What's up with topping off?

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
3,780
2
0
The gas stations are against topping off, but a lot of people do.

Is it some way for them to make money if you do? Are you at risk for overflowing your tank?

Help please.
 

ConstipatedVigilante

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2006
7,670
1
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Supposedly when you top off, you don't leave enough room for gas vapors at the top of tank. I'm not sure what this leads to, though.
 

Xyclone

Lifer
Aug 24, 2004
10,312
0
76
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Supposedly when you top off, you don't leave enough room for gas vapors at the top of tank. I'm not sure what this leads to, though.

IIRC, it leads to a lighter wallet. Topping the tank off forces the vapors to go back into the pump, wasting money.
 

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,420
1,009
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Why are you creating the most worthless thread/posting the most worthless shit so much tonight?
 

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
3,780
2
0
Originally posted by: Supertastic Fool
is this a parodie of something?

No, not a parody. Real question.

I'm always wondering if I should top off, but I never do.

Then I look to the left of me, and some guy is squeezing the handle until the hose bleeds dry.
 

Loreena

Senior member
Oct 30, 2008
297
0
0
Follow the directions on the pump. If it says don't top off DON'T.

Some stations WILL nail you for spilling gas too. It's a scam where they call some BS "environmental" cleanup group that throws kitty litter on the spill (basically) and charges a ridiculous amount of money to YOUR insurance. They make out like bandits with that crap and it should be stopped.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Loreena
Follow the directions on the pump. If it says don't top off DON'T.

Some stations WILL nail you for spilling gas too. It's a scam where they call some BS "environmental" cleanup group that throws kitty litter on the spill (basically) and charges a ridiculous amount of money to YOUR insurance. They make out like bandits with that crap and it should be stopped.

Considering a gallon of gasoline pollutes a ridiculous amount of water (the benzene is the worst problem IIRC), you sound pretty uninformed.

I have a friend who worked for an environmental remediation group (basically the red-headed stepchild branch of an oil company). He actually tested this stuff. Just because it's common doesn't mean that it's safe or good.

The real scam is the many, many loopholes or cases of people not caring when seriously dangerous stuff gets spilled, because "It's just <insert common chemical>".
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
My autoshop teacher in high school said not to do it, thus i dont do it
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,125
792
126
The manual for my Ranger specifically states to let the pump click a few times (topping off).

I'm guessing there is an issue with backpressure from the displaced vapor cutting the pump off prematurely. That's the only thing I could think of.
 

Loreena

Senior member
Oct 30, 2008
297
0
0
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: Loreena
Follow the directions on the pump. If it says don't top off DON'T.

Some stations WILL nail you for spilling gas too. It's a scam where they call some BS "environmental" cleanup group that throws kitty litter on the spill (basically) and charges a ridiculous amount of money to YOUR insurance. They make out like bandits with that crap and it should be stopped.

Considering a gallon of gasoline pollutes a ridiculous amount of water (the benzene is the worst problem IIRC), you sound pretty uninformed.

I have a friend who worked for an environmental remediation group (basically the red-headed stepchild branch of an oil company). He actually tested this stuff. Just because it's common doesn't mean that it's safe or good.

The real scam is the many, many loopholes or cases of people not caring when seriously dangerous stuff gets spilled, because "It's just <insert common chemical>".

I'm aware of the hazards of a spill. Someone that spills a GALLON of gas has serious issues though. A spot that spreads to the size of a basketball on the ground does NOT warrant $10,000 worth of "damage control" that insurance companies have to cover. That's a scam pure and simple.
 

lastig21

Platinum Member
Oct 23, 2000
2,145
0
0
My in-laws always top off their tanks to the next even dollar amount . . and then pay with a credit card.
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
40
91
Some cars overflow very close to the amount when it stops, my bonneville for instance let me put another $1.50 or so before it overflowed. My HHR on the otherhand will overflow after $0.20-0.50
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,744
7,307
136
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Some cars overflow very close to the amount when it stops, my bonneville for instance let me put another $1.50 or so before it overflowed. My HHR on the otherhand will overflow after $0.20-0.50

Yup, this. My friend topped off one time and the gas shot out all over his clothes :D
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
Originally posted by: Kaido
Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Some cars overflow very close to the amount when it stops, my bonneville for instance let me put another $1.50 or so before it overflowed. My HHR on the otherhand will overflow after $0.20-0.50

Yup, this. My friend topped off one time and the gas shot out all over his clothes :D

you didn't happen to hand him a cigarette by chance did you? :p
 

imported_Champ

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2008
1,608
0
0
I topped off with my old truck because it would take another $2.00 worth...I'm afraid to get gas on my cars paint so I don't
 

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
I don't top off unless I'm paying with cash. If I do, then I only top off to the nearest quarter.
 

JDub02

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2002
6,209
1
0
according to the info on the pump, "topping off" interferes with the emissions stuff. I have no idea if that's true.
 

AmpedSilence

Platinum Member
Oct 7, 2005
2,749
1
76
I go to several gas stations on a regular basis. Some of them I top-off with others i don't. The Hess near my house is always underfilling my tank. I can fill about another gallon in after the first click if i REALLY wanted to push it, but then the Wawa around the corner I have to stop at one click. So, it's totally gas station based.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Originally posted by: lastig21
My in-laws always top off their tanks to the next even dollar amount . . and then pay with a credit card.

How is that even possible? I've never been able to get an exact dollar amount