Fuel Tank

**EWT** · 09-06-2010, 07:45 PM

Hi Guys,

I noticed something very interesting today. Last week when my tanks were very low (red line) range was only like 29Km (I know i shouldn't have left that low, but couldn't find one at that time) i put in 52.xx Litre of petrol into the tank from a BP servo.

Today It wasn't even redline, but close with range around 100Km and I put in 53Litre of V power.

Just wondering if its a doggy shell servo that i went or sometimes the gauge can be out (which is not likely right??) I had always been adding my petrol at that shell there for years.

What are your thoughts?

**Idle** · 09-06-2010, 09:42 PM

Might be nothing wrong at all — the car's metering is at best an estimate that varies with the camber of the road, the amount you put in can vary from pump to pump depending on the angle the car is on and the sensitivity of the pump's auto shutoff.

The only way to get an even reasonably accurate measurement is to always fill from the same pump, have the car in the same position and always fill to the same level (trickle the last bit into the tank until you can actually see fuel) — this applies even more to TDI's, where a fast fill will leave you with a lot of foam when the pump triggers off.

I find I can get up to four or five litres more diesel into the tank after the pump shuts off by using a slow flow to break down the foam.

You might occasionally find an out-of-kilter pump, but in most States there are regulations, random checks and severe penalties for major errors, so it's fairly rare.

**kennyc** · 09-06-2010, 10:01 PM

I can't remeber how many liters i put in last week but i did not have much left in my car and filled up from BP and i could only manage like 55 odd liters in the tank before i was struggling to fit more in.

**cameronp** · 09-06-2010, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by kennyc

I can't remeber how many liters i put in last week but i did not have much left in my car and filled up from BP and i could only manage like 55 odd liters in the tank before i was struggling to fit more in.

Given that it's nominally a 55-litre tank, you're unlikely to ever fit more that in it

The Golf trip computer's distance-to-empty seems to place me a lot closer to actually having an empty tank than some other cars do.

**kennyc** · 09-06-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by cameronp

Given that it's nominally a 55-litre tank, you're unlikely to ever fit more that in it

The Golf trip computer's distance-to-empty seems to place me a lot closer to actually having an empty tank than some other cars do.

I actually have not read now many liters the tank is, i did assume it was over 60 liters though...

**nau** · 10-06-2010, 10:55 AM

lets put it that way
I think Current affairs will have something to talk about if they do random test on patrol stations

I had 57l in 55l tank ones..... and pretty close to 55 on few occasions whn I had a bit left... not sure how patrol station work and if they do calibration now and then...

**Coaster** · 10-06-2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by nau

I had 57l in 55l tank ones..... and pretty close to 55 on few occasions whn I had a bit left... not sure how patrol station work and if they do calibration now and then...

There is always a sticker on the bowsers with the last time an independent tester checked it. But they can be quite a while between checks of petrol stations.

**Cossor** · 10-06-2010, 08:06 PM

A while back (Several years in fact) Choice (Consumer magazine) performed a random test
on bowsers. Found accuracy quite good.
BUT, look out for places that dilute, such as Toluline, (Not sure of spelling) as occurred in Sydney about 10 years ago.
EL CHEAPO fuel indeed. My Son's Camry was real 'SOGGY' till he got a refill of real fuel!

**HereGoes** · 11-06-2010, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Cossor

A while back (Several years in fact) Choice (Consumer magazine) performed a random test
on bowsers. Found accuracy quite good.
BUT, look out for places that dilute, such as Toluline, (Not sure of spelling) as occurred in Sydney about 10 years ago.
EL CHEAPO fuel indeed. My Son's Camry was real 'SOGGY' till he got a refill of real fuel!

Yes i have had that before, filled up my bike at the Matilda near d'Aguilar north of Brisbane, she ran really rough at first and then actually choked on me mid corner up a hill, not a fun experience!