TIPS on Filling Fuel

Now that gasoline has been fueling higher in the market again, motorists should be wise to know the simple do's in getting the right amount of gas or diesel into their cars or bikes. The following are proven tips my dad has shared to us. By the way my dad is a Senior Planner for Oil Exploration and Drilling to one of the biggest oil company in the world, Chevron. He is now in Africa and someday i hope to be working in the oil industry as well. Nonetheless, enough of my plans and you should be knowing now the useful tips to get the right amount of fuel you paid for:

• Only buy or fill up your car or bike during early morning, when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks underground. 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 play an important role. 1 degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business already. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

• Another important tip 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 is the air occupying its empty space. You should know that petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine.

• 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 that might cause some problems to your engine.

I hope the following would help you save more on these days of crisis. And please do share these tips with others. It is important for as many people to know about this, especially in the wake of rising petrol prices.