Five ways petrol pumps can trick you and how to be careful

Gasoline and diesel price Excursions have always been a concern for most vehicle owners. However, the most important concern is to save yourself from being scammed at the petrol pumps. Here we have listed five ways petrol pumps can fool you and how a little awareness can save you money.
1) Short supply
Short feeding is a common fraudulent practice that can easily be done if customers are not alert. This happens when the customer wants to refuel their vehicle for a certain amount but the gas station attendant doesn’t reset the meter, so you end up paying the full amount but getting less fuel. For example, you ordered 1000 rupees worth of petrol, but the attendant didn’t reset the meter to zero and it was already at 200. In this case, when the reading shows 1000, they actually just gave you 800 worth of fuel rupees, but paid the full amount. So be sure to keep an eye on the meter reading while your vehicle is being fueled.
2) Electronic chips in fuel dispensing machines
Sometimes an electronic chip is installed in fuel dispenser machines to ensure that less oil is filled, but the meter will show the full amount. One such incident was reported in Telangana in 2020 where petrol pumps with chips were installed and were dispensing 970ml of fuel for every 1000ml of petrol/diesel. In case you are in doubt about the amount of petrol, you can ask for a five liter quantity test. The petrol pumps have a measurement of 5 liters which is certified by the Department of Weights and Measures. If the five-liter gasoline delivered by a fuel dispenser is filling the gauge completely, then you can be sure that the gas station is not short of fuel for your vehicle. This check can be implemented on all fuel machines.
3) Filling synthetic oil without permission
Today, some gas stations have started using a new trick where they fill your vehicle with synthetic oil instead of regular fuel. They often do this without the customer’s permission or without even telling them. Since synthetic oil is 5 to 10 percent more expensive compared to the regular price, you may end up paying more than you would like. So it’s better to say it specifically petrol pump responsible for not filling the high performance fuel.

4) Poor quality of gasoline
In case you doubt the quality of the gasoline, which is filled in your vehicle, you can ask for an engine filter paper test. According to the Consumer Protection Act 1986, every petrol pump should have filter papers and provide them to consumers when required. To find out if the petrol is adulterated or not, put a few drops of petrol on filter paper, if it leaves stains the petrol is adulterated and if it is not pure. Poor quality fuel can damage your vehicle in a number of ways. It could reduce the efficiency of the vehicle and even shorten the life of the engine and its components.
5) Check petrol price
Be sure to check the price of gas when you pull into a gas station. The gas pump dealer cannot overcharge for fuel. Therefore, it is better to count the actual price with the price displayed on the fuel dispensing machine. Also, ask for a cash note for your gasoline purchase.