Just decided to actually brim my tank for once (orange light was on and it was reading zero miles range) rather than just fill it until the pump clicks off (which it usually does after about 33 litres).

 

I managed to squeeze 43.2 litres in.

 

If the tank is genuinely 35 litres capacity, can the fuel filler tube really be 8 litres?!?!  I even looked under the car in case I'd be pouring petrol out of some hidden overflow pipe!

If you're relying on the fuel back pressure cutoff, they can be over-sensitive yes. My old Octy is even worse, and basically refuses to accept full flow from a car pump, never mind going near a high flow commercial pump!

I developed the habit of filling slowly years ago when it was said (true or not) that pumps delivered less fuel per metered amount if you filled at 'full bore'. The Citigo certainly won't accept anything like full flow rate from our local Sainsburys where I fill up. I'll never know how much you can get in the tank anyway as I start panicking when it drops anywhere near the red zone.

I managed to squeeze 43.2 litres in.

 

That's a fine acheivement! I was chuffed at getting 35.5 litres into mine last week. Having stuffed it that full, it would be interesting to know how far you go before the fuel light comes on again.

If memory serves, owner's manual says: stop after first click.

I'd say the pump must have been out of calibration, should have flagged it to the petrol station.

If the tank's truly full to the brim then there's no room for expansion. The fuel comes in cool from underground tanks and as it warms it expands - bit of a fire hazard unless you are immediately setting off on a reasonably long trip.

There is a system which collects petrol fumes. (I think it's called EVAP system) If you brim the tank, you probably fill the EVAP as well. Not good.

Good to know about the EVAP - thanks for the safety tips!

Luckily, I was straight into a 175 mile journey after refuelling so the level will have dropped fairly quickly (although at 68.9 mpg, maybe not that quickly!).

Just decided to actually brim my tank for once (orange light was on and it was reading zero miles range) rather than just fill it until the pump clicks off (which it usually does after about 33 litres).

 

I managed to squeeze 43.2 litres in.

 

If the tank is genuinely 35 litres capacity, can the fuel filler tube really be 8 litres?!?!  I even looked under the car in case I'd be pouring petrol out of some hidden overflow pipe!

 

 

Just curious, were your feet wet?

 

Seriously you'd probably had 1-2ltrs still in the tank, as emil says the evac system probably send the extra fuel back into the petrol stations tanks, but still charged you for it, there are a few posts on the internet about that.

No my feet we not wet - like I say I did look under the car as I had the same thought myself!

 

It can't have sent the fuel back into the petrol station tanks as I had the filler nozzle at the very edge of my fuel filler tube (i.e not rammed all the way in as per normal fuelling) and was able to physically watch the fuel go in. Nothing was coming back out - it was all one way traffic!

I wonder how much spilled out when you went round the first corner.... 

Sure would have been nice, if it cold take just 5L's more.

 

Anoying to have to stop for petrol, that often.

My Octavia ran more than 1000K's between, even my old 2.0 Xantia goes 700K's between.

 

Well, even my Alfa 156 2.5 V6 goes longer (and a looot faster) between fill's.

 

Wondering if there is a market for "aftermarket petroltank" ?

Edited 14 June, 201510 yr by KaiserPingo

I get 400 miles to a tank, not bad in my eyes. If the tank was much bigger then you'd have more weight and less performance.