different types of gas, or specifically ‘grades’, such as regular, mid-grade, and premium gas.
And, that’s just gasoline, as we’ve yet to mention other types of fuel. For instance, there’s diesel fuel, flex fuel, hydrogen fuel, and so on. So you’ll need to know which one your car needs before you get to the gas station.
2. Work Out Where You Can Put Gas Into Your Car
Do you know which side of your car you need to add gas to?
If you don’t, it’s worth double-checking before you go to fill up. That’s because it can be a bit troublesome trying to pull the hose to the other side of the car, especially if you’re by yourself.
So, save yourself the hassle and have a quick look at whether the gas filler neck is on the passenger side of your car, or your driver’s side.
3. Find A Gas Station Near You
Once you know what type of gas you need and where to refuel, you need to drive to the gas station. It’s a good idea to slow down a little as you come into the gas station.
This is because there might be other drivers maneuvering or about to drive away. There may also be pedestrians getting into or out of their cars, or coming out from inside the gas station.
4. Find A Pump And Carefully Park Up
Then, park up at a pump. Don’t worry about getting too close to the gas pump because the hose will give you room to play with. You can use your mirrors to help guide you as you park here as well.
Feel free to adjust them for this. Just don’t forget to change them back to your normal driving position once you’ve filled them up.
Remember to turn off your engine because there could be a fire risk if you don’t. If it’s your first time putting gas in the car, it might be helpful to know that you shouldn’t use your electronics while you’re handling the hose either.
This is because even such a tiny amount of static electricity can be a safety hazard, and it’s obviously important to put gas in the car as safely as possible.
5. Pay To Put Gas In Your Car
You can either use cash or a card to pay for your gas. Plus, if you’re not sure how to put gas in a car or you’ve not done it before, you might know that you don’t have to fill your car right to the top. You can just pay for what you need.
It can be cost-efficient and kinder to the environment to only pay for smaller amounts of gas for your car when you go to the gas station. That’s because gas is heavier than you might think. So, you don’t want to be driving around all that extra weight that you don’t actually need.
So, when you pay for your gas, select how you want to pay, whether it’s credit or cash. Paying with a card can be quicker if you’re in a rush because you can typically pay there and then with credit.
But if you want to pay with cash or you don’t have your card on you that day, you’ll need to go inside the gas station to complete the transaction.
6. Choose The Gas That Your Car Requires
When you’ve paid for the gas, you can use the hose then to fuel your tank. Don’t forget, you’ll likely need to pull the lever or find the button inside your car that unlocks the latch. In lots of cars, you can find this by opening your driver’s side door and looking for the lever or switch.
Then, you can go to the latch where you want to add gas in and you should be able to open it. Pick up the correct hose for the right gas or fuel you’ve chosen and fit it into your gas tank. Make sure you’ve selected the right type of gas.
Always check that the pump displays a nice zero before you start adding gas to your car so that you’re not being over-charged. If you think you’ve chosen the wrong type of gas to fuel your car, don’t worry. There should be a ‘correct’ button you can press and start again.
7. Add Your Gas To Your Car
With the pump handle in your hand, you can gently push and squeeze the hose and the gas will start pumping from the machine into your car. When this starts happening, you can see the amount of gas that’s being pushed into your car in real-time.
On the gas pump machine’s display, you’ll also see the final price of the gas you’ve purchased. Remember that you need to continually squeeze that pump handle for the gas to be pushed through. You can’t just press it once. As long as you’re squeezing it, the gas will be filling up the gas tank.
It should take only a few moments to fill up. But this will depend on how much gas you’ve paid for. If you fill-up the full tank, it will take a few minutes. The machine will tell you when it’s finished pumping the gas for the price you’ve paid. Don’t try and add more because it won’t work and it can be dangerous.
8. Put The Handle Back Into The Machine
Once you’re all done putting the gas in your car, don’t squeeze anymore. But keep your hand firmly on the handle, as you’ve been doing, and gently take it out of your gas tank. Then, place it back on the dock where you picked it up from.
Make sure you pop it back so it’s in an upright position. The reason is if there is any excess gas, it won’t drip everywhere and leave a mess for you, the next person filling up, or the gas station staff to clean up.
Ensure the cap on your car is securely fastened again. You need to turn the cap firmly into place. Keep doing this until you hear it click properly into place. It needs to be nice and tight so that no gas leaks.
9. Get Your Receipt
Be sure to grab your receipt if you wanted one. If you bought the gas with credit, the pump’s display will show the question “do you want a receipt?”, so select “yes” if you do, and it will print you out a receipt in next to no time.
It will have how much gas you bought, which type, and how many dollars it cost you, as well as some other details.
If you used cash to buy gas for your car, you can go inside the station and see if you have any change, and get your receipt too.
If you’ve used gloves to put gas in your car, remember to put those back too. You should feel confident in knowing how to put gas in a car.
How To Use A Gas Can
You can use a gas can to fill your tank too. Go to your local gas station with your can and follow these instructions.
1. Unscrew The Cap
Unscrew it counterclockwise – you’ll need to pinch it in to do this. You can leave this to one side when you fill up your gas can.
2. Take Off The Spout
This can be in different sizes and shapes but can often be a long circular object. It’s the part you will re-attach to your gas can so you can pump gas from your can into your car.
3. Select The Gas You Want
Use the hose to put gas in your can. Squeeze the handle with your hand as you hold the hose to start the transfer of gas. Try not to push the hose in too far because this can make the gas shut off.
4. Pump Gas
Do this with care, so you don’t spill any, similarly to how you would add gas straight to your car. Once you’ve filled your can, or put in as much as you want, make sure there isn’t any leaking first.
Then, carefully take out the hose and replace it back to the pump. Reinstall the spout and screw cap. Make sure the cap is on securely again so it doesn’t leak as you travel home.
What Type Of Gas Does My Car Take
Most cars in the United States will drive with regular gas. That’s also known as unleaded gasoline if you didn’t know. There are different types of gas you can fill up your car with.
| Type Or Grade Of Gas | Octane | Used For |
| Regular | 87 | Most passenger cars |
| Mid grade | 88-90 | Sports cars |
| Premium | 91+ | Luxury and performance cars |
There will likely be a label on your driver’s side door that tells you what gas your car needs to drive so it’s a good idea to check there. The second place it will tell you is in the documentation you were given by the seller or manufacturer of the car.
If you’re still not sure and you’ve checked those places, you can always call the seller of the car to double-check.
FAQs On How To Put Gas In A Car
How Long Does Gas Last
Regular gas can last between 3 to 4 months. If you’re a new driver, you’ve never filled a car up with gas before, and you’re not sure how often you’ll expect to re-fuel, don’t worry. If you’re using your car pretty regularly, you’ll probably be pumping gas every month.
Can You Pump Gas With The Car On
If you’ve been told that you can pump gas with the engine and electrics of your car still on, we’d advise against this. You shouldn’t pump gas with the car on. Technically, you physically can put gas in your car if it’s still running. But it’s potentially dangerous. There may be a fire risk if the fumes get too hot. It’s not about the actual liquid of the gas, but the fumes. It’s also important to make your all of your electronic devices, like your cellphone or your laptop, aren’t on charge in your car while you fill up. That’s for the same reason too. It’s best to just leave your cell in the car when you get gas because if you’re on your cell, it can create static electricity.
Why Can’t You Pump Your Own Gas In Oregon
It’s illegal to pump your own gas in two states of America. That’s New Jersey and Oregon. One of the big reasons is that it’s a potential fire hazard. It’s been the law in Oregon since 1951 that a gas official has to fill up your car for you. So, for safety reasons, the law states that gas operators will pump your gas for you. They will also turn off engines and discourage smoking while they fill up for you. There is another big reason that you can’t pump your own gas in Oregon. It’s because the gas station staff say they can’t clearly watch drivers fill up with gas at the same time as serving customers.
How Long Does It Take For Gas To Go Bad
It can take about 6 months for gas to go bad. If you’re worried your car’s gas might have gone bad, you might have experienced these symptoms in your car. For example, the gas might smell strongly sour or the car might stall more than usual when you accelerate and move. Of course, the car will stall if you’re not meeting the bite point correctly, causing the engine to stall. Lots of new drivers can experience this so it’s best to get that right first before assuming the gas has gone bad straight away.
Why Can’t You Pump Your Own Gas In NJ
You can’t pump your own gas in New Jersey because it’s potentially a safety hazard. So, it’s the same reason you can’t add your own gas to your car in Oregon. It’s actually a law and has been since 1949. Authorities say it’s also a way to make pumping gas an easier, quicker experience for all drivers. That includes much older drivers and those with disabilities.
Can You Pump Your Own Gas In New Jersey
No, you can’t pump your own gas in New Jersey because it’s illegal. It’s been the law for health and safety reasons for years, since 1949. There are lots of places you can’t pump your own gas.
Is It Illegal To Pump Your Own Gas In NJ
Yes, it is illegal to pump your own gas in NJ. The legislation was introduced back in 1949 that stated it was against the law to pump your own gas at a gas station. This was brought in for health and safety reasons. It was also brought in in Oregon too. If you’ve been found pumping your own gas in New Jersey, you can be fined up to $500. There are gas operators who work at gas stations instead. They will fill up your car for you with gas and they will make sure no electric devices are used at the same time to ensure full safety.
How Do Gas Pumps Know When To Stop
It’s all about the pressure that the gas pumps are designed to feel, essentially. The gas pump is made so that it can cleverly tell how much air is flowing through the nozzle. That’s why it works when you’ve got an empty gas tank because the pump can feel the air. Then, once you’ve filled the tank, the pump machine can feel the changes in the air pressure. It’s at this point that your gas stops pumping. It’s specifically designed like this so that it safely fills your tank and doesn’t overflow. This would cause excess spillages and also be a fire hazard should the fumes create a spark.
How Long Is Gas Good For In A Gas Can
Gas can be good for approximately 3 months. That accounts for regular gas, which is what most cars in the United States will drive. Plus, if you’ve just passed your driving test and you’ve got your license, you’ll likely be using regular gas.
How Many Gallons To Fill A Car
If your car is a much smaller one, it might hold about 12 gallons. If you have a bigger car that can hold almost 16 gallons of gas. Other vehicles like trucks and motorcycles will hold different amounts. A truck can hold 25 gallons, whereas motorbikes can hold as small as 8 gallons. That’s why motorcycles can be a cheaper option for those who need the most cost-effective budgeting.
How Much Is A Full Tank Of Gas
In July 2022, it was roughly $4.52 for a gallon of gas. That’s according to the AAA, as quoted by RocketHQ. It can depend on the size of your car’s engine and to how many gallons it takes to fill it up. A bigger car that can hold 16 gallons would be approximately $57 to fill up. A smaller car holding 12 gallons will cost around $46 to fill up with gas. The costs for you to fill up will vary depending on different factors. For example, it depends on how often you use the car, how many miles you drive a week or month, how much weight your car has to carry, how cost-effective your driving is, the price per gallon, and so on.
What Happens If You Overfill Your Gas Tank
If you overfill your gas tank, it may cause damage to your car’s engine. Not only that, but the gas will overflow and spill as you’re still squeezing the handle. This will firstly cause a dangerous mess at the gas pump, but you’ll also be charged for that gas. So, if you’ve never filled up with gas before, always stop when you hear the click. It’s telling you it’s full and it’s safe now to put the hose back.
What Happens If You Put Water In A Gas Tank
Water has a higher density than gas. It doesn’t belong in a gas tank. So, if gas and water are combined for some reason, the gas will float on the water. If a lot of water gets into the gas tank, this could cause serious issues with your car. For example, it might stall or just not start at all. This will happen because water will fall to the bottom of the engine. If the water gets into other parts of your car’s engine, it can cause other problems as well.
Can You Put Diesel In A Gas Car
Diesel doesn’t have the right consistency to work in a car that needs gas to run. It’s much thicker than other gas. If you do try to put diesel in a gas car, the pump will just have a hard time trying to get the diesel into your engine. It might clog up the filter. If you do think you’ve put diesel in a gas car, don’t go to drive it. You’re best to contact a local automobile car repair shop.
How To Pay For Gas With Cash
First, go to the gas station. You’ll need to go inside the station to pay for gas with cash. Let the staff know how many dollars you want to pay in cash, and what pump number you’ll be using. They’ll ask you for the cash, and you can then pay it. You might be able to fill up with gas first and then pay inside. But you’ll need to check on the pump’s display as this will tell you which to do first. Lastly, fill up at the pump, and collect your receipt afterward.
How To Put Gas In A Car: In Conclusion…
To conclude, you should now feel really confident in knowing how to put gas in a car. You can also feel a bit more clued up on the cost of gas for your car. Not only that, you can fill up safely, using the right gas for your vehicle.
