Michigan Drivers: You May Want to Stop Topping Off Your Gas Tank

You’ve probably done it: the pump clicks, and you squeeze in just a little more gas. You don't want $37.64, you want $38.00. Or maybe you have a truck and you'd prefer to make it an even $50.00 when the pump clicks at $48.90.

Whether you're paying in cash or sorting through your credit card statement, sticking with round numbers just feels easier. Right?

Why That Final Squeeze Could Be a Problem

But that final squeeze could be a mistake. One woman recently noticed a warning label on her gas pump that says topping off your tank can damage your car, waste gas, and interfere with the pump’s vapor system, something most drivers don't even realize.

I'll admit, I don't have a lot of automotive savvy. My dad tried to teach me a little bit about engines and basic maintenance but I was much more interested in the cruise control and how to save presets on the radio. So after decades behind the wheel, this is new information to me.

What the TikTok Gas Video Shows

A TikTok user known as @thatgirlpilotcar, whose video has received over one million views, recently shared a clip filmed at a gas station. In it, she points out a small sticker on the pump that reads “Do not top off.”

She explains that most cars have a charcoal canister in the fuel system, and when you overfill the tank, extra gas can flood it, eventually causing problems.

“And every time you try to squeeze more gas in there, it backs up into that and turns the filter into a non-breathing solid lump of charcoal.”

She provides anecdotal evidence as well, saying that her mother wound up with a costly car repair bill after regularly topping off her tank.

What Experts Say About Topping Off

The warning isn’t just coming from TikTok. Consumer Reports backs it up, explaining that topping off can damage the onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system, which includes a charcoal canister designed to capture harmful fuel vapors.

"Topping off could damage the onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system, a charcoal canister that collects potentially harmful fuel vapor during the refueling process and then absorbs it using activated carbon."

Topping Off Your Tank - A Habit Worth Breaking?

Is this news to anyone else? I’ll admit, I had no idea. So the next time you're filling up before that Northern Michigan vacation, resist the urge to squeeze in those extra cents. Your car doesn't care if it’s $49.22 or a nice round $50. But avoiding that last squeeze could save you a costly repair down the road.

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