Drivers urged to fill up cars with petrol on Friday

Drivers across the UK are being urged to fill up their cars with petrol on Friday as temperatures are forecast to soar to 31C. A yellow heat health alert is currently in force for large swathes of England as much of the country basks in its fourth heatwave of the summer.

The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, is in place until 6pm on Monday, August 18, and covers Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East, South West and East of England. The Met Office has said the warm weather will continue into the weekend for much of the UK, with temperatures expected to be hottest on Friday, reaching up to 31C in southern England. With more scorching weather on the way, drivers who are planning a journey in their car on Friday, August 15, are urged to fill up their petrol tank before setting off, as the hot conditions can have an unexpected effect.

During a heatwave, petrol runs down more quickly than normal because cars use more fuel in hot conditions. It means your fuel gauge may not give a proper indication of how much petrol you actually have left as levels drop a lot more quickly than usual.

So if you only have low levels of petrol in your car before setting ogg, you can run the risk of breaking down. As such, experts advice toppig up your tank when the weather is hot so you know you have enough to get you where you need to go.

Experts at Car Finance 247 said: "Your fuel gauge can be misleading in hot weather. During the summer, your fuel levels can drop faster than usual so your normal estimations might not be right.

"To avoid being stranded on the side of the motorway with the sun beating down on you, err on the side of caution and don't let your fuel levels get too low before filling up again."

Experts at PassMeFast.co.uk add: "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!"

The RAC adds that drivers should check both their petrol and oil levels before setting off on a journey in hot weather to ensure it's at a sufficient level and to avoid breakdowns.

It says: "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."

"To avoid engine damage and a potential breakdown, remember to check your oil level and top up when necessary to reduce the chances of overheating in traffic."