Filling up slowly gets you more fuel compared to doing it quickly, fact or fiction? – Pak Cik Shell experiments

Filling up slowly gets you more fuel compared to doing it quickly, fact or fiction? – Pak Cik Shell experiments

Shell Malaysia Trading managing director Shairan Huzani Husain, who is more affectionately known as Pak Cik Shell, is back to tackle another myth relating to refuelling a car. This time, the focus is on whether filling up slowly will net you extra fuel compared to doing it quickly.

In a recent video posted on his official Instagram account, Pak Cik Shell is seen using a fuel pump set to deliver 10 litres of RON 95 petrol to fill a canister. While he’s filling up rapidly by fully depressing the handle on the fuel nozzle, another Shell employee (called William) is filling up another canister at a much, much slower rate.

After both canisters are filled, it is revealed that both contain exactly 10 litres of RON 95 petrol, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re filling up slowly or quickly, the amount coming out of the pump is the same.

If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu, that’s because Pak Cik Shell conducted a similar experiment last March when a theory went around social media claiming that fully depressing the handle on a fuel nozzle will result in customers getting less fuel than what they paid for – that was also disproven.

Such theories arise due to the notion that petrol vaporises very easily, so when the fuel is pumped at a faster rate, it is believed that more of it will be “lost” to the air. Yes, fuel evaporation does happen when refuelling and can be affected by temperature and other environmental factors, but its impact on the volume delivered is miniscule, as the experiment proves.

Of course, there’s no harm if you want to refuel slowly at the pump, although you’ll probably be wasting more time than necessary. There’s nothing significant to gain from doing it and those waiting for their turn to fuel up may be less than pleased.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • dong gor on Oct 20, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    well pump meter doesn’t lie. what goes out of the pump is registered, and what goes out goes into your car tank. so why is there even a myth to begin with that pump slower will get more. got pay attention in school or not?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 41 Thumb down 3
  • FrankC on Oct 20, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    The meter is calibrated as per licence regula
    regulations. So ppl with knowledge will tell you the truth like pak cik shell

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
    • Casual reader on Oct 21, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      Msians dont like inconvenient truths. They prefer false promises and fantastical myths.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 3
      • CarBuyer on Oct 23, 2022 at 12:55 pm

        Most of you are lucky to be able to choose between filling up quickly or slowly. Over the years, my 18 year old Proton Gen2 has probably cost me a day extra at the pumps, as filling up (very) slowly has been the only option since day one, to get the last half a tank filled. p.s. I am not Singaporean trying to max it. :-).

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • When the MD is doing calibration tank fill,

    If there’s any discrepancies even the slightest. A lot of people will be in the hot seat and heads might roll.

    Though some dishonest stations just might tweak it a little.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
    • Hantu Raya on Oct 21, 2022 at 8:57 am

      Nonbody can tweak it. Once it’s calibrated, authorities seal the damn thing, tampering would be visible.

      We do this every time a stooge makes a cockamamie claim like “keluar angin saja”. Works like a charm.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • Some tweaked to give u extra,
      So it make u feels that it is more fuel saving.

      By law, as long as not give less – then no fault.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Ignatius Victor on Oct 21, 2022 at 8:32 am

    Another myth- filling petrol later in the day when ambient temperature is slightly above normal versus filling in the early morning when temperature is lower. Can Pak Chik Shell enlighten this myth? Which is better time?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • Pump slow to wait your spouse shopping inside shell select.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • the driver on Oct 21, 2022 at 9:49 am

    Well it works in old, unmaintained pumps. It’s like this, the meter becomes sticky and so the counter counts less. Doesn’t work in newer, well maintained and regularly calibrated pumps. From Pak Cik Minyak

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • It not about fast or slow, am cubchai rider, some operators adjusted the pump nozzle to full discharge, fuel are splashing out of my bike…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • How about filling up during cold mornings / nights compared to hot afternoon?

    something to do with molecular expansions

    Can do that experiment, or it was done before in the US ,

    Can just compare the weight of the canisters

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Minyak penipu on Oct 22, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    No all pump does that. He got social media presence so of coz he dare enough. But i tell you others not so. Esp brand P××nas.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4
  • Sdean on Oct 23, 2022 at 1:03 am

    Only when the valve is shutting close much later will you get more fuel.There is a technique indeed if you want more fuel,but you have to search for a faulty one.And a kind of skill with the fuel hose.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Terry on Oct 25, 2022 at 10:46 pm

    Nothing to do with school but common sense,

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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