Inaccurate petrol pumps?

Credz4

I would like to know if other users have experienced this or am I going slightly bonkers and forum members will explain how it works.....
I was desperate for fuel and skint, the local esso was 4p a litre more than the asda station 100 yards away. I went to Asda, I usually avoid the place as I never trusted it and it's pay at pump only type with no humans in sight. I started to fuel up and heard nothing initially then the sound changed and I felt the fuel start coming through the pump, however by this time the dial had already turned and was reading 11p before I even heard or felt the fuel come through. I have used this petrol station before and had the same result with anything between 9p and 27p showing on the dial before engaging fuel dispensing. I know 11p is neither here nor there but at one point I was filling up 3 times a week and that amounts to 2 litres of missing fuel a month. I reported this to trading standards before but you are not kept informed of the outcome of any investigations, so I just avoided Asda for 2 years until this last episode.
So am I imagining this or is there something I'm missing?

AdrianC

You're imagining it. The pump measures the actual amount of liquid delivered.

11p is about 100ml of fuel - 20 teaspoons.

victor2

The fuel could be going into the pipe - especially if the previous customer lifted the pipe up to ensure every drop went into his tank. Do the same if you want your 11 pence worth...

AdrianC

victor2 wrote: »

The fuel could be going into the pipe - especially if the previous customer lifted the pipe up to ensure every drop went into his tank. Do the same if you want your 11 pence worth...

The pipe is always full of fuel. Lifting the pipe up does nothing. The actual delivery valve is in the handle...

victor2

You mean my Dad was wrong telling me that in my younger days on motorbikes? That was many many years ago though...
Where will I get those extra teaspoons full from now?

AdrianC

victor2 wrote: »

You mean my Dad was wrong telling me that in my younger days on motorbikes? That was many many years ago though...
Where will I get those extra teaspoons full from now?

I bet he also told you to buy fuel in the morning, before the tanks warmed up and expanded, so that you'd get more fuel? And he probably also told you never to buy supermarket fuel because it's watered-down or otherwise rejected by the brands?

stator

victor2

There were no supermarkets in those days. You got your petrol from the petrol station in the village and you didn't have to do it yourself. The man would lift the pipe up to make sure you got every drop. You didn't need to waste your money on 4-star petrol either. Happy days. :rotfl:

AdrianC

stator wrote: »

XKCD's alt text is part of the joke. For this strip, it reads...

Then we move to phase two. Gas stations store fuel in underground tanks. Normally, these are inaccessible except via the pump. However, with hydraulic fracturing, we-- Wait! Come back!

http://www.xkcd.com/1721/

straighttalker

You reported this matter to trading standards???

maninthestreet

It's Weights and Measures who would investigate a complaint about inaccurate fuel pumps.