Fuel Saving Tips

Fuel Station Myth

The myth states that if there is a station that is being restocked by a tanker truck, the delivery of the fuel to the underground tanks will cause sediment that is supposedly in the tanks to be stirred up and be delivered to the fuel tank in your car. Here is some logical thinking to make sense of this. Underground fuel tanks used for storage at a fueling station are typically made of fiberglass to prevent dissolving or reaction with the container. A container that can store gasoline in a stable state means that no particles will be formed in the tank, therefore no sediment is created. When fuel is drawn out of the tank, it's pumped from the bottom - so if there is sediment in the tank, waiting for it to settle is worse. Gasoline is also filtered in many locations. One of the most obvious places is at the fuel pump. Inside the pump are filters built in to prevent any sort of contaminants form entering your tank. It is also filtered again in your car, your fuel line has a filter built into it. Gasoline is delivered in a sealed system. If you've ever watched a tanker deliver fuel, you would see that the hoses are directly clamped to the truck and the tank. This is to keep contaminants out, and fuel vapor in. Also, think of it in a business sense. Sediment in the bottom of a tank means that less fuel can be stored in it. Less product means less money coming in, and more money going out for more frequent deliveries. It would be in the owner's best interest to not have sediment in the tank to make more money. I hope this helps remove any worries that you may have about seeing a tanker delivering some gasoline at your favorite station.