Do You Make This Mistake at The Gas Pump?

A mistake that many drivers make when fillingyour gas tank.
their gas tank is to overfill it. In other words whenIf you top off your tank, then there is no extra
the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically,doroom for the gas to expand. Where does the
you keep pumping trying to add as much moreexpanding gas go? It may find it's way into your
gas as you can? Do you add more gas after thevehicle's vapor collection system. That could easily
shutoff to round out the dollar amount of thefoul this system causing it to malfunction. If this
total. In either case this habit is most likely costinghappens your vehicle will run poorly and have high
you money and is bad for the environment.gas emissions.
In most areas, gas station pumps are equippedThe gas that expands and is lost is gas that you
with vapor recovery systems that draw gashave paid for. Again that means that you are
vapors back into their tanks to prevent thosepaying for gas that you can't use. Your cost of
vapors from getting into the air and thusgas is increased again. But that's not all that will
contributing to air pollution. If you top off yourhappen. If the expanding gas fouls up the vapor
gas tank it can result in your paying for fuel thatcollection system your car will operate less
is fed back into the gas station's tanks becauseefficiently.
that vapor recovery system is drawing gas backA less efficient car means less fuel efficiency
into the station system.which means you will use more gas which means
The extra gas you are trying to pump into yourit will cost you more money. The result is you are
tank may just be drawn into the vapor line andhit double in the wallet, once for the gas that is
back into the station's tanks. That means thatlost directly and second for the extra gas your
you will be paying for gas that is not going intocar starts to burn because it is running inefficiently.
your car but is going back into the gas station'sDouble ouch!!
storage tanks. Of course the effect of this is toGasoline vapors are a source of toxic air
raise your cost of gas.pollutants such as benzene and contribute to bad
When you top off your tank there is a goodozone days. Gasoline vapors are harmful to
chance that gas will evaporate or will be spilled onbreathe. When you overfill your tank you will
the ground. Both of these things will cost youinevitably get some vapors released into the air.
money for gas that is not getting into your tank.When this happens not only are you breathing in
That is it bad for your wallet.toxic fumes but you are also contributing to the
There are more problems you may encounterair pollution problem.
when topping off your gas tank. Gas expands asThe next time you fill your car or truck, when
it gets warmer. This is certainly a big factor in thethe pump automatically stops your tank should be
summer or in warm weather climates. Gas fromfull enough. Do not top it off. Not only will you be
underground tanks will generally be cooler than thesaving yourself money, you will you be protecting
air. As it warms up in your gas tank it expands.your own health and you will also be helping the
As the gas expands it requires more room inenvironment!