Over the fourth of July weekend, we took a trip to New Orleans to see the family. On our trip we mostly got 19mpg. On one fuel stop we got 15mpg, but the fuel gauge didn't look that low. The next fuel stop we got 19mpg. Now I'm getting mad, because I figured out that we didn't get the amount of fuel we paid for.

My questions: Can someone buy a container that will accurately measure 1 gallon of fuel? It would have to be very precise. I'm thinking about starting to check the first gallon of fuel to see if I'm getting what i'm paying for. The next question is, who do you report these folks to? DOT? With fuel prices these days, don't put it past them!

**See my sig. Years ago in New Orleans, I topped off my chevelle at a local gas station. The pump said I got 20 gallons of gas, the tank only holds 16 gallons. I had almost a 1/2 tank of gas before I topped off.

 

In Missouri you will need to contact Jefferson City at the Weights & Measures Department. Look it up on the internet at State of Missouri Government.

 

Thanks MOAGGIE!

 

I put 40 gallons in a 32 gallon tank one day myself. The cure was to stop going to that station

As you already know there is an agency that governs this, but like everywhere else they have too many stations and too few inspectors.

 

So about a measuring device?

 

A 1 gallon gas can should be close enough for government work.

 

Ive seen the folks measiring it a couple times. They use a glass beaker looking jar. I think theres a ph# on the pumps if you want them to come out.

 

Using a 1 gal can, the pump would need to be pretty far off to see it "measured" in the can.

Using a 5 gal would help. If the pump is off only 10% the 5 gal would show up 1/2gal short. With a 1 gal you're looking at .1 gallon which might be tough to see using a standard gas can.

 

Some rigged pumps that were busted in NY state a few years back read correctly for the first five gallons, after that they cheated.
Authorities estimated these pumps had cheated customers out of millions of dollars.

 

Maybe we should all honk as we drive by... Ok Ok I am going back to work now...

 

I was at gas station one day and watched a guy will serveral 5 gallon fuel cans. Buddy of mine said the guy always pumps the fuel into the cans then when he gets home, fills his truck up. This way he knows he's getting all the fuel he is paying for.