TIPS ON FILLING YOUR CAR (Good information)----- A note from a South
African contributor
I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol.... but here in Durban we
are also paying higher, up to R7.35 per litre. Here at the Marian Hill
Pipeline where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a
24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet
fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded. We have 34-storage tanks here with a
total capacity of 16,800,000 litres. But my line of work is in petroleum
for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's
worth for every litre.
Only buy or fill up your car in the early morning when the ground
temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their
storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the
fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in
the evening....your litre is not exactly a litre. In the petroleum
business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel
and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.
A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business.
But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast
mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,
middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby
minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at
the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of
the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being
sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less
worth for your money.
One of the most important tips is to fill up when your tank is HALF FULL.
The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank the less air
occupying its empty space, petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine.
Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as
zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the
evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that
we load is temperature compensated so that every liter is actually the
exact amount.
Another reminder, if there is a fuel truck pumping into the storage tanks
when you stop to buy, DO NOT fill up--most likely the petrol/diesel is
being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some
of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.
Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!
FUEL tips, not sure how accurate it is.. but worth a look!
Cold fuel is definately denser, which is why F1 cars can't overchill their fuel to save weight - the BMW's were nearly disqualified at the end of last season.
Can't think it would make much difference on a 16 l tank thoug, and fuel underground is going to be at a fairly constant temperature I would imagine.
Can't think it would make much difference on a 16 l tank thoug, and fuel underground is going to be at a fairly constant temperature I would imagine.
Two bikes, still only four cylinders!
This guy is from durban so I would imagine there could be a slight rise in ground temp over a hot south african day. British ground temp is unlikely to change that much. But we don't have permafrost Tim. Unless you live in scandinavia that is. 
I'm assuming you were using that as an example of ground temps being very consistent - I just love being a pedantic butt sometimes.
As to the evaporants - thats just silly. I seem to remember that water expands something like 1000 times when it evaporates. So it might add up to a couple of litres over a tanker but the average car would probably become saturated with a teaspoon of petrol. Also contrary to what he says If you keep filling up every half tank you would be releasing that vapour twice as often than if you just let it run out...
Told you i can't help being pedantic.
I'm assuming you were using that as an example of ground temps being very consistent - I just love being a pedantic butt sometimes.
As to the evaporants - thats just silly. I seem to remember that water expands something like 1000 times when it evaporates. So it might add up to a couple of litres over a tanker but the average car would probably become saturated with a teaspoon of petrol. Also contrary to what he says If you keep filling up every half tank you would be releasing that vapour twice as often than if you just let it run out...
Told you i can't help being pedantic.
"military intelligence, two words combined that can't make sense"
