Fuel tank capacity measurement, how?

giri · 22nd March 2006, 08:47

Car manufacturers specify the fuel tank capcity measurement, say 35 liters.

My query is, when you fill fuel at the petrol pump when is the "full tank" measurement reached (i.e the specified 35 liters):

1. When the auto-filler shuts off?

or

2. When you are no longer able to get any more fuel into the tank (after rocking, shoving and jiggling the vehicle)

The reason for asking is that all fuel efficiency computations that are made by us depends on reliably determining how much fuel is consumed between successive "full tanks".

jkdas · 22nd March 2006, 09:24

I use the second option.

And, last week I had to fill the tank up as I was to ride 500k for tbhp meet. The pump attendant filled my tank withmy help and we managed 36L on a santro!!!! HOw is this possible? I accept that my car's tank was almost empty but 36???

revharder · 22nd March 2006, 09:26

those 35 lires is the capacity of fuel tank.
and that rocking, shoving and jiggling the vehicle allows you to fill some extra fuel in the pipeline upto fuel tank. there are also some 'air-pockets' in the tank, which gets built up due to presence of air in tank.

that rocking, shoving and jiggling the vehicle disperses those air-packets and let you fill upto true 35 litres capacity and some more in the pipeline.

if you fills upto the brim after all that rocking, shoving and jiggling, you might have about 36 ltrs of petrol at best!!

but it is better not to fill it everytime to the brim, it can be considered as unsafe practice. once in a while is okay.

and that dispenser of petrol cuts-off the moment it senses that there is no more space to force another dash of fuel.
when the tank almost gets filled, the flow of fuel in pipeline-to-tank gets reduced and this makes the dispenser-nozzle to 'sense' the tank-full and cuts it off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

I use the second option.

And, last week I had to fill the tank up as I was to ride 500k for tbhp meet. The pump attendant filled my tank withmy help and we managed 36L on a santro!!!! HOw is this possible? I accept that my car's tank was almost empty but 36???

you have been cheated no doubt.
coz when you entered the petrol pump, there might be some petrol left in that 35 ltr tank. and that is why in no case a santro can gulp down 36 ltrs of fuel on such a half-empty stomach!

or is it so that you went completely out of fuel and pushed the car to the dispenser? if it is so then there might be chances that your santro took 36 ltrs of fuel. for clarification over this thing, please refer my last reply.

jkdas · 22nd March 2006, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by revharder

you have been cheated no doubt.
coz when you entered the petrol pump, there might be some petrol left in that 35 ltr tank. and that is why in no case a santro can gulp down 36 ltrs of fuel on such a half-empty stomach!

or is it so that you went completely out of fuel and pushed the car to the dispenser? if it is so then there might be chances that your santro took 36 ltrs of fuel. for clarification over this thing, please refer my last reply.

yup was almost empty

I think I was lucky to reach teh station with 2-3 lit

Shhhh! I dont trust my local pump and drive 20km for filling up the tank.

jkdas · 22nd March 2006, 10:56

oh! then for Santro its 35 + 8l res

DRC · 22nd March 2006, 11:18

I had the same experinece in Pulsar, gulped a 20 liters in nearly empty tank!!! But I got to know I was taken for a ride. Unlike cars, bikes are straight forward, No pipeline fundas.

In my car, I usualy stop at the kick of the gun. But once, on a nearly empty tank, the gun kicked in at 40 and but rocking and jiggling, managed to force 5 more liters.. Don't know how!

revharder · 22nd March 2006, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

But once, on a nearly empty tank, the gun kicked in at 40 and but rocking and jiggling, managed to force 5 more liters.. Don't know how!

what car you have? and what is its actual tank capacity as per the user's manual?

but from your post it seems that you too are cheated.
try changing the petrol station to a more realiable one, and do it again.
and DO keep an eye on the meter of dispenser while fuel is pouring in your tank.

DRC · 22nd March 2006, 16:07

yes, with pulsar, i got cheated,..Reddy bunk Nehru circle!

I drive a fiat Petra, which takes 47 litres full tank..
And this happened in Shell station, But here I got the usual FE for 45L. And have tried this a couple of times, every time the guy managers to force feed 5 liters after the kick in..

My kick in-kick in filling is always consistent. So I do not doubt the quantity

parijnan · 22nd March 2006, 17:42

At times I have managed to fill in about 17 litres in my Pulsar's claimed 18 litre fuel tank. I already had 3 litres reserve. Either the manufacturers are being conservative or the petrol pump cheated me.

souravbasu · 22nd March 2006, 18:56

You can always do this ....

In case you feel that you have been cheated by petrol pump, you can fill petrol in an empty bottle and measure the quantity of petrol in the bottle.

Ajay · 23rd March 2006, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

yes, with pulsar, i got cheated,..Reddy bunk Nehru circle!

These guys in Seshadripuram? I thought these guys were very Reliable!

DRC · 23rd March 2006, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajay

These guys in Seshadripuram? I thought these guys were very Reliable!

I too, Untill this incedent.. I was regularly using this station as it is very close to my house.. Now sticking to Shell

zulfikar · 23rd March 2006, 13:08

ONCE i went to petrol pump in panjutta(Hyderabad) to fill my Opter and it took 60.83L...
it was on reserve...
i was a bit angry as it was like i didnt have any fule on reserve..
since then i never filled petrol from that pump...

parijnan · 23rd March 2006, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

I too, Untill this incedent.. I was regularly using this station as it is very close to my house.. Now sticking to Shell

Yeah Shell is good. I use only Shell regular 91 octance for my car.

soccer · 23rd March 2006, 20:53

[quote]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajay

These guys in Seshadripuram? I thought these guys were very Reliable![/quote

]

There's another IBP one at seshadripuram 1st main Road, next to Lotus Motors ( about half a Kilometer from Manipal Motors Showroom). Probably the best I have seen in Bangalore in terms of Quantity and Quality. I have Known the Owners and the workers for almost 15 years. They are the no-nonsense types. No commission to Cab Drivers, No kick back to Govt. car drivers. Reasonably good service too.

22nd March 2006, 08:47	#1
giri BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 35 Thanked: 4 Times	Fuel tank capacity measurement, how? Car manufacturers specify the fuel tank capcity measurement, say 35 liters. My query is, when you fill fuel at the petrol pump when is the "full tank" measurement reached (i.e the specified 35 liters): 1. When the auto-filler shuts off? or 2. When you are no longer able to get any more fuel into the tank (after rocking, shoving and jiggling the vehicle) The reason for asking is that all fuel efficiency computations that are made by us depends on reliably determining how much fuel is consumed between successive "full tanks".
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 09:24	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	I use the second option. And, last week I had to fill the tank up as I was to ride 500k for tbhp meet. The pump attendant filled my tank withmy help and we managed 36L on a santro!!!! HOw is this possible? I accept that my car's tank was almost empty but 36???
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 10:56	#5
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	oh! then for Santro its 35 + 8l res
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 11:18	#6
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 911 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	I had the same experinece in Pulsar, gulped a 20 liters in nearly empty tank!!! But I got to know I was taken for a ride. Unlike cars, bikes are straight forward, No pipeline fundas. In my car, I usualy stop at the kick of the gun. But once, on a nearly empty tank, the gun kicked in at 40 and but rocking and jiggling, managed to force 5 more liters.. Don't know how!
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 16:07	#8
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 911 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	yes, with pulsar, i got cheated,..Reddy bunk Nehru circle! I drive a fiat Petra, which takes 47 litres full tank.. And this happened in Shell station, But here I got the usual FE for 45L. And have tried this a couple of times, every time the guy managers to force feed 5 liters after the kick in.. My kick in-kick in filling is always consistent. So I do not doubt the quantity
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 17:42	#9
parijnan BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 66 Thanked: 0 Times	At times I have managed to fill in about 17 litres in my Pulsar's claimed 18 litre fuel tank. I already had 3 litres reserve. Either the manufacturers are being conservative or the petrol pump cheated me.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2006, 18:56	#10
souravbasu BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 79 Thanked: 11 Times	You can always do this .... In case you feel that you have been cheated by petrol pump, you can fill petrol in an empty bottle and measure the quantity of petrol in the bottle.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2006, 13:08	#13
zulfikar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 532 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	ONCE i went to petrol pump in panjutta(Hyderabad) to fill my Opter and it took 60.83L... it was on reserve... i was a bit angry as it was like i didnt have any fule on reserve.. since then i never filled petrol from that pump...
	() Thanks