There has always been a lot of speculation about whether or not motorists should fill their tanks to the brim or make frequent trips to the petrol station for small top-ups.
Many believe that if you have less fuel on board, the car is lighter and therefore can perform more efficiently.
However, one expert says that it may be different and that drivers face high repair costs if they get it wrong.
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Dorry Potter, a car and scrappage expert for National Scrap Car in the UK, claimed that it is “a lot better” to fill up the car when refuelling. She said: “Although affordability is a huge issue for motorists at the moment, causing many to top up by €10 or €20 here and there as and when they can afford it, it is actually a lot better to fill up your car when you refuel.
“When you are just topping up your fuel by a small amount each time the oil deposits and bad quality stuff which falls to the bottom of the fuel tank gets pumped around the vehicle for a prolonged period.
“This can cause damage to the fuel filter, which can lead to the fuel pump overheating and the engine clogging.
“The latter can be very dangerous as it could cause the engine to cut out while doing higher speeds, potentially leading to a fatal accident.
“At the very best it will land motorists with a hefty repair bill as new fuel pumps start at around €250 minus labour, and this can vary from car to car.”
Ms. Potter then added that although having a lighter car is a legitimate tip for improving fuel efficiency, the benefits of having a full tank outweigh the difference the weight will make to fuel usage.
She went on to say: “Of course, there is the added risk of breaking down when you run out of fuel too which is more of a risk if you are only adding small amounts each time.
“For an unleaded vehicle this would just need refuelling but for a diesel engine, it could lead to your fuel pump sending air through your fuel system instead of gas.
“If that happens, your vehicle will shut down and not restart until the air is removed- this process is called bleeding, similar to a radiator at home, and although motorists can find ways of doing it themselves, it is probably a job for a mechanic, meaning even more costs.”
Motorists can also save hundreds of pounds annually by avoiding premium fuels, especially for standard cars.
She continued: “Of course, there is the added risk of breaking down when you run out of fuel too which is more of a risk if you are only adding small amounts each time.
“For an unleaded vehicle this would just need refuelling but for a diesel engine, it could lead to your fuel pump sending air through your fuel system instead of gas.
“If that happens, your vehicle will shut down and not restart until the air is removed- this process is called bleeding, similar to a radiator at home, and although motorists can find ways of doing it themselves, it is probably a job for a mechanic, meaning even more costs.”
Motorists can also save hundreds of pounds annually by avoiding premium fuels, especially for standard cars.
Drivers are also advised to use the right specification of engine oil to improve efficiency.
Modern engines are built with finer tolerances and therefore require thinner oils - those with lower viscosity – that can also improve fuel economy by around three percent.
Over a 50-mile journey, drivers could save 50c in an average diesel car.
Based on pre-pandemic levels, the average UK mileage was 7,090 miles every year, meaning drivers could save more than €45 just for making a simple switch.
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