30 Common Gas Pump Mistakes Drivers Must Avoid
Discover costly and dangerous fueling errors and learn how to prevent them at the gas station.
30 Mistakes People Make at the Gas Pump
1. Getting back in the car while pumping
2. Using a mobile phone at the pump
3. Smoking at the pump
4. Leaving the engine running
5. Overfilling after the click
6. Ignoring a fuel spill
7. Fueling a portable container while it is in the car
8. Using the wrong container
9. Filling up with premium when you do not need it
10. Shopping with the pump still in the car
11. Topping off the tank
12. Filling up at the wrong time of day
13. Not knowing the price before you pump
14. Using a credit card without rewards
15. Ignoring loyalty programs
16. Dripping fuel on your paint
17. Letting the nozzle drag across the paint
18. Spilling fuel on the rubber seal
19. Forgetting to tighten the gas cap
20. Damaging the capless filler neck
21. Filling diesel into a petrol car
22. Filling petrol into a diesel car
23. Ignoring the check engine light after fueling
24. Letting the tank run empty
25. Not knowing which side the filler cap is on
26. Waiting in line for the cheap station
27. Filling up at the station near the airport or highway
28. Not knowing your fuel economy
29. Ignoring seasonal fuel changes
30. Filling up at a station that has just received a delivery
The Bottom Line
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Filling up your car seems simple. You pull in, swipe your card, insert the nozzle, and wait for the click. You drive away. What could go wrong?
Plenty. The gas station is one of the most overlooked places where drivers make costly, dangerous, and even damaging mistakes. From ruining your car"s paint to damaging the engine, from wasting money to creating fire hazards, the pump is a minefield of errors.
Here are 30 common mistakes people make at the gas pump—and how to avoid them.