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Less is More When Topping Off Fuel

When the gasoline pump nozzle automatically shuts off during refueling, motorists shouldn't try to squeeze a few more drops into the tank, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
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When the gasoline pump nozzle automatically shuts off during refueling, motorists shouldn't try to squeeze a few more drops into the tank, the Environmental Protection Agency says. It warns that doing so is less economical and potentially harmful to a vehicle's fuel system, as well as causes pollution.

In certain areas of the country designated as ozone nonattainment zones, excess gasoline pumped after the initial full fuel indicator is sent back to the service station's tank to prevent vapors from escaping into the environment, the EPA notes. This also could harm the station's vapor recovery system.

In addition, over fueling can damage a vehicle's evaporative system and/or cause it to not work properly. Such systems are designed to reduce the amount of emissions a vehicle generates.

Topping off can also result in fuel spills at the pump or excessive vapors being released into the air, the EPA notes.

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