Fuel

Make sure you have enough fuel

Don’t let the fuel in your tank run too low. This can cause running problems and even damage the engine. Fill up before you reach that stage. Some vehicles have a warning light which shows when the fuel is getting low.

Fuel cans

If you carry reserve fuel in a can, make sure the can is of an approved type for carrying fuel. It’s illegal and dangerous to carry fuel in a container not intended for that purpose.

Motorway driving

Before driving onto a motorway, make sure you have at least enough fuel to reach the next service area. It’s better if you have much more than this, in case you encounter unexpected delays or there are problems at the service area you planned to use.

Driving at higher speeds tends to use more fuel and there can sometimes be quite a distance between service areas.

Petrol engines

All modern petrol-engined vehicles are fitted with a catalytic converter to help reduce exhaust emissions. These vehicles must use unleaded fuel for the system to operate correctly.

LPG and natural gas engines

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas can both be used in spark ignition engines. Unlike petrol and diesel, the fuel is gaseous at room temperature and is stored in steel tanks. These tanks can add extra weight to the vehicle, particularly if it has two tanks and is able to operate on gas or conventional fuels.

Refuelling differs from petrol and diesel vehicles in that the refuelling hose is locked in place to create a pressurised, sealed system.

If you’re planning a long trip, it’s worth remembering that not all garage forecourts have LPG refuelling points. Satellite navigation (sat-nav) systems can usually direct you to the nearest LPG refuelling point; if you don’t have that facility, make a note of gas-ready service stations before you leave home.

Always make sure that you have enough fuel to reach your first refuelling stop.

Electric cars

Electric cars use an on-board battery and convert energy stored in the cells to provide power. They require recharging from the mains – either at home or at on-street charging points.

Remember that current electric cars have a limited range before they require a recharge. Make sure that your vehicle is fully charged before you start your journey and factor in any additional time that charging the battery will require if you need to power up.

Diesel engines

With the development of clean diesel technology and good fuel economy, diesel vehicles are environmentally friendly, provided the engine is tuned correctly.

Diesel particulate matter can be harmful, but most diesel cars are now fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a device that filters particulates from exhaust gases. These filters reduce diesel particulate emissions, helping vehicles to meet European emission standards and improving air quality and public health. It’s therefore important to maintain the vehicle’s DPF in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Take care to avoid spilling diesel fuel when refuelling, since it will create an extremely slippery surface.

Take care never to put petrol into a diesel vehicle, or diesel fuel into a petrolengined vehicle. Look carefully at the pump you’re going to use.