I have long been suspicious of how accurate fuel pumps are ... but today just gave me a reason ! 

I took a 5L fuel can to get some petrol for the lawn mower, I didn't spill a drop or overfill the can, yet it apparently took 5.8 litres.

I wouldn't have thought the container could hold that much more than specified, so I can only assume the pump is inaccurate ! Were would one start to have that even checked out if it was the case ?

Perhaps just my paranoia, but I suspect this sort of thing is widespread  

If you suspect a pump of over-reading, contact your local councils Trading Standards Dept. Pumps are checked regularly and have a sticker attached by TS. I called my local TS after I suspected a pump of over reading. I got a letter back within a few weeks to say it had been re tested and was accurate.

Trading standards as Lee has said and/or the local Petroleum Licensing Authority (PLA). You should also be able to ask to see the pump calibrations as well (think these are done every 6 months) from the kiosk, but I suspect if you asked the person behind the counter they probably would not know what you are talking about unless they were the site manager.

However unless you have a calibration certificate for your fuel can stating that it is 5 litres then it will only be nominally that size. Also, did you leave any room for the expansion of the product? All containers should allow for this and will be at least 5%. So I would be more inclined to doubt your fuel can rather than the pump.

% lt container will hold more.  I regularly fill 20lt jerry cans and they always take 22lts - have tested measuring it out again with a measuring jug and 22lts is right.

Is it 5l up to a certain mark? Not just filled right up?

I'll have to check for lines, as its a solid colour plastic I wouldn't have thought so. 

I might have expected it could hold a little over 5L but not as much as 0.8L more, especially as I didn't even get to the bottom of the neck !

Either way, it will keep the old lawnmower going for a good couple of years

 

I'll just have to make sure the car doesn't take more than 50L when I fill it up 

jerry cans always hold more than specified, both metal and plastic. it's to stop idiots overfilling them :think:

The label on my jerry can states...

"Do not overfill this jerry can, or leave it close to a heat source or in direct sunlight. Meter 5l into the can leaving intensional air space."

My question is,

since the can took 5.8 litres, was it 5.8 litres you paid for?

 

I like if i fill the can up to the 5 litre line and the pump shows 4.5 litres, to pay for, that is a win.

 

george

Err you overfilled the can, they are more than 5 litres for expansion of vapours when the temp goes up

Pump are inspected and calibrated regulary with hefty fines if they are found to be over reading. I doubt any decent fuel station would do it. More so the likes of shell, BP and supermarkets etc...

Fuel expands and contracts as the temp goes up and down, I noticed the local station I use now has an 'Accurate at X degrees C' on the pumps, I can't remember if X was 15 or 20 C. Although the underground storage tanks temp should not change much during the day if there's a delivery made this fuel may be at a different temp. In theory you are better off filling in the morning when the fuel is cooler and denser.    

I'll just have to make sure the car doesn't take more than 50L when I fill it up 

Don't expect your fuel tank to be 50 L either as they are usually a bit bigger.

GDI ! when it says X litres that's what I expect it to take

 

Ok, I have to concede:

 

 

There are just some topics you regret posting

interesting facts about Jerry cans;

Despite common myths, they are so-called as they were invented not by JerryT, but by the Germans :yes:

The pattern on the sides allows for expansion and adds strength.

There are three handles on the top, the middle one so it can be carried by one man, the outer handles can be used by two people to carry one can between them in the middle and one each on the 'outside'

interesting facts about Jerry cans;

Despite common myths, they are so-called as they were invented not by JerryT, but by the Germans :yes:

The pattern on the sides allows for expansion and adds strength.

There are three handles on the top, the middle one so it can be carried by one man, the outer handles can be used by two people to carry one can between them in the middle and one each on the 'outside'Capture.PNG

This, of course, only applies to 5(real) gallon Wehrmacht pattern cans, which it's illegal to fill with petrol in the UK.

interesting facts about Jerry cans;

Despite common myths, they are so-called as they were invented not by JerryT, but by the Germans :yes:

Capture.PNG

That is true, although I did have to review the spec a few years ago and buy 100,000

Take a look here http://www.valpro.lv/en/products/steel-cans/military.html

This, of course, only applies to 5(real) gallon Wehrmacht pattern cans, which it's illegal to fill with petrol in the UK.

not quit sure about that, you can put petrol in whatever you like, it's the petrol station that is committing an offence if thy allow you to fill an invalid container. I can't remember off hand exactly what it is now I think it's 10 litres in a plastic container, or 25 litres in metal. Which is more than 5 gallons anyway.

Plastic containers must be no greater than 5 litres (nominal) in capacity at 20 deg C.

The container should also allow for expansion of at least 10% but no more than 15%.

Therefore a 5 litre can should be able to hold a total of 5.5 to 5.75 litres of product at 20 deg C when overfilled.

Taken from the 'Petroleum - Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations 1982' http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/cop6.pdf

not quit sure about that, you can put petrol in whatever you like, it's the petrol station that is committing an offence if thy allow you to fill an invalid container. I can't remember off hand exactly what it is now I think it's 10 litres in a plastic container, or 25 litres in metal. Which is more than 5 gallons anyway.

Actually, the PetRegs say that it's illegal to fill a portable container of more than 10l with petrol  or use it to store same. Accordingly, you can't put petrol in a Wehrmacht pattern Jerrycan (or a "Merrican") although you can use British WW2 pattern 2 gallon cans.