Petrol Saving Tips: Part I

This is a message received from a friend. Now that cost of petrol has gone up, you might want to post this and help people save some money.

1. Only buy or fill up your car or bike 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 denser 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 play 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.

My comment: A friend told me this a while back, but didn't get to practise this that much.

2. 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 minimising the vapours that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

My comment: I have been practising this since I found out a few years back, and refuse to let anyone else do it.

3. 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 minimises the evaporation. Unlike service stations, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

My comment: My dad told me to top up when the tank is half full, and I have followed his advice all this while. Now I know why.

4. 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 maximum value for your money.