Bunkering Stories ! April 30, 2011 bun·ker·ing (b
ng
k
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n. The act or process of supplying a ship with fuel.
(Disclaimer : The above definition or meaning has been solely put up for Landlubbers and 'Bloody Civilians' who are not familiar with the ways of naval ships or mighty seas. And does not in anyway seek to insult the intelligence of those who are well versed with both !)
So on a grey overcast Saturday Mumbai morning when I had to run to the office for a brief period of time, I decided fill fuel along the way and put together a piece that discusses about bunkering (OK, OK fuelling) practices amongst us avid drivers, who take pride in ensuring high FE figures and sense that as a perfect way of indicating a perfectly ticking engine.
And also as a citizen of a nation which prides in asking "Kitna deti hai ?" as a decision point or a make or break factor - whether buying a M'ruti 800 or an army battle tank, ship or one of the Space Shuttles itself ! But in hindsight this habbit or behaviour seems to be extremely forward looking as our auto-industry has reached where it is today, fearing that Q. And so have the MNCs auto-comps that have landed in India. And with the green issues catching up with all things automobile the behaviour now seems to be so ahead of time.
But I digress !
Coming back to the Admiral's bunkering habbits. Since the time I got the TFort, when in the city, I have been filling it up from a BPCL station in Thane. But of course, as previously reported, while I had this issue of difference between the MID and calculated figures the FE figures returned were fairly decent. However I did suspect the metering of the place.
The last two figures from the Thane station were as follows, the earlier difference was much more though:
1. Ave Calculated FE: 12.15 KMPL - MID FE - 12.7 KMPL - Diff: 0.55 KMPL.
2. ACFE: 11.75 - MID FE: 12.3 KMPL - Diff: 0.55 KMPL.
Earlier figures of difference were as high as 0.70 to 0.90 KMPL. I truly wasn't happy at all.
So I decided to experiment and change to the station to which I owed my previous loyalty and know everyone there from the pump attendants and the owner (well sort of nodding acquaintance really !). Have been filling up from this place for the last 12 odd years - but hadn't visited the place since February this year, after the Scorp was decomissioned. This is the BPCL station at Sion.
Filled up from Sion BPCL for the first time with the Admiral about 10 days ago.
And then again today.
Some of the bunkering practices I follow as far as possible:
1. I fill up my vehicles as soon as the fuel indicator needle touches 1/2 way mark. This of course, indicates a half empty/half full tank. This way prevents some loss of effective fuel through vapour build up. More the empty space in the fuel tank more the vapourisation of fuel.
2. Always try and fill up fuel in the morning. You get higher density for the volume. Later on in the day heat causes the fuel which is stored in the bunkers underground to be of lower density index or in lay terms - thin out. This does have an impact on the FE figures.
3. At the station I ensure that the 'fuel fill speed latch' is always placed on the first notch and not the second or third. Though slow, you don't tank up on much air bubbles which gets gets counted in the flow meter !
All filled, burped and I should be off on my way !
But if life were that simple...
On the earlier occasion and today, two different sets of crews were manning the station. And these were guys I have been knowing for years. So the inevitable Q's follow. What did I do with the Scorpio ? How much did I pay for the T Fort ? (Just a smile in response...). Why did I chose the T Fort ? Captiva kyon nahi liye ? (Grrrrr...). Another chap chimes in - Nahin, nahin Pajero isse acha hai woh kyon nahin liye ? (Grrrr...). And finally the Supervisor ambles across and mentions - Mithai kab leke ayenge ?
I wanted to mention 'agli baar' but then I said - "Jab Captiva ya Pajero loonga !".
And time to leave. 25 minutes !
And figures show:
1. Ave Calculated FE: 11.93 KMPL - MID FE - 12 KMPL - Diff: 0.07 KMPL.
2. ACFE: 12.26 - MID FE: 12.5 KMPL - Diff: 0.24 KMPL.
The low difference, as compared to the earlier fills, between the ACFE (full tank to full tank method) and MID over two fills from the Sion pump does mean that the TFort has a rather accurate MID and that the difference that could have cropped up earlier was due to the Thane Station's metering or manipulation tricks !
So I get back to the good ol' fuel dump and dump the Thane chaps.
But gosh ! I need to do something about the 'mithai ka dabba' fast !
So do any of you good folks have additional bunkering tips ?
Please do share !