What Is Gas Tank Capacity?

Gas tank capacity refers to the amount of fuel that a vehicle's gas tank can hold. The gas tank capacity of a particular vehicle can usually be found in the owner's manual.

The usable capacity of a fuel tank may vary slightly from the actual tank capacity due to differences in tank designs. The gas tank capacity stated in a vehicle's owner's manual may, or may not, include the unusable portions of the tank, such as the filler pipe or vapor headspace; nor will it account for the fuel at the very bottom of the tank that cannot be used by the fuel pump.