Filling up your car with Petrol in Cold weather !

Weymouth_Man

Did I here it right listening the other day on the radio that MSE Martin mentioned he fills his car up with petrol in cold weather when possible because it cost’s less?



Would like some more information if this is correct, is it because it then expands when the outside temperature increases, I can’t quite get my head around this one, help please. :money:

xlt_hunter

Liquid is heavier when colder, theremore you get a little more petrol to the £ you put it. As liquid gets warm it gets lighter and basicly pumping air ;

redux

There is very minimal expansion for only a few degrees - and don't forget that the forecourt tank is well underground, and subject to very little temperature variation. I should think any benefit would be under one part in a thousand (for 4 degrees C change)

rdwarr

Quite right - it's a bit of an "urban myth" really.

But if you fill your tank in hot weather don't go right up the pipe because it WILL expand and start to leak back out of the filler cap.

Bob63

rdwarr wrote:

But if you fill your tank in hot weather don't go right up the pipe because it WILL expand and start to leak back out of the filler cap.

And if your fill your tank with diesel and it spills out you risk killing a biker.

Diesel spills kill. That is a simple fact. Most people think diesel spills happen in winter because they see the tell tale rainbow pattern on wet roads, but in fact more spills happen in summer because the relatively cold diesel comes out from the underground tank then starts to warm as it reaches equilibrium with the outside air and the (sometimes) very hot vehicle.

If you are a diesel driver please don't overfill your vehicle. You lose money but more importantly you put peoples lives at risk.

Mike

Former_MSE_Andrea

Yep, there's more info in Martin's Petrol/Diesel cost cutting article

moonrakerz

Weymouth_Man wrote:

Did I here it right listening the other day on the radio that MSE Martin mentioned he fills his car up with petrol in cold weather when possible because it cost’s less?


There is a degree (joke !) of truth in this.
Some years back QANTAS took delivery of a new Boeing 747 in London and wanted to fly it non-stop Australia as a publicity stunt. The aircraft was fuelled with tanker loads of specially chilled fuel, then towed to the end of the runway before the engines were started.
It made it !

MSE_Martin

Hi folks

Yes i did say this. When i checked it out writing the article it only makes at best a penny or twos difference (as i mentioned on vine), however i thought it a nice fun fact to throw in

martin

cheapaschips_2

There is a degree (joke !) of truth in this.
Some years back QANTAS took delivery of a new Boeing 747 in London and wanted to fly it non-stop Australia as a publicity stunt. The aircraft was fuelled with tanker loads of specially chilled fuel, then towed to the end of the runway before the engines were started.
It made it ![/QUOTE]

The reason it got back to london wasnt cold fuel- it was the fact that they took out everything that wasnt bolted down, even the galley (would'nt like a 24 hour flight with no food would you?)
So maybe a grain of thought for you - take your roofbars off, wind up your windows and empty your boot. More fuel effiecient due to a reduction in efficiency sapping factors.

Oh and chuck out those lead boots. - My new car has an MPG guage - it's done wonders for my driving style and my MGP

roswell

and apparently you get a discount on your car insurance if you take the rear seats out ( less people to claim against you) and also lighter so you save more fuel.


havent tried it though :-)

Bob63

roswell wrote:

and apparently you get a discount on your car insurance if you take the rear seats out ( less people to claim against you)

Not as daft as it sounds. Several motorcycle insurers will charge you less if you don't carry a pillion.

I have never really understood why motorcycles have lower insurance than cars.

Car - 1600cc Laguna, 6 years old. I've been driving since 1981. Last quote for me to insure: £450

Bike - 1150cc BMW, 3 years old. 0-60 in 3 seconds, 130mph top speed. I've been riding since 2001. Last quote for me to insure: £270

I can only guess that insurers think I will have smaller 3rd party claims on a bike i.e. it is less likely for me to hit someone that it is for them to hit me, and when I do hit someone I'd do less damage than a car would.

Then again, in a car I'm hardly likely to crash as a result of spilt diesel by some idiot overfilling their car with cold diesel!

Mike