'Don't fill up' warning for drivers if they see this at petrol stations

Daily Record

6 days ago

An expert says doing so could damage your car
Most motorists follow a straightforward routine when it comes to filling up: once the tank runs low, they head to the closest petrol station and top up. It's such an everyday activity that we seldom pause to consider it. Fuel is fuel, surely?
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Spotting an enormous petrol tanker at a station as you arrive might trigger thoughts of Hollywood-esque explosions or catastrophic mishaps. However, according to motoring specialists, the genuine danger from these commercial fuel deliveries is far more understated – and considerably more likely to impact your vehicle.
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Kazimieras Urbonas, supplier excellence manager at Ovoko, an online marketplace for second-hand car components, issues a serious caution to British drivers: avoid refuelling your vehicle whilst a petrol tanker is conducting a delivery at the forecourt.
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"The fuel delivery process creates turbulence that stirs up sediment, rust, and water from the bottom of storage tanks," explains Urbonas. "Fill up during or immediately after delivery, and you're essentially pumping debris straight into your engine."
Urbonas cautions that this apparently innocent timing error could taint your fuel and result in costly engine harm. Here, he outlines why this commonplace situation poses a concealed threat that most drivers fail to recognise.
What happens during a fuel delivery
When a tanker pulls up to a petrol station, it's not merely refilling the tanks. The delivery procedure entails forcing thousands of litres of fuel under intense pressure through substantial hoses, generating considerable disturbance within the buried storage containers.
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"Think of it like stirring up a pond that's been sitting still," says Urbonas. "All the debris that's settled at the bottom suddenly gets mixed back into the fuel that will eventually reach your car's engine."
This debris isn't merely innocent grime. Across months and years, subterranean fuel reservoirs gather rust fragments from deteriorating infrastructure, moisture from condensation and minor leaks, plus sediment that detaches from the fuel itself.
Under typical circumstances, these pollutants settle harmlessly at the tank's base, far beneath the fuel pumps.
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However, during deliveries, the power of the arriving fuel can thrust this mixture of damaging materials back into circulation, making it ready to be dispensed straight into unwary motorists' vehicles.
The contamination threat to your car
Contemporary fuel systems feature filters and protective measures, yet they weren't designed to cope with substantial quantities of debris simultaneously. Once tainted fuel reaches your tank, numerous parts face potential damage.
Fuel injectors, which deliver exact quantities of fuel into your engine's cylinders, can become blocked with debris as tiny as 10 microns. Your fuel filter, created to capture occasional impurities, can become overloaded and permit contaminants to reach delicate engine parts.
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"We do see a steady stream of pumps, injectors and sensors that fail because some form of contaminated or degraded fuel got into the system, whether that's water from an ageing storage tank, particulate sludge stirred up during deliveries, or fuel that's gone bad in a car's own tank," explains Urbonas. "Damaged fuel pumps, clogged injectors, and failed sensors all trace back to poor-quality fuel entering the system."
Water contamination brings its own complications, potentially triggering corrosion within fuel lines and establishing ideal conditions for bacterial development that can further compromise fuel quality.
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Warning signs of fuel contamination
Should you have recently refuelled and observe any of these indicators, Urbonas suggests contaminated fuel might be to blame.
Rough idling: Your motor battles to sustain a consistent idle, with obvious vibrations or uneven rhythm whilst stationary.
Engine stutter or hesitation: Especially apparent during acceleration, your motor may falter, jolt, or seem as though it's not receiving sufficient fuel.
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Dashboard warning lights: Check engine alerts or fuel system cautions may appear as sensors identify irregular fuel flow or combustion.
Reduced fuel economy: Contaminated fuel burns less efficiently, meaning you'll find yourself visiting petrol stations more frequently than usual.
"These symptoms can appear within hours of filling up with contaminated fuel," warns Urbonas. "The sooner you address the issue, the less likely you are to face expensive repairs."
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Expert recommendations for safe refuelling
The remedy is surprisingly straightforward: timing. Urbonas suggests waiting at least 30 minutes following a tanker delivery before filling your tank. This provides sufficient time for disturbed sediment to settle back to the bottom of the storage tanks.
Should you arrive at a station during or straight after a delivery, simply head to another location. Most areas have several petrol stations nearby, making this a simple precaution to follow.
For routine refuelling, opt for stations with high customer volumes. Busy forecourts receive more regular deliveries, ensuring their fuel is fresher with less opportunity for troublesome sediment to build up.
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"Quality fuel stations also invest in better filtration systems and regular tank maintenance," adds Urbonas. "Building a relationship with reliable stations pays off in the long run."
Urbonas continued: "Modern engines are far more sensitive to fuel quality than drivers might realise. Where older vehicles might have powered through with slightly contaminated fuel, today's precision-engineered systems can be seriously damaged by particles that are virtually invisible to the naked eye. We're talking about fuel injectors calibrated to tolerances measured in microns, so any debris can throw these systems off-balance."
He explained: "In my role, ensuring quality across automotive supply chains, I've seen how even small contamination issues can cascade into major component failures. A clogged fuel injector might seem like a minor inconvenience, but it can lead to uneven combustion, damaged catalytic converters, and ultimately engine problems that cost thousands to repair."
The expert concluded: "The frustrating part is how easily preventable this is. Simply avoiding fuel stations during delivery times, or waiting an hour after you see a tanker leave, can save you from headaches and hefty repair bills. It's one of those small precautions that makes a massive difference to your vehicle's longevity and performance."