I fuelled up this afternoon at my local Tesco (£81) and that was bad enough but, as I was filling her up, smoke was coming out of the filler It was a constant amount, was slightly lighter than air as it rose a bit, and it looked just like your breath does on a very cold day. There was no smell other than the normal diesel one. I'd just driven about 20 miles, and drove a further 4 to home afterwards.

I've never seen this phenomenen before in 38 years of driving

Can anybody shed any light on it or have you experienced similar? It is just a standard warm day in Devon, so no temperature extremes and the pumps are in constant use (queues).

Do I need to contact my dealer or LR or Tesco to be safe? Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

Mine does the same Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

just diesel vapours .. quite normal At work
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That's a relief but how come I've never seen them before, as I always look at the filler? I spoke to Tesco PFS and their person said that it was probably that, but that they have a refrigeration unit in the pump which normally removes the vapour. Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

I get loads of vapours when filling tractors from my own tank esp on warm days. I didn't bother putting a fridge unit on the farm diesel pump At work
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Some time ago I read somewhere that one of the tips given in the US to drivers in order to save fuel was to fill up in the morning (cold mornings that is) because fuel would be heavier and they will get more fuel from the pump. This was prooved wrong as the fuel exiting the pump has about the same temperature over the day, So I would say CG is right as rhere were only diesel vapours from the contact between the warmer diesel you have put in and the colder diesel and air from the tank. From what Isee you payed your tank was probably almost emty and full with air that just caught the diesel fumes and left you with the impression that something unususl was going on. For me I am allways trying to fill up when the tank is abt one third or one quarter as the diesel in the tank will protect the tank from premature rust and the pump from absorbing fuel residues that are sometimes passing in the tank. Not necessarily from the pump but just the odd tank paint exfolation that can get throufg the filter.
Don't worry  FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

I had exactly the same thing happen at an Esso garage yesterday!! Never happened to me before but put it down to vapours- thanks for the advice folks!  Now - 2017 BMW X3 M Sport Carbon Black
Gone - 2014 BMW X3 M Sport Space Grey, faultless!
Gone - 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Bali Blue with xenons
Gone - 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Rimini Red with bodykit

shilen wrote:

I had exactly the same thing happen at an Esso garage yesterday!! Never happened to me before but put it down to vapours- thanks for the advice folks!

Thanks ALL for sharing your experiences. I've seen vapours before but only in the form of a 'shimmering' like a heat haze, never 'cloudlike'.

Interesting, about not letting the fuel get too low as I'd not thought about the possible side effects mentioned. I'd been planning on not running on more than half a tank unless going on a long run, so as to reduce weight and improve mpg. Food for thought, so I might think again.

I'm gutted to think that Darling and Brown have mugged me for £50ish today in taxes  Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

The visible vapour is quite normal when splash filing a tank from an open nozzle. The fuel gets a lot of agitation as it is pumped from the underground tank through to the nozzle and your tank, it exits the nozzle a some speed and that results in the splashing as it enters the tank. Your more likely to see the shimmering haze from petrol vapour and cloudlike haze from diesel.

Just while there is mention of filling up the tank at different times of the day, then it is correct to say that if the fuel is cooler it is more dense, but the effect will hardly be noticeable on a 70 litre fill up. And although you may see an air temperature difference of 15 degrees or more over a day then fuel stored in an underground tank will hardly change. It really isn't something that should influence when you fill the tank. As for the level in the tank, even when the level is low I'm sure there's a plenty of 'sloshing' around in the tank, also I think the tank is plastic.

I was brought up to belive that in a fuller tank there will be less water condensation and I don't think that running all the time on low tank is good for the fuel pump either.
Don't forget that the lower the tank level is the greater are the chances to get in a traffic jam (Satnav or not)
Heard someone today giving a reason of why not to run on low tank. Thought it funny first but the man had a poit. The reason was "With fuel prices going up every other day I would rather carry more in my tank than paying more if I fill up the next day" Sort of true I fill up every two/three weeks and there seems I allways get less diesel for the same amount of money. Wonder why No should not it's actually  FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

at farming college I was always taught to fill the tractor diesel tanks each night after using it rather than the next morning so as to prevent condensation forming inside the tank. At work
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