Who owns the heating oil in the hose after delivery?

Tartan_Girl

My oil tank is about 120ft from the road and also higher than the road. Presumably, after delivery there is oil left in the hose. Does that form part of my delivery? Where are the litres measured from - as they leave the tanker, or arriving in my tank?

ulsterman

The simple answer is your fuel distributor owns the oil in the hose... but you only pay for the oil that goes into your tank.

Most delivery tankers today operate what is called a wet line system, so the refuelling hose continually has oil in it. So when the tanker arrives at your home to fill up your tank, you’ll receive a hose full of oil, before it begins drawing from the tanker. The customer before you will have received oil on exactly this basis. And the customer after you, will similarly get a hose full of oil, before the fuel begins to be drawn from the tanker.

Irrespective, the meter fitted to the tanker ensures that you and any other customer only pays for the oil that makes it into your tank.

Hope this helps.

John

Tartan_Girl

Thanks Ulsterman, although wouldn't it be a struggle for the driver to pull the hose uphill to my tank if it is full of oil?

ulsterman

Your tanker driver only does a minimum amount of pulling - the reels are motorised - so in essence he's only guiding the hose.

Regards

John

Tartan_Girl

Ah, I see! thanks again - I was worried I might be missing out on some of my delivery, and with the price of it these days, i needed to find out!