You May Be Paying For petrol, And Leaving It Behind. You could be losing a fortune by trying to get that extra bit of petrol in because it is cheaper at this petrol station. If you try to overfill your petrol tank by squeezing that extra bit of petrol in after the pump has clicked off it could be going back into their tanks.

Here is how this can happen to you.

The petrol pump at the petrol station has a venting system which takes the fumes out of the air as you fill up you tank. If this did not happen you would get a face full of noxious vapors every time you fill up. When trying to get more in after the pump has clicked off, it may suck some of the petrol into the venting system instead and back into their tank.

Also, when you put the petrol in your tank it is coming from buried storage tanks and is colder than if it was stored above ground. This means that as the petrol warms up to the temperature of the day it expands. If you overfill you tank and park your car, the petrol may go into the cars petrol tank breather system and cause unknown damage or leak from the breather onto the floor.  Now along with the wasted petrol you also have a fire hazard. For you pocket and you safety I recommend that you stop filling when the petrol pump clicks.

If you are going away on holiday, or business, early in the morning and think it would be quicker to fill up the night before it may be wise to rethink this. Since petrol is sold by volume it will be colder, early in the morning and as the day gets warmer it expands and you get less for your money. It only requires a few minutes to fill up in the morning and gives you enough time to remember things you forgot to pack before travelling to far.

Don’t forget to check the air pressure in the tyres regularly. Tyres that are properly inflated require less power to roll thus better petrol mileage. It is possible to take further advantage of this by adding up to 2 psi more to the tyres (but do not exceed maximum pressure) and this will increase your mileage usually without adversely affecting tyre life. Most manufacturer tyre pressure recommendations are meant for comfort as well as safety.

When driving for a long distance it would be a good idea to use your speed control as much as possible. A smoother speed will be more economical.

Excess clutter in your car adds weight and means more petrol used. Your car is not a mobile storage facility. If you need to carry a full toolkit around it is time to think about replacing your car.  Clear out the stuff you don’t need such as CDs, DVDs, half empty drink bottles, those old papers you were going to take to recycling. A tidy car is lighter and requires less petrol to run plus it makes you feel good too.

When driving does your steering wheel pull to one side or the other? If it does the wheel alignment may need checking.  If the alignment is out it will cause the tyres to drag on the road and you will use more petrol. Plus the tyres will wear out extremely fast, usually on one side.  The handling of the vehicle will also be affected. Thus for safety and economy get your alignment checked regularly.