Motorists can get extra kilometres out of a tank of petrol and save hundreds of dollars a year by following simple tips of the trade kept under wraps by the fuel industry.
Dubbo milk vendor and former BP and Ampol manager John Hartnoll-White believes “how-to savings” should become public knowledge as households and businesses come under increasing financial pressure at the bowser.
“The tips aren’t exactly secret,’’ he said. “But they certainly don’t get broadcast by the fuel industry because the whole idea is to get people to spend more money.’’
Mr Hartnoll-White was a fuel company territory manager in the Dubbo district for two decades before becoming an owner-operator milko 15 years ago.
He said evaporation, temperature and vapour recovery are the key to saving petrol dollars.
His money saving tips include:
* Schedule trips to the service station first thing in the morning when fuel is colder.
* Avoid fuelling up in the afternoon or the heat of the day.
* Fill the tank as slowly as possible to cut down on vapour.
* Never let your fuel tank get close to empty.
* Refuel as soon as the gauge on your vehicle hits the half level.
* Don’t hurry on the road - drive sedately.
Mr Hartnoll-White said fuelling vehicles early in the morning makes sense because the ground temperature is still cold.
“Remember that service stations have storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the fuel. When it gets warmer petrol expands so when buying in the afternoon or evening your litre is not exactly a litre.
“In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of fuel plays an important role. A one degree rise is temperature is a big deal for this business but service stations don’t have temperature compensation at the pumps.’’
Mr Harnoll-White said consumers pay for all the fuel passing through the bowser, including the fumes generated when the nozzle is pressed too quickly.
He spends 12 minutes filling the tank of his 65-litre one tonne Rodeo.
“Pumping slowly minimises vapour so I get more fuel for my dollar. All bowser hoses have a vapour return. When pumping at the fast rate some of the liquid going to your tank becomes vapour. These vapours are sucked up and back into the underground storage so motorists are getting less worth for their money.’’
Another basic money saving tip is to reduce evaporation by refuelling as soon as the tank of your vehicle drops to halfway.
According to Mr Hartnol-White, cutting down on evaporation is a fuel industry essential - that’s why major companies have internal floating roofs in big storage tanks.
“The roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimises evaporation,’’ he said.
Mr Hartnoll White uses a tank of petrol a week delivering dairy products and water to households throughout the East Dubbo area.
He stretches his fuel by driving sedately and following industry-based saving tips.
“I’m able to achieve an extra 65 kilometres per tank which amounts to a saving of around $6 per week.
“That modest regular saving may not sound like much but when multiplied by 52 weeks a year amounts to around $300.’’
Mr Hartnoll White’s other saving tips include:
· Avoid ethanol-blend fuel. He says the reduction in calorific value “is not worth it”.
· Every three months he gives his truck two consecutive fills of expensive high octane fuel to clean the injectors.
· Do not fill up if a delivery truck is filling the service station storage tanks. The pressure of fuel moving into the tank stirs up dirt that normally settles on the bottom and motorists run the risk of contaminating the fuel system of their car.
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