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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

2327.0. "How accurate is the petrol tank capacity?" by VARDAF::CHURCH (Dave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)) Tue Oct 11 1994 14:51

    When you see a spec for a car and it says that it has a 50 litre petrol
    tank how accurate is this? 
    
    The reason for asking is that I filled up our car this weekend at I
    managed to get 60 litres in where the tank is supposed to have a
    capacity of 61.5! We've had the car for about 10 months now and even
    though we are certain we have had less petrol in the tank we have only 
    been able to put about 55 litres in.
    
    I'm assuming that I followed the filling instructions in the "User's
    Manual" which comes with the car, that the slope on the ground was
    similar to other places we fill up and allowing a couple of litres for 
    possible over fill (not stopping after the second cut out) I'm still
    surprised at what we managed to get in.
    
    I'm wondering if the petrol pump was a bit dodgy!
    
    Dave

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2327.1		WARNUT::ALLEN	It works better if you screw it in..	`Tue Oct 11 1994 16:57`	2
	You could always mention this incident to your local trading standards office to get it checked out, just in case.
2327.2	Slow and fast pumps	RDGENG::RUSLING	Dave Rusling REO2 G/E9 830-4380	`Tue Oct 11 1994 17:19`	10
	As the pressure on pumps varies I should think that you've just been using ones that cut out at different points in the fill. That is, one petrol pump cuts out on less vapour then the other one. Speaking as an MG owner who practically has to kneel down to fill the tank I try hard to use "slow" pumps as that avoids me spilling the stuff. Dave
2327.3	Before we contact the "local trading standards"...	VARDAF::CHURCH	Dave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)	`Tue Oct 11 1994 17:33`	15
	RE: .1 I'm in France - but I'm certainly looking at doing something along these lines over here. Firstly though I wanted to get an idea as to possible %age differences from spec in fuel tank size... As it is was we had already planned for the car to go into the garage, for a few tweaks, so we'll also check with them to see what they say... RE:.2 Even with "pressure" differences the volume should be the same even though one pump may be more of a pain from a cut out sensitivity point of view. Dave
2327.4		LEMAN::CHEVAUX	Patrick Chevaux @GEO, DTN 821-4150	`Tue Oct 11 1994 19:40`	15
	.3� I'm in France - but I'm certainly looking at doing something along .3� When I was working in Valbonne I experienced the same problems when filling at a number of stations of the same petrol brand (4 letters, 1st is E, last is O) in the area. At these stations I would always manage to stuff 55 or 60 litres in a tank that contains 50 whereas I only managed to put 47, 48 and perhaps 49 litres at any other station. I always complained to the station attendants/manager who always replied that their equipment was regularly checked and approved by official government bodies, bla bla bla ... Since then, I avoid filling at those stations and the problem is solved.
2327.5	Now that's a familiar name!	VARDAF::CHURCH	Dave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125)	`Wed Oct 12 1994 09:52`	5
	Patrick, Not E**O on Route du Parc - if so they are still at it!! Dave
2327.6	Then again...	GTJAIL::MARTIN	Out to Lunch	`Wed Oct 12 1994 14:45`	11
	Someone told me that, legally, petrol pumps are allowed 'n'% inaccuracy; can't remember the exact figure, but for sake of argument, say it is 10%. This was back in the days of old mechanical pumps of course. These days, manufacturers can make a pump which is accurate to (say) 1%. Crafty garage can then set it to under-deliver by exactly 9% � 1% and therefore rip you off legally. Of course they could also probably dispense it at a higher temperature so it'd have expanded... is there a legal temperature for petrol ?
2327.7		COMICS::FISCHER	Life's a big banana sandwich	`Wed Oct 12 1994 15:06`	2
	Can someone explain what the actual problem is. Why does it matter whether you get 50 or 55 litres into your tank?
2327.8		WARNUT::ALLEN	It works better if you screw it in..	`Wed Oct 12 1994 15:42`	1
	....the amount you pay....
2327.9		ROBSON::ROBSON::PATTISON_M	$on error then RTFM	`Wed Oct 12 1994 15:52`	2
	I would have expected the pumps would be more accurate than the quoted capacity of your petrol tank.
2327.10	the problem ?	LEMAN::CHEVAUX	Patrick Chevaux @GEO, DTN 821-4150	`Wed Oct 12 1994 17:11`	5
	I'm pretty sure the pumps are very accurate. At the same time I'm pretty sure that station managers/operators can tune the settings (just after the official inspector has left). I find it hard to pay for 60 litres when the tank contains 50 at most.