In addition to being useless, this practice is not without risks.
At the gas pump, there are the anxious ones (many of them) who look worriedly at the amount displayed, those who are looking for absolutely the right amount and the trigger-happy enthusiasts who, for nothing in the world, would not leave the slightest drop escape from the tank. The practice is tempting, especially with soaring fuel prices, to not leave a drop of fuel and thus hope to “scratch” a few kilometers of additional range.
However, this is a serious error, which can have consequences on the condition of your car, on your safety and that of other users. It is not for nothing that fuel pumps are equipped with a famous blocking system, the characteristic “click” that you hear once the tank is full. It is entirely possible to press the trigger again (until another click and so on), but you should know that any liquid added after the first “click” of the gun will be used more to water the road. than powering your car’s engine.
Wanting to force this system is not without risks. “After the click, you have to stop filling to have a buffer zone and prevent it from overflowing,” underlines the manager of a Norauto workshop near Rennes, interviewed by Ouest-France. The risks are not trivial, underlines the expert, since excess fuel can spill onto the road, particularly on bends.” Did you know? Your vehicle is also equipped with a fuel vacuum system “Excess fuel is evacuated via a chute, located under the filler cap, above the rear wheel, and can therefore spill onto this wheel,” explains the same expert.
Then imagine the fuel flowing onto the wheel. In addition to cleaning with plenty of water, you risk an accident because the adhesion will then be much more precarious. The precious fuel will finally end up on the road, making it immediately slippery. The danger can then be significant, particularly for two wheels. Not filling to the brim at all costs is therefore above all “a question of road safety”, insists the Norauto mechanic. You may unwittingly endanger the lives of others. Neither a source of economy (on the contrary!) and dangerous, filling your tank to excess is of absolutely no interest. Think about it the next time you go to the pump!
