Cost of Fuel Expansion in the Heat

Almost nothing Peter

Often hear some say fill up when colder in morning , and there is a slight effect (under 1%) but basically a myth.

This is because the huge fuel storage tank takes a long time (longer than overnight) to cool down appreciably.

So if it was 20 overnight / 40 during day then underground tank would change by under 2 degrees.

In your case of above ground tank then temp change is more but harder to figure out because of size / exposure etc , but I would estimate a 10,000 gallon tank above ground would still change less than 5 degrees (except for bit left in hose).

Now if you could buy in middle of winter and hold till summer .......

I think that you will find that the major fuel distributors measure at both Ambient Temp and/or 15 degrees (theoretical below ground temp known as L15).
They are aware that there is a variance due to temperature caused expansion but is the retailer as vulnerable to this as we are? The tankers delivering fuel are generally filled at L15 degrees and deliver at Ambient. Not sure what the retailer is charged for.
Take away the outrageous fuel Excise and Taxes - and the difference is not worth a mention.
Of course in your example you are also paying Tax on that extra nothing that you are getting in your tank. That may be the norm of course.....


Steve

what amazes me about buying fuel is the handle heats up as if the fuel is warmer than the steel it travels thru and the ground it travels from...

nope, it's not heat from my hand, no matter how i hold the handle the elbow join gets warm....

Yep, really not worth worrying about!

If you look closely at An LPG bowser you should see words to the effect 55 cents a litre at a temp of 25c I think

Peter,
Petrol expands by about 0.12% or every 1 degree centigrage over 15 degrees. This has been a big bone of contention for service station operatrors for many years. Fuel transfers between oil companies themselves and between oil companies and bulk buyers have always been corrected to the volume as it would be at 15 degrees. Excise is also charged at 15 degrees. LPG has always been temperature corrected at the retail bowser but pertol and diesel are sold to the consumer at whatever temperature they happen to be.
Old car racers used to say that a tank full of refrigerated fuel would give them one extra lap from a tank at Bathurst, but I duuno about that.
If you bought 100 litres at 35 degrees rather than at, say, 15 degrees, you would be short changed by 2.4 litres.
If the fuel is stored above ground in an area with cold nights and hot days, I'd be buying before breakfast.
Keith


"Where there's a will there's a dead relative."