20 litre petrol tank!!!!

[Austin]

I managed to squeeze 20 litres of petrol into my 19 litre fuel tank at a Sainsbury's fuel station this morning!!!

I was nearly out of petrol but not empty. I complained to the Sainsbury's checkout - their answer to walk out with a plastic 5lite fuel can to calibrate the pump!!!! I have also complained via their Website. Lets see what happens

In the meantime don't use pump number 1 at Sainsbury's, Bamber Bridge, Preston.

[Wee Jack]

Oh this is gonna be good !! Austin you need to stay on this one. Get your local Trading Standards involved also. Wonder how often we have been ripped off , even if it is accidental ?? Keep us posted.

[babybadger]

http://www.nwml.gov.uk/Content.aspx?SC_ID=37

I have heard that there is a tolerance of 1% on petrol pumps, meaning that for every 100 litres you may only get 99 or better.

My mate has said that supermarket pumps are not calibrated as well as bp,shell,esso, texaco etc. fuel pumps.

He said he filled his car up one day at Tesco and he only got 57 litres (on car computer) when he paid for 60 litres. He claims the car computer has always been 100% accurate. He has never had any problem with the pump at BP around the corner.

[Austin]

I will keep on this one. There is a principle here. When I asked, the guy on the till said the pumps are checked twice a year by Trading Standards and when anyone complains. he told me this several times until I actually spelt it out... "WELL - I - AM - COMPLAINING - NOW" then he offered to take my name address and check the calibration of the pump. I couldn't beleive it when he walked out with an ordinary plastic 5litre ptrol can - you know one those green jobbies they sell everywhere. He said he would call me back with the result of the test, but hasn't yet. I think that means it showed a fault.

I think will wait for a reply from my email to Sainsbury's before I go to Trading Standards.

[Sharribee]

I always fill up at sainsburys will check the next time I go in.







errr how much is in my tank???????????

[mal]

I always fill up at sainsburys will check the next time I go in.







errr how much is in my tank???????????

According to the tech data section, fuel capacity is 19.6 litres inc reserve

[Austin]

I always fill up at sainsburys will check the next time I go in.







errr how much is in my tank???????????

According to the tech data section, fuel capacity is 19.6 litres inc reserve

Honda website says 19 litres exactly, owners handbook says 19.2. I wonder if there is some variation from model to model and batch to batch. Anyway I have filled up from empty once before and it did take 19.2 then. Mine's a 2001 TA 650.

[Von Short Hausen]

Fuel is funny stuff. I'm not suggesting it's happened here necessarily, but it changes volume significantly.

I used to be a pump jockey at a manual filling station about 25 years ago. Before accepting a petrol delivery we always used a dipstick to measure the contents of the tanker 'pots'. In summer we were always given more than we asked (& paid) for. And of course in winter we received less than we had paid for.

The reason of course is that it is initially metered as it comes out of enormous storage tanks (which run all year round at a fairly steady temperature), and then goes into a delivery lorry where the temperature is often significantly different. So in summer it expands after having been measured, and in winter it contracts.

They always said that you should buy fuel by weight and not volume !!

We're looking at roughly 5% here in Austin's tank. IIRC, at the petrol station our quantities could be out by as much as 200 litres in a 5000 litre tanker 'pot'. If I've done my maths right that's 4%.

I don't imagine for a minute that is what happened here, becasue for a start I don't suppose this volume reduction would happen in the short time that it takes to fill a bike tank, but I just thought I'd raise the subject to get the 'academics' started.

I'm going to run away now, as the scientists on this beautiful forum will probably brand me a charlaton

[Austin]

Fuel is funny stuff. I'm not suggesting it's happened here necessarily, but it changes volume significantly.

I used to be a pump jockey at a manual filling station about 25 years ago. Before accepting a petrol delivery we always used a dipstick to measure the contents of the tanker 'pots'. In summer we were always given more than we asked (& paid) for. And of course in winter we received less than we had paid for.

The reason of course is that it is initially metered as it comes out of enormous storage tanks (which run all year round at a fairly steady temperature), and then goes into a delivery lorry where the temperature is often significantly different. So in summer it expands after having been measured, and in winter it contracts.

They always said that you should buy fuel by weight and not volume !!

We're looking at roughly 5% here in Austin's tank. IIRC, at the petrol station our quantities could be out by as much as 200 litres in a 5000 litre tanker 'pot'. If I've done my maths right that's 4%.

I don't imagine for a minute that is what happened here, becasue for a start I don't suppose this volume reduction would happen in the short time that it takes to fill a bike tank, but I just thought I'd raise the subject to get the 'academics' started.

I'm going to run away now, as the scientists on this beautiful forum will probably brand me a charlaton

I had wondered about heat - well cold - affecting volume, but don't think 5% is feasible.