Albourneboy

Possible but I did try a 2nd pump albeit at the same station with the same result. Also, the guy i persuaded to look at it in a nearby garage said the pipe between the filling point and the tank was full of fuel.

I’ve just re-read my post and realised that I didn’t explain very well. The gauge read one big division below half full BEFORE I filled up with fuel. It read full afterwards. Sorry for the confusion. I used to be a technical author so should know better 🥴

It was a third full before I filled it so why would 43 litres only take it to 2 thirds. Think you’ve got your maths wrong there

When I managed to refuel, I’d driven a total of 271 miles, 260 with the van in tow. I put in 9.4 galls (43 litres) and again, the fuel gauge read correctly (one big division below half full)

Yes it was. I estimate I’d used about 6 galls. Had towed the caravan about 160 miles so about right (average consumption was 28 mpg).

That’s true but I should now have enough fuel for general trips in this area plus enough to get us home next Saturday so I shall sleep soundly for the remainder of our holiday at least. If it happens again when I get home, I can at least take it to our local very good independent to have it looked at and we can use my wife’s car if mine is off the road. I don’t work any longer so once home, the car spends most of it’s time parked outside the house

Well, I’m pleased to report that the problem has disappeared. Have just filled up at a local co-op. Can’t tell how relieved and happy my wife and I are. We were having visions of it spoiling our holiday but we need worry no more. Might actually get a full night’s sleep tonight. Thank you everybody for your suggestions. It would be nice to know the cause in case it happens in the future to me or anyone else for that matter but I suspect we’ll never get to the bottom of this mystery.

It has just has the one tank. Had a bit of a look underneath and can see the tank, part of the filler pipe and a clear pipe which could be part of the vent system. All looks good apart from some staining which probably happened when I tried to refill yesterday and the clear pipe that looks to have diesel in it 🤔.

No, they don’t. And I was wondering about the venting system but I can’t imagine how it would malfunction in such a way as to retain fuel in the filler pipe. It’s all very weird. Drove another 90 odd miles this morning to Builth Wells so now I have less than half a tank. I’m hoping that the problem has gone away but won’t know until I try to refuel. Will give that a go tomorrow

Didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the previous fill up. Nothing abnormal happened. No fuel came out when I removed the cap on this attempt to refuel. Didn’t get any fuel in at all really. The fuel nozzle tripped off as soon as I pulled the trigger

Fuel pump nozzles have a very simple system that shuts of the fuel once the tank is full. It’s just a small tube incorporating a Venturi. As you refuel, escaping air from the tank flows up this tube to a diaphragm keeping it inflated. Once fuel starts to flow up the tube, the diaphragm collapses shutting off the fuel delivery. I don’t know what is fitted to a Superb to prevent siphoning. Perhaps someone else out there does.

Can’t see that happening. Besides, when I removed the fuel filler cap to refuel, surely that would let plenty of air in

We’re off down to Builth Wells tomorrow. I’m hoping that once the fuel level drops further that the problem will go away. If not, a call to Green Flag might be needed to get us home to Darlington next Saturday

Not empty but definitely 30 litres or so short of full. Like I said, I’ve just driven 150+ miles with my caravan in tow. I doubt that my car has somehow become so incredibly economical, it would not use any fuel on that journey

Thought I’d top up with diesel having driven 150+ miles with caravan in tow but found I couldn’t. Inserted fuel nozzle as normal and pulled the trigger but the auto cut off stopped the flow of fuel just as it does when the tank is full. But it isn’t full!! Tried another pump but with same result. Took the car to a local garage and persuaded a guy to have a quick look. He used a funnel to open the flap and found that the pipe down to the tank was full of fuel so that is what is triggering the nozzle cut out. What on Earth could be trapping the fuel in the pipe. Is there another flap at the bottom where it enters the tank? Has anybody else experienced this? Is there anything I can do?