Last Fuel Bar

[The Spectacle]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Yeah, so the fact that I've put 11.6 gallons of gas into my Yaris means I was somehow driving on air for over 15 miles?

The capacity of the tank is not the total fuel capacity, I have on numerous occasions run a tank down so far that I've put more gas in it than the manufacturer claims it will hold.

No, that just means the gas station you used has inaccurate pumps.

[ChinoCharles]

Originally Posted by The Spectacle

No, that just means the gas station you used has inaccurate pumps.

... . You're the new king of just making stuff up.

[The Spectacle]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

... . You're the new king of just making stuff up.

What's so funny? Maybe "inaccurate" was a wrong term...perhaps miscalibrated is a better term. This could also be affected by the time of day you're filling up.

I've put "more gas than the manufacturer specified" in every car I've owned, most of the time by a considerable amount. I hardly doubt its because of non counted space from the tank to the fuel inlet.

But you guys go ahead and think what you want.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by The Spectacle

What's so funny? Maybe "inaccurate" was a wrong term...perhaps miscalibrated is a better term. This could also be affected by the time of day you're filling up.

I've put "more gas than the manufacturer specified" in every car I've owned, most of the time by a considerable amount. I hardly doubt its because of non counted space from the tank to the fuel inlet.

But you guys go ahead and think what you want.

OK, if you are so sure of your position, how about posting up some facts to back it up? Or are you one of those people who make up their minds without letting them get in the way?

The chances of a "miscalibration" as you like to term it are about as remote as the pump being "inaccurate." If you read my above post you will realize that every state has a program that strictly monitors these things and there is no basis to your claim.

But you are correct about the properties of gasoline changing during the day (well, depending on the temperature), but it isn't enough to make that much of a significant difference (10%+).

The truth is that typically the owner's manual provides a reasonable estimate of your vehicle's fuel tank capacity. Some manufacturers estimate that the capacity of a fuel tank may vary by as much as 3% from the actual tank capacity. This results from normal variations in design characteristics, the manufacturing process, and other inherent factors. The rating is determined by taking an average volume based upon the capacities of multiple tanks.

Furthermore, the rated capacity may include only the usable portion of the fuel tank or it may include both the usable and unusable portions. The unusable volume is the portion of the fuel tank's liquid capacity that lies at the bottom of the tank out of reach of the fuel pump. The usable volume is the portion that can be delivered through the filler pipe into the tank when the vehicle is level. The vehicle's fuel tank capacity does not include the volume of the filler pipe or the vapor headspace, which is the portion of the tank compartment at a level above the filler pipe neck.

Sometimes people attempt to deliver additional fuel after the gas pump automatically shuts off, commonly known as "topping off". When this happens, the additional fuel begins to fill the vapor headspace and the filler pipe, which are not considered part of the tank's rated capacity. This may result in a receiving more fuel than the rated capacity in the owner's manual. This may also occur if the lanes that surround the gas pumps are not level and some of the fuel shifts into the vapor headspace, thus delivering more fuel into the tank.

When the fuel tank indicates a certain level, consumers often assume that this indication represents a corresponding fraction of fuel tank capacity. For instance, if you have a fuel tank rated at 18 gallons and the fuel gauge indicates that you have half a tank of gas, you might assume that you have 9 gallons of fuel remaining in the tank. If you then fill-up the tank and receive more than 9 gallons you would assume you now have more than 18-gallons in the tank and would conclude that the gas pump is in error.

Besides the fact that the rated capacity is only an estimate, many variables can affect a vehicle's fuel level indication. A shift in the fuel level may occur when the vehicle is not on level ground such as when on a hill or traveling around a curve. This temporary change in the position of fuel within the tank can cause the fuel gauge to indicate more or less fuel than is actually in the tank. The indication of fuel in the tank can even vary depending upon the position of the driver's eye when reading the gauge on the instrument panel.

Many vehicles today have trip computers and mechanisms for estimating mileage to assist the driver in planning travel based upon the fuel that remains in the tank. The vehicle's mileage for each gallon of fuel depends upon a number of conditions such as maintenance, cargo and passenger load, use of accessories such as air conditioning, driving habits, terrain, traffic, weather, and even fuel composition. When these factors require the engine to work harder, fuel consumption increases. Trip computers may calculate the estimated miles that can be traveled on the remaining fuel based upon the vehicle's fuel economy during a specific driving period. The estimated miles may vary greatly depending upon these external conditions.

And no, I didn't just type all that, nor do I just make shit up, it came from here. Or you can read this article. Or if you want all the info you'll ever need and are lazy to look for it, just click here. Either way, as the cavemen used to say in the old Geico commercial, do a little research next time...

Cheers! M2

[NJBob]

Originally Posted by The Spectacle

No, that just means the gas station you used has inaccurate pumps.

A measurable amount of gas can be held in the filler pipe to the tank. Anyone care to guess how much? Another 1/2 gallon?

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by The Spectacle

No, that just means the gas station you used has inaccurate pumps.

Wrong-o, sport, that is a very serious crime and every state regularly checks and calibrates gas pumps. In Texas that responsibility falls upon the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Weights and Measures program...

The purpose of the Weights and Measures program is to protect consumers and businesses by ensuring that equity prevails in all commercial transactions involving determinations of quantity. Weighing and measuring devices are inspected to ensure performance within acceptable tolerances and packages are inspected to enforce net content and labeling regulations. The program adopts rules and regulations aimed at eliminating fraud and misrepresentation in commercial transactions. Field inspectors perform a variety of inspections that ensure consumer protection while providing standards for the private industry, which discourage unfair and dishonest commerce.

This is done by devices that are installed on the gas pumps themselves...

A wide variety of devices are inspected by TDA. Devices range from fuel pumps at service stations and bulk meters used at airports to fuel planes to scales as small as those used by jewelers to those as large enough to weigh timber and coal transport vehicles. Liquefied petroleum gas meters used to fill small tanks for back yard grills and those used to fill storage tanks at businesses or homes are also inspected.

The TDA also ensures that the octane level being sold is accurate...

TDA randomly samples gasoline at service stations to ensure that the posted octane ratings on gas pumps accurately represent what consumers are purchasing.

The octane rating of gasoline sold of offered for sale must not be less than the octane posted on the gas pump. If gasoline samples are found to be in violation of the posted octane rating, TDA has the authority to assess and collect administrative penalties against an individual retail motor fuel outlet.

TDA inspectors sample gasoline for octane testing through routine inspections, using either a portable octane analyzer or collecting samples and submitting them to an independent laboratory for analysis.

I am sure your state has a similar program. The next time you put gas in your car, look at the pump and there will be a state decal stating all of this.

Plus, I track my mileage and gas consumption very closely, and if this were the case there would be an obvious difference in the numbers. I have not deviated more than a half-a-mile per gallon over the past several tanks, thus making your accusation even less likely.