Car petrol filled from 2 stations(Esso +Total) But HUGE difference in Tank level ??

Danny_G

Tank was nearly empty on both of these occasions, which were weeks apart..


Esso Fuel station (Unleaded - normal)
Price of fuel = 127.9p/L
I put £35 worth of fuel,
and it made the tank get
half filled up.

Then another time, (when the tank was nearly empty)


Total Fuel station (Premium unleaded)
Price of fuel = 133.9p/L (much more expensive than above!)
I put £20,
Tank was half filled up.


Car:
Peugeot 406,Saloon car,
Petrol, Year 2000, Engine Size (CC): 1761


So the total price of fuel was more expensive, yet it filled up the tank the same as the cheaper one, (which had almost twice as much ££ worth of fuel?)

Why when Half the price of fuel is put with a station which has a 'higher price' per litre, why is the tank filled the to the approx same level in both cases?

getmore4less

Crap level gauge.


A better test will be how many miles you get from each fill.

Iceweasel

In my old Freelander the first (top) half of the gauge was much bigger than the 2nd half, and took longer to use

So I could have deduced that the first 30 litres lasted longer than the 2nd 30 litres.

Fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate.

The only true test is to fill to the brim after the warning light comes on.

Mankysteve

You can really go off you petrol gauge there never that accurate. Petrol pumps are checked by trading standards but some pumps do give out a little more up to 4% according to research done by the aa.

JJ_Egan

Its guesswork nearly empty and half filled = no measurement at all .

topdaddy_2

Your receipt will tell you how many litres you purchased. This is far more accurate than your gauge

scotsbob

I would suggest the petrol pumps are better calibrated than the fuel gauge in the car.

worried_jim

My Saab takes 2/3 to half way from full, then it drops like a stone!

GwylimT

Gauge's aren't that reliable, litres however are. I had a VW golf that I sold three years ago, 1/2 a tank of petrol on the gauge actually meant empty, I found that out the hard way.

forgotmyname

Nearly empty on both occasions so thats between 1 and 3 gallons. The 1st time you had closer to one the second time you had closer to 3.

Also the gauge is not linear. It may move faster in some parts than others, Mine can take 200 miles from the full line to 3/4, But then only 100 more down to 1/2 a tank.

You tank would not have been exactly half filled on each occasion, You would need to measure the amount of fuel left before filling also.

iltisman

The technology of fuel guages is still pre ww2
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-gauge1.htm