Drivers urged to avoid costly petrol mistake on Saturday

British motorists could be caught out by a little-known petrol station mistake as hot weather hits the UK this weekend. PassMeFast has previously warned that fuel levels can “drop a lot quicker” in warmer weather, which could put motorists at risk from Saturday.

Fuel is usually used up more quickly in hot temperatures as motorists run the air conditioning or open their windows. This puts a greater load on the engine, requiring more petrol and diesel to run the vehicle. Road users who tend to run their tanks right up until they are empty could be caught out with blistering weather expected within days.

PassMeFast said: “When it comes to topping up the petrol in your car, there are two kinds of people: those who refill as soon as the fuel tank gets to around 1/4 full, and those who are happy to drive around with the fuel warning light on.

“The thing is, when the weather's nice and warm, your car's fuel levels drop a lot quicker than usual.

“This means you can't rely on your normal estimations of how much time you have left before needing to fill up.

“To avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, or at the centre of a traffic jam on a hot day (both nightmare scenarios), make sure you head to the petrol station in good time. Playing it close to the line is just not worth it if the sun's out!”

According to the Met Office, temperatures are expected to hit 24 Celsius on Friday before rising to 25 Celsius on Saturday in parts of the country.

The warm weather continues into Sunday, with the temperature expected to hit 21 Celsius before remaining stable into next week.

According to experts, motorists may also use up more fuel stopping and starting in traffic during the summer.

The roads are likely to become busier in the hot weather, with motorists desperate to get away and enjoy the sun.

However, sitting idle in traffic will burn up more fuel than when road users are travelling, meaning individuals could be caught out.

The RAC said: “Ensure you have enough fuel for your journey. Cars use more fuel in heavy traffic and start/stop conditions, which can be regular occurrences, especially in warm weather.”