Gasoline is a liquid fuel that is commonly used to power vehicles like cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and more. But have you ever wondered how much a certain amount of gasoline actually weighs? Knowing the weight of gasoline can be useful for planning purposes – like making sure your vehicle can handle the extra load of a full tank of gas. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how much 5 gallons of gasoline weighs.
The Density of Gasoline
Before we can determine the weight of 5 gallons of gas, we first need to understand the concept of density. Density measures how much mass is contained within a certain volume of a substance. Substances with a higher density will be heavier for the same volume compared to substances with lower density.
Gasoline has a density of about 6.3 pounds per gallon (lbs/gal). This number can vary slightly based on factors like the gasoline’s exact chemical composition and temperature, but 6.3 lbs/gal is a standard accepted density. Heavier fuels like diesel have a higher density, while lighter fuels like kerosene have a lower density.
Calculating the Weight of 5 Gallons of Gas
Now that we know gasoline has a density of approximately 6.3 lbs/gal, we can calculate the weight of 5 gallons of gas using this simple formula:
Weight (lbs) = Density (lbs/gal) x Volume (gallons)
Plugging the numbers into the formula:
Weight of 5 gallons of gas = 6.3 lbs/gal x 5 gallons
= 31.5 pounds
So 5 gallons of gasoline weighs about 31.5 pounds.
Does the Container’s Weight Matter?
When determining the total weight of gasoline, it’s important to consider the weight of the container holding the gas as well. For example, a standard 5-gallon plastic gas can weighs around 5 pounds when empty. So the total weight of 5 gallons of gas in a 5-gallon container would be:
31.5 lbs (weight of just the gasoline)
+ 5 lbs (weight of the empty 5-gallon container)
= 36.5 pounds total
This extra container weight can make a noticeable difference if you’re calculating the total load weight of transporting many containers of gasoline. Always factor in tare weights whenever determining the full weight of a loaded container.
Weight of Gasoline in Other Volumes
Now that you understand the basic density formula, you can easily calculate the weight of any volume of gasoline. Here are some common volumes and their corresponding weights:
| Volume of Gasoline | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 gallon | 6.3 lbs |
| 5 gallons | 31.5 lbs |
| 10 gallons | 63 lbs |
| 15 gallons | 94.5 lbs |
| 20 gallons (full tank) | 126 lbs |
| 50 gallons (drum) | 315 lbs |
As you can see, the weight of gasoline scales linearly based on the volume and density. This table should give you a good reference for estimating gasoline weights for personal or business needs.
Does Temperature Affect Gasoline’s Density?
Temperature is one factor that can cause slight variations in gasoline’s density and weight. Gasoline becomes less dense as temperature increases. At 60°F, gasoline has a density of about 6.4 lbs/gal. But at 90°F, the density drops to around 6.2 lbs/gal.
This means that 5 gallons of gas would weigh:
- 32 lbs at 60°F
- 31 lbs at 90°F
So in hot weather, the same volume of gasoline will weigh slightly less. The difference is modest, but important to note if precision weighing is required.
Does Ethanol Content Change Gasoline’s Weight?
The exact chemical composition of gasoline also impacts its density. Most gasoline sold today is blended with ethanol, an alcohol-based fuel additive. Ethanol is lighter than pure gasoline, so increased ethanol content will lower the fuel’s overall density and weight.
For example, pure gasoline has a density of about 6.4 lbs/gal. But gasoline with 10% ethanol (E10) has a density of around 6.2 lbs/gal – about 3% less.
So if you need to precisely calculate gasoline weights, make sure you know the exact ethanol blend, as higher blends like E15 or E85 will weigh incrementally less.
Typical Weights of Gasoline Delivery Trucks
When gasoline is transported in bulk by tanker trucks, the overall weight can be considerable. Here are some example weights for delivery trucks filled with gasoline:
- 5,000 gallon tanker – 31,500 lbs of gasoline plus 4,000 lbs tare weight = 35,500 lbs total
- 9,000 gallon tanker – 56,700 lbs of gasoline plus 13,000 lbs tare weight = 69,700 lbs total
- 12,000 gallon tanker – 75,600 lbs of gasoline plus 15,000 lbs tare weight = 90,600 lbs total
As you can see, a fully loaded gasoline tanker can weigh over 90,000 lbs! That’s nearly 50 tons of moving weight on the road. So the density and weight of gasoline becomes very important when transporting thousands of gallons by highway.
Weight Distribution of Tanker Trucks
To help stabilize the load, gasoline tanker trucks have multiple separate compartments for holding fuel. Weight is distributed fairly evenly from front to back. Baffles inside the tanks also help control fluid movement so the changing center of gravity doesn’t affect handling while driving.
Legal Weight Limits for Gasoline Trucks
Due to their massive weight when fully loaded, gasoline tanker trucks must comply with special road regulations. Weight limits vary by state, but some common examples include:
- Maximum 20,000 lbs on single axle
- Maximum 34,000 lbs on tandem axle set
- Maximum 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (GVW)
To meet these limits, most tanker trucks have multiple axles spreading the weight. Specialized permits are required to exceed basic weight restrictions while transporting gasoline on public roads.
Density Allowances for Temperature Changes
Remember that gasoline’s density and weight fluctuate based on temperature. Colder temperatures during winter increase density, while hot weather in summer decreases it. Tanker trucks only fill to 95% of their total volume to allow for gasoline expansion and contraction.
For example, a 10,000 gallon tanker may only load 9,500 gallons if temperatures are extremely cold. This prevents spillover and pressure buildup as the gasoline warms and expands during transport. Drivers pay careful attention to seasonal density changes when loading their trucks.
Unleaded vs Diesel Fuel Density
For comparison, diesel fuel is more dense than unleaded gasoline. Diesel has a density of about 7.1 lbs/gal. So 5 gallons of diesel would weigh:
Weight of 5 gallons of diesel = 7.1 lbs/gal x 5 gallons = 35.5 lbs
That’s around 4 more pounds than the same volume of unleaded gasoline. This higher density allows diesel pumps to dispense more energy content per gallon. But it also means transporting a given volume of diesel results in higher weight.
Other Automotive Fluid Densities
| Fluid Type | Density (lbs/gal) |
|---|---|
| Unleaded gasoline | 6.3 |
| Diesel fuel | 7.1 |
| Motor oil | 7.5 |
| Transmission fluid | 7.4 |
| Brake fluid | 9.0 |
| Coolant/antifreeze | 9.4 |
| Power steering fluid | 7.5 |
As shown in the table, other automotive fluids like motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc. typically have higher densities than gasoline. So they will weigh slightly more per gallon. Brake fluid and antifreeze have the highest densities.
Weight Per Gallon of Liquids with Similar Densities
| Liquid | Density (lbs/gal) |
|---|---|
| Water | 8.3 |
| Milk | 8.6 |
| Maple Syrup | 11.0 |
| Honey | 12.0 |
| Molasses | 12.0 |
| Light Corn Syrup | 11.3 |
For further comparison, everyday liquids like water, milk, and syrups have densities and weights per gallon similar to automotive fluids. Heavier products like honey and molasses weigh almost twice as much per gallon as gasoline.
Converting Between Volume, Weight and Density
Using the basic density formula, you can convert between volume, weight and density units as needed. For example:
Volume = Weight / Density
Weight = Volume x Density
Density = Weight / Volume
Simply plug in the known values and convert units to determine the unknown variable. This allows great flexibility in calculating volumes, weights, or densities.
Factors That Impact Gasoline Weight Calculations
To summarize, the main factors that can impact the weight of gasoline include:
- Volume of gasoline
- Density at a given temperature
- Ethanol content diluting the gasoline
- Empty weight of containers
- Accuracy of weighing equipment
Always account for these variables when you need a highly precise gasoline weight calculation for any application or process.
Common Conversions for Gasoline Weights
These are some handy gasoline weight conversions between common units:
- 1 gallon of gasoline = 6.3 lbs
- 5 gallons of gasoline = 31.5 lbs
- 275 gallons (common home heating oil tank) = 1,732 lbs / 0.87 tons
- 1,000 gallons = 6,300 lbs / 3.15 tons
- 1 lb of gasoline = 0.159 gallons
- 1 kg of gasoline = 1.267 liters / 0.334 gallons
- 1 metric ton of gasoline = 264 gallons
Conclusion
Determining weights for a specific volume of gasoline is made easy by knowing its standard density. While not perfectly precise, using 6.3 lbs/gallon provides a good estimate for common calculations. Just multiply the volume of gasoline by 6.3 to get the approximate weight in pounds. Keep in mind the other variables like temperature, ethanol content, and container tare weights for improved accuracy as needed.
Knowing gasoline weights is crucial for transportation regulations, material handling, storage limits, and other applications. With this guide, you should have a solid understanding of calculating gasoline weight in pounds or other units. Just plug in the volume, density, and tare weights using the formulas provided to find the total weight of any gasoline quantity.
