A mistake that many drivers make when filling their gas tank is to overfill it. In other words when the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically,do you keep pumping trying to add as much more gas as you can? Do you add more gas after the shutoff to round out the dollar amount of the total. In either case this habit is most likely costing you money and is bad for the environment. In many areas, a gas station's pumps have vapor recovery systems that recover gas vapors to keep those vapors from getting into the air. If you top off your gas tank it will result in you paying for gas that is drawn back into the gas station's vapor recovery system. The extra gas you are trying pump may be drawn back through the vapor recovery system into the station's tanks. Then in essence you are paying for fuel that is not going into your tank but is going into the gas station's tanks. This, of course, raises your cost of gas. When you overfill your gas tank it is almost a certainty that gasoline will evaporate or will be spilled. If either of these or both of these occur it means buying gas that is not getting into your car. That has to hurt you in the wallet. There are more bad things that can happen when topping off your gas tank. Gasoline expands as it gets warmer. This is certainly important in the summer or in climates with warm weather. Gas in the station's underground tanks will be cooler than the air. As the gas in your tank warms up it expands. As the gasoline expands it needs more room. If you top off your tank, then there is no extra room for the gas to expand. Where does the expanding gas go? It may find it's way into your vehicle's vapor collection system. That could easily foul this system causing it to malfunction. If this happens your vehicle will run poorly and have high gas emissions. The gasoline that expands and is lost is gasoline that you spent your money on. That means that again, you spent money for gas that you are not able to use. As a result your cost of gasoline is increased. But you are not through loosing money! If the expanding gas finds it's way into your vapor collection system it could easily foul that system. If that happens your car will operate very inefficiently. A car that runs inefficiently means that you will use more gasoline which means you will spend more money on gas. Thus you are hit doubly in the wallet, once for the gas that you loose directly and second for the extra fuel your car burns because it runs inefficiently. Ouch and double ouch!! Gasoline vapors are a source of toxic air pollutants such as benzene and contribute to bad ozone days. Gasoline vapors are harmful to breathe. When you overfill your tank you will inevitably get some vapors released into the air. When this happens not only are you breathing in toxic fumes but you are also contributing to the air pollution problem. When you next fill your truck or car, when the pump automatically stops don't add any more fuel, your tank should be full enough. Don't top it off, don't overfill it. Not only will you be saving money but also helping your own health and helping the environment!
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A mistake that many drivers make when filling their gas tank is to overfill it. In other words when the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically,do you keep pumping trying to add as much more gas as you can? Do you add more gas after the shutoff to round out the dollar amount of the total. In either case this habit is most likely costing you money and is bad for the environment.
Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of automotive industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump. Visit us to discover how you can increase fuel economy. Find out how to save gas. Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the lower gas costs Articles Submission Service
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