Petrol and diesel drivers given lifeline which could save them £500 on fuel

One of them included forgetting about the “neat figures” at the petrol pump and stopping filling up as soon as the pump clicks to a halt for the first time.

An expert shared that squeezing the fuel pump after the first click, also known as “topping off”, may seem like the “right thing to do” but it’s really not.

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Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, said: “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.”

He explained that on some pumps the extra fuel may be sucked back into the pipe which could lead to drivers paying the petrol station to give them back their own fuel.

It could also cause damage to the car as it connects to the vapour recovery system within the vehicle.

Conway added: “This prevents evaporated petrol or diesel escaping when you release the petrol cap to fill up, capturing it in a charcoal canister instead.

“But if you are forcing surplus petrol or diesel into the tank, this can propel liquid fuel into the pipes and damage the vapour recovery system.

“That means you will soon see warning lights on your dashboard and run the risk of failing emissions tests. You’ll also be looking at an expensive repair bill of up to £500.”

Drivers have been habitually filling up to a certain value for years, but through the new trick, this could help save money.

The money savings come at a time when petrol and diesel prices have continued to punish drivers, who now spend more than £80 on a full tank.

The latest RAC fuel data found that in July, drivers were charged roughly 5p more than necessary for petrol and at least 8p more for diesel.

Prices for petrol have remained stagnant at 145p, while diesel has also stayed at 150p per litre over the past few months.

Conway commented: "With the majority now shunning cash for cards, and apps such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, there less needs to be so accurate."

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“It also removes the frustration of carefully trying to get to a certain mark and the counter somehow ticking over by a penny – an experience most will have had at some point,” he detailed.