The Real Reason Behind Uncommon Fuel Amounts at Petrol Pumps

You may have noticed that some people prefer to fill their fuel tanks with amounts like ₹110 or ₹120 instead of a neat ₹100, or ₹495 instead of ₹500. This raises an interesting question: is there any strategy behind this, or is it a misconception about how petrol pump meters function? Animesh Kumar Sinha, a former railway chief engineer, shared insights on this topic on Quora.

Sinha explained that petrol pumps often have preset options for common amounts like ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, or ₹1000. These presets can be activated with a single button press, making the process quicker and more efficient for employees. However, some customers mistakenly believe these preset amounts could involve a trick, leading them to think they are receiving less fuel.

In reality, petrol pumps use flow meters that dispense fuel in precise quantities based on volume. The system calculates the cost by multiplying the liters dispensed by the current fuel price. Regardless of the amount you pay—₹100, ₹110, or ₹120—the calculation is based purely on the volume of fuel, not the amount of money.

Sometimes, the displayed volume might appear slightly rounded. For instance, if 10.24 liters are dispensed, it could be displayed as 10.2 liters due to rounding. However, choosing non-round amounts doesn’t guarantee you’ll get extra fuel.

If you want to ensure accuracy, you can ask for fuel to be dispensed in liters instead of rupees and pay the exact amount via UPI or another digital method.

To maintain transparency, the Weights and Measures Department and oil companies regularly calibrate petrol pump flow meters to ensure accuracy. The density of petrol remains consistent and cannot be manipulated.

If you suspect you’ve been short-changed, you can file a complaint with the Weights and Measures Department or use the government portal for resolution. Most petrol pumps display a toll-free complaint number for customer grievances. Verified complaints can result in significant fines for the pump operators, who are often private entities.