Topping Off: Learn Why You Should Never Top Off Your Gas Tank

It can be a hassle to head to the gas station to fill up every week or two. So when you’re standing at the pump, have you ever topped off your tank, thinking it will save you time between trips? Or to round the price up to the nearest dollar?

If so, read below to learn the top five reasons why you shouldn't top off your tank.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), topping off your tank is a waste of money and dangerous to you, your car, other people and even the environment. Find out why you should always skip this all-too-common practice.

Once you understand the dangers of this common practice, hopefully, you’ll think twice before ever topping off your gas tank again. Avoid the risks of personal injury, vehicle damage, and environmental harm when you play it safe at the pump.

What does topping off even mean? What I do is I put the gas pump in the tank and let it run automatically until it stops by itself. It just stops by itself when it is full. Is that considering "topping off"? I do this because I’m lazy and don't feel like standing there waiting… Besides, how would I know if it almost full or not and when the right time to "stop" filling up? I don't know so I let it run.

After the pump automatically stops itself, many people will pull the handle a few more times to pump as much gas into the tank as possible. That's topping off.

It's best to just stop when the pump stops itself.

Thanks! I Googled this topic so my husband could see why topping off is not a good idea and your professional annalisess brought ir home for him. Again thank you.

So what fill rate should I use Mr. "expert"? The slowest one which will fill the tank the most or the fastest one which will fill it the least? Oh yeah you don't know and that blows your whole argument out of the water.A slow fill would more "top" off your tank, so that would cause your SEALED carbon canister to leak gas out? ROLMAO don't you know what SEALED means moron?More urban legend crap being spouted by people just following someone's agenda and reading their talking points.

You’ve missed the point. See my post below.

You are the MORON!!!!!!!!

I didn't have any idea about this. I got my Toyota Corolla CE in this September and from then everytime to topped up the gas tank by 5 litres more gas. Definitely I am not going to make this mistake ever again. But, I am concerned if it has damaged my car already. I usually take gas when the tank is half full and half empty and in average in take 3 to 4 times in a month.

Hi Anna I wouldn't be too concerned about it having damaged your car already, it's not a huge deal but can result in lost fuel over time.

You’ve done no damage whatsoever. See my post below.

My word, people. Topping off doesn't mean filling your tank. It means letting the fuel pump automatically fill your tank until it turns off, and THEN pulling the trigger a few more "bursts" (often to "round off" the price, or just to get a "little more" gas in the tank). It's FINE to fill your tank as often as you like, so long as you stop when the pump clicks off.

Psh, done this for more than 3hrs now, guess what? My car still runs as new. Of course I also take good care of it in Every aspect, but here's the thing. By adding the extra gas, I dnt "waste" money as you claim here, but on the contrary I save a lot of it. For instance, at current gas prices (4$/gal average) I can literally go from LA to Palmdale in California (that's over 60 miles!) for just 5$-7$ max. 7$!! (Which is less than 2gls) Before I discovered that, I used to spend upwards of 20$ so you tell me how exactly am I wasting my money? Saving A Lot on gas is what I’m doing. But to each their own. I drive an 06 Toyota Corolla CE btw, but I feel it more like a prius now 😉Quick tip, another thing I do is the oil change every 5k/M instead of the old fashioned 3k/M. 2000 or newer cars can go longer without an oil change, but I bet your mechanic wnt tell you that go figure why..My advice, go with your gut and Definitely take good care of your car (do the require maintenance timely) if you really want it to last. Best to you all.

My concern is, would my gas tank explode in hot weather if it's full,I just read a warning by an oil mogul in Jordan, Middle East not to fillThe tank for it might explode, we are expecting a heat wave next weak,The way I took the warning gas prices might be going up and he don'tWant us to fill up right now, waiting for an answer.

I don't know this for a fact, but I’d say that's incredibly unlikely. I don't think I’ve ever heard of that happening and there are safeguards in place for that kind of thing.

This article was wrote by a complete idiot.

Liquids don't produce fumes. Liquid gases are called vapors. Solid gases are called fumes.

I have been doin this for ages and no explosions its just one person's theory and beliefs

They left out the details, but topping off above where it automatically clicks off is definitely something to avoid. The problem is with the evaporative emissions system. There is a vapor hose that connects from the top of the tank to a charcoal canister. Normally, vapor during filling and while driving is collected inside of this canister, and a purge vent under the hood pulses to allow some of the vapor to be drawn by engine vacuum into the intake and burn in the engine. The commanded purge is the highest right after you fill up when the highest level of vapor is present. When you ‘top off’ your tank, you risk having liquid gasoline make its way into the charcoal canister and inhibit the normal operation of burning off vapors (since vapor can't easily flow through a canister full of fluid gasoline), and can build up additional pressure inside the tank. One of the most common symptoms of a problem with this system, whether there is a check engine light or not, is difficulty filling up. You will often find that it will click off when it's far from being full, and getting it filled to the proper level means re-engaging the trigger many times. It's more of a hassle than anything, and changing out the charcoal canister or either of the two solenoids/vents can be quite expensive if they’re tucked away behind the suspension, as is the case in many vehicles. However, if some people prefer to roll the dice, go right ahead.

Thanks for the detailed response Aaron! Something for us all to keep in mind.

My husband just ‘topped off our 2006 Grand caravan and we died while driving! After research, it is very dangerous to do this….especially a car dying on a major highway! So we won't be doing that again!

Finally someone that knows there stuff

what a load of crap.i fill till the won't take any more and I’ve never had a problem.who comes up with this crap?

#3 is so incorrect. 4 and 5 are pretty bad too.

Usually when the nozzle shuts off for the first time, I "top off" to the nearest gallon. That makes it easy to calculate my fuel economy, and there will still be "room" in the gas tank. Have done that for 25 years of driving and I never ever had to replace my Evap/Charcoal cannister.

Really? It fills the hose for the next customer? So that's a waste of money? You are the next customer too, the hose is full when you get to it… so its not a waste of money. You’re still getting what you’re paying for. I can't believe I was dumb enough to read this and a little dumber for commenting. Not as dumb as the person who's been "topping off" for 3 hours and his car is still like new.

But if you get the last customer's "hose gas" and then don't fill the hose up, it's like you’re double-winning! ????

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