No truth to exploding petrol tank reports – RAC

27th Jun 2018

Drivers worried about filling up their car with petrol during hot weather have nothing to fear, the RAC has confirmed.

As temperatures soar across the UK, reports circling online warn that topping up during a heatwave could lead to petrol tanks exploding.

Fake posts on Facebook and Whatsapp, which have been shared online for years, falsely claim that five cars have exploded in the last week as owners filled their tanks to the limit.

But the RAC has dismissed these claims as a social media hoax.

In response to the rumours, RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “There is no truth in this.

All fuel systems on passenger vehicles are designed to cope with any expansion of fuel, or vapour coming from the fuel.

There is no risk of explosion from filling up a fuel tank fully and drivers should have no concerns in doing so.

“We’d recommend people avoid the temptation to share misinformation like this via social media.”

Mr Dennis suggested that drivers top their tanks up fully whenever practical to do so, especially if heading out on long journeys.

IN OTHER NEWS: How to pack for a road trip

While the hot weather won’t cause your petrol tank to explode, it can lead to other problems so it’s important to take precautions as the summer heat ramps up.

Summer can be just as hard on cars as winter, so before heading off on that sun-filled road-trip to the coast make sure you check out our complete guide to summer driving.

And even if you’re not going on a driving adventure hot weather can still cause a lot of uncomfortably sticky journeys as the temperature inside your car rockets up to unbearable.

If you don’t fancy cooking behind the wheel this summer, read our complete guide to keeping you and your car cool while the temperatures outside continue to rise.