Rip off discount Servo’s

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:22
ThreadID: 81636 Views:3866 Replies:4 FollowUps:0
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I have seen here on this, and other forums, messages about different brands of fuel giving variable fuel usage figures, and people saying not to buy from that company or outlet as their fuel is “no good”

Here in Darwin, like the rest of Australia, we have a number of fuel supply companies with both company and private outlets supplying fuel, diesel, ULP etc, but what makes us a little different, is that no matter whom you buy your fuel from, it is always the same, as it comes from only one provider.
I drive a 2007 2 x 4 Ford Ranger, and have fitted a scan gauge. I constantly monitor my fuel usage, both as an average, and by the second, and confirmed at the pump each week, I can maintain a fuel usage of about 8.5 Litres/100Km. I normally fill at the same servo once a fortnight, and record my fills on a spreadsheet just for giggles.
Last week end, fuel gauge getting low, and in need of a refill, I tried a different service station, expecting to put in about 45 litres for the Kms I had driven from the last fill. Ended up adding 53 litres, about 10% over what I estimated. This additional usage was not supported by the previous weeks scan gauge figures.
Now this discrepancy in amounts could not have been because of “crap fuel” as I was filling at this alternative servo for the first time. It was on the previous fill from a proven reliable source.
The current scan gauge figures are still consistent with previous figures obtained, so I am not showing higher usage “on the road”
The only logical explanation is that the alternative servo I filled up from was delivering “short Litres” from the pump. Pumping 900ml but indicating 1 Litre supplied. Nice way to sneak in a 10% increase in the cost of fuel. IE they deliver 48 litres, but charge you for 53! At $1.35 a litre for diesel up here, that’s a handy extra $13.50 per 100 litres sold! Makes a mockery of their 4 CPL discount.
Does anybody else support this viewpoint?
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Reply By: Hairs & Fysh - Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:35

Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:35
nickoff,
I once put 105 liters in my cruiser when the gauge showed about an 8th of a tank left. At a local servo here.
She's a 90 liter tank, and the sub tank gauge didn't change, I questioned the owner who informed me that when the pump sucks air this will happen and not to use that pump.
never heard of that before and he has never seen me back in his drive since.
If you have concerns get in touch, is called Weights & measure up there or something similar?
Also speak with the owner, maybe his pumps need calibrating and they are unaware of it.



AnswerID: 431808

Reply By: Bazooka - Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 11:10

Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 11:10
Highly unlikely that the pump guages in a major centre would be 10% out but it's simple to check. Take a container with known volume down to the servo, fill it and compare with the pump reading. Also, have a look when the pumps were last checked by the authorities (pumps should have a tag showing the date) and if you are suspicious then report it to the appropriate NT govt agency (Weights and Measures/Fair Trading?). Pumps can become slightly inaccurate over time which is why they have to be certified (generally bi-annually but that possibly differs depending on location).

Another contributer can be temperature, but again unless you filled up at different times then the difference is hardly likely to be anywhere near 10% (temp obviously has a marginal effect on the expansion of fuel in the servo tanks, which is allowed for under regulations, hence you get a tiny bit less fuel in summer and maybe a tiny bit more in winter).
AnswerID: 431810

Reply By: palais - Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 13:37

Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 13:37
Sure the pumps may be out, like one of the other posters suggested. Might have been a while since the last calibration.
Highly unlikely to be deliberate though. If it was one one of the big name servo's, say Coles Express for example, they are not generally owner operated, so the manager has nothing to gain by 'ripping you off'. They'll get paid the same regardless.
AnswerID: 431820

Reply By: Member - Longtooth (SA) - Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 22:21

Thursday, Sep 30, 2010 at 22:21
I've never fitted the same amount of fuel in before or after passing through Rabbit Flat.
AnswerID: 431852

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