Do you hate fuelling your car?

[Time40]

I'm quite surprised by the number of MNers who say they absolutely hate filling up their cars. It seems to be high on the list of most-detested tasks. Those of you who hate it - do you know why you hate it? Do you also hate washing your cars, or doing other car-care jobs?

I like filling my car up - I have no idea why I like it, though. I'm not all that wild about washing cars, but I don't hate doing it - it's one of the less awful chores, even though it's a chore.

I always half-hope that Stephen Mulhern might pop up out of nowhere and give me the chance to have it all paid for - but there's no way I'd be able to put in the exact pre-specified amount with only two pumps!

It's the cost of petrol that puts me off. If it's free I'll be happy to fill up the car 😁

It used to be about 20p to put air in your tyres, but now some places charge £1.50 a time.
Still, I suppose that's inflation for you

Oh, good one! 😆

I enjoy the actual pump part but I loathe the thought of having to drive there even if I am at the supermarket anyway. I think it's because a normal supermarket shop would be straight home and when I need to fill up it feels like such a faff. The other car thing I normally dodge is filling the tyres with more air ugh

I didn't like it either, found it difficult, once took mils car for fuel and was so confused by the variety of fuels, was terrified I'd get it wrong and gave up. Think I fuelled a car 3 times then DH insisted on buying me a Renault Zoe, god, I love her little electric soul

You really don't. Just pay attention pump or lock the car as you cross the forecourt to pay. It's literally a five minute job.

Oh my god!

@Thommasina Ford do. It's impossible to put the wrong nozzle in the tank.

The smell is mank

previous customers have spilled fuel

there Can be fuel on the handle so I wear a plastic glove

it’s not a fun job, but I do it as it needs doing

Good to hear!

Did you know you can buy a tyre inflator thingy from Amazon for about £15 and do it at home

I hate it with a passion. All of it - queueing, pumping, paying

I’m old enough to remember when forecourt attendants filled the car for the customer. Wish that was still an option.

I don't generally have any strong feelings about it. However, when we fill up after visiting my parents the one nearest them is often full of faffers so it takes way longer than necessary.

It tells you on the petrol cap which fuel it takes if you're unsure.

Years of being skint makes me hate it. My card wouldn't work once and the attendant was absolutely awful to me about it.

I get anxious about trying to make the pump do that hands free thing because I can't make the little catch stick - so then I wonder if people queuing behind me are wondering why I'm the only one holding on to the nozzle while filling up - this might be an American thing because I can't remember doing it in the UK.

Similarly, isn't it just a task that needs doing like the laundry or dishwasher?! Single mum here with a partner, but both have separate homes and cars. We just fill up as necessary! My tank takes me to 600 ish miles so about once every 3-4 weeks does me fine. Have a Sainsbury's 2 min drive away, a Tesco by DC school drop off and a few others in between.

As I understand it, and I might be wrong, but diesel pumps are too big to fit in a petrol car.

It's disabled on UK pumps. You're safer while you're holding onto the pump because you're grounded so if there's a spark it won't cause an issue. (Though I might be remembering that wrong!) @wordler

I hate it. 1) I think the pump handles are a cesspit of unwashed hand germs and I doubt they've ever been cleaned. 2) it takes too long, I don't understand why they don't pump faster 3) after leaving the petrol station I am £100 poorer and I have nothing to show for it, I still only have my phone and keys in my hand (this is different than say paying an electricity bill because that is passive, I don't have to go out and visit somewhere to pay for electricity, it's never on the to do list with a direct debit)

I avoided doing it for ages with a new car for fear of being unable to work the cap and having to drive off again, like an acceleration of shame. I actually practised undoing it in a dry run before braving the forecourt! Now it’s fine, if an annoying pause to my journey, although I mind less if it’s an M&S BP and I can get something tasty for my troubles.

Related: how do you refuel without spilling a bit?! No matter how much I shake the nozzle at the end into the tank I always drip some over the forecourt. Tips welcome.

No matter how much I shake the nozzle at the end into the tank I always drip some over the forecourt.

Welcome to the man's world.

I don't understand why they don't pump faster

Generating friction in the vicinity of hydrocarbon vapour isn't a great idea.

I don't mind the actual filling the car up, it's just the inconvenience of having to stop on the way somewhere or on the way home. It's the detour/delay I begrudge.

Just buy one from Amazon. I love mine. I'd hate to do my tyres at the garage.