Your guide to service station etiquette

We almost certainly visit a service station and re-fill the fuel tank more often than we visit the dentist. Yet, both experiences can be a little painful, the former especially when others aren’t being as courteous as you’d expect.

Now we can’t give you any hints to improve your oral hygiene, but we can alleviate some of the pain when re-fuelling with the following guidelines to service station etiquette.

Before entering the service station it pays to know where the filler cap is located on your car as this will determine which side of the fuel pump will be most convenient to pull up alongside.

If you're driving an unfamiliar vehicle or just not sure, take a quick glance at the fuel gauge while you’re approaching the servo. A great car hack to know is that most modern vehicles have a little arrow next to the petrol pump icon that indicates the filler side of the vehicle.

Before pulling into the servo, consider which type of fuel your vehicle requires.

There are signs in front of every pump lane at Shell service stations which list the fuel types available in that lane.

If your car has a diesel engine, you may need to take an additional moment to look for the signs that indicate which bowsers have diesel. Not every service station offers diesel at every bowser.

For petrol-powered vehicles, you should also know the recommended octane rating. This is displayed inside the filler cap.

Many modern engines are optimised to run on premium unleaded (95RON). If you are in any doubt, consult your car owners manual as using the wrong fuel can lead to engine damage.

Once you’ve decided which aisle you’re pulling into, and which side, park at the forward most pump. This not only means you can move on your timetable, but it also ensures other bowsers remain clear and available for others.

Don’t pull-up too far away from the bowser though. Doing so may block the thoroughfare between the aisles.

As a general rule, leave a one metre gap between the car and pump. This ensures you have space to re-fuel and that passengers can alight from the vehicle comfortably. It also provides enough space for traffic to pass by on the other side.

Importantly, don’t leave any doors open when parked, as this encroaches on the room available for others to pass. It also reduces the chance of your car being accidentally damaged and ensures the security of your passengers/pets and any valuables inside the vehicle.

It’s also advisable to ensure windows are closed. This reduces the ingress of fuel vapours, which is especially important for those carrying children and pets.

For safety reasons it's important to turn the engine off while re-fuelling.

For similar reasons, don’t use your mobile phone — or other electronic devices — while re-fuelling. And obviously, don’t smoke or expose any naked flame while at the service station.

When you’ve finished re-fuelling, ensure you allow the last drops of fuel to fall into the tank and take care when removing the nozzle. When doing so, position it so the spout is facing upwards and remove quickly as possible. This will prevent any fuel from dripping onto the paintwork of your car or the ground.

If any fuel does spill onto the exterior of the vehicle, re-fit the filler cap correctly and splash clean water on the area to dilute the excess. This will reduce the chance of fuel damaging the paint. Watering cans for your use are usually located adjacent to the rubbish bin between the pumps.

If you do spill fuel on the forecourt, don’t attempt to wash it away. Instead, let the store team member know so they can clean it up properly.

Before heading into the store to pay, make sure you know the number of the pump you used, and check the totals for the price and litres used as a reference.

And remember please move your vehicle to a carpark away from the pumps if you intend to stay in the store for an extended time or take a break for food and the restrooms.

Related:

What you need to know before teaching your kids to drive

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