Martin Lewis tells drivers they should never fill up car at 5pm

Martin Lewis says drivers should never fill up their car at 5pm. Instead of filling up at rush hour, the BBC Sounds podcast host and ITV regular revealed that those visiting fuel stations in the evenings would get a “tiny bit extra” petrol or diesel for their troubles.

He explained: “Talk of filling up at night getting you more is a slight urban myth, as the difference is minuscule – pennies at best. Fuel pumps are calibrated by volume, so fill up at night when it's colder and you get a tiny, tiny bit extra.”

MSE claims that drivers could get a ‘tiny, tiny bit’ more petrol if they go to the pumps at night. It is because the temperature drops in the evening, resulting in fuel pumps being calibrated by volume. Because of this, you can get a small amount of extra fuel by filling up when it’s colder.

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When you have 50 miles left in the tank, you should fill up your car, MSE has also explained. This is so you have plenty of time to hunt for the best deal rather than finding the first one you see when you’re running on the last dregs of fuel.

You should only use ‘better fuel’ if your car can cope, with MSE explaining: “Many petrol stations sell “high performance” fuels, yet there’s little or no performance difference for most non-performance cars. So only fill up with the super-fuels if you have a sports car or you’ve been specifically advised that your car will actually use the petrol correctly.”

Rebecca Bebbington, personal Finance expert at NetVoucherCodes, said: "Petrol prices can fluctuate throughout the day, with prices typically lower during off-peak hours. Try to fill up your tank early in the morning or late at night to take advantage of potentially lower prices. “Avoid peak times such as midday and after 5pm when the majority of the country finishes work.”