Motoring experts are urging people to stop filling their tank as soon as the pump clicks to a halt for the first time. Graham Conway, managing director of UK leasing firm Select Car Leasing, said: “Squeezing the fuel pump after the first click, also known as ‘topping off’, might seem like the right thing to do so you can make it up to the nearest pound, but it’s really not.
“That’s because it’s likely to still dispense some fuel that won’t end up in your tank. If you ignore the first click you could be filling past the top of the fuel tank port, and that extra fuel will end up running into the small drain under the entry and onto the ground beneath your vehicle.
“On some pumps the extra fuel may be sucked back into the pipe. This means you are paying the petrol station to give them back their own fuel. A more serious issue, one that could damage your car and cost you serious cash, is connected to the vapour recovery system.
