New rules at BP

mdt · 13 October 2006, 20:28

Just gone up to fill the tanks for tomorrows early start, had two 22L tanks in the boot. Into petrol station and lifted the boot and stuck the nozzle in and nothing. Long day at work getting grumpy and still nothing. Then the guy comes running out asking “what are you filling up”. Ok my response of “bin bags” was not the most mature ever.

To be informed that BP has a rule the staff must see the containers you are trying to fill. ???? ahhhhhhhh

M

Yes thanks the G&T is helping.

Biggles · 13 October 2006, 21:28

This has been raised a few times on this forum. Myself included.
The Law is pretty stringent on refuelling. Many places don't allow any lee way for the filling of outboard fuel tanks. best bet is to find a garage that isn't too fussy about the tanks that you use.

Trust me your on a losing wicket if you try and fight officialdom on this one.

toby4594 · 13 October 2006, 21:34

The garage I use locally don,t give a stuff ,you could actually be filling bin bags for all they care ,added bonus I have an account there for the works vans so it goes through the business too .

codprawn · 14 October 2006, 19:16

Just filled 10 jerrycans in sainsbury's no probs - their pumps shut off at 100.4 litres though!!!

Nos4r2 · 15 October 2006, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Just filled 10 jerrycans in sainsbury's no probs - their pumps shut off at 100.4 litres though!!!

That shutoff is a pain isn't it.

I find the best way of doing it round here is to fill up at a supermarket while they are busy. They just authorise it without saying anything.

Lawrence · 17 October 2006, 08:54

1. Always fill up when service station busy
2. Strategically park, keeping rear of vehicle out of line of sight if possible.
3. Stealthily place o/b tank on floor ready, but behind vehicle still out of sight.
4. Start filling vehicle first and then when pump switched on
5. Switch to filling tank

Usually works...

Nos4r2 · 17 October 2006, 09:25

stealth fuelling

It's easier if you tow the boat in and fill the tanks while they are aboard btw. You take up so much room on the pumps that they just want you gone asap.

mdt · 17 October 2006, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawrence

1. Always fill up when service station busy
2. Strategically park, keeping rear of vehicle out of line of sight if possible.
3. Stealthily place o/b tank on floor ready, but behind vehicle still out of sight.
4. Start filling vehicle first and then when pump switched on
5. Switch to filling tank

Usually works...

A very cunning plan…

was thinking about point 4 the this morning… I normally take the wife’s car up filled it up 1st (gets you brownie points don’t you know) then fill the tanks. But my car being a oil burner has a dislike of petrol.

Shall pretend I am filling the car till they switch on the pump, then swap to tank filling with speed and cunning.
And prepare my self for some goon to come running out.

G L · 17 October 2006, 22:08

Go to Tesco and select 'pay at pump', swip your card and away you go, Stops at £60 though!

CJL · 18 October 2006, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

stealth fuelling

It's easier if you tow the boat in and fill the tanks while they are aboard btw. You take up so much room on the pumps that they just want you gone asap.

Even better when three of you turn up!!!!

Nigel · 20 September 2007, 20:59

The Esso Garage in Petersfield now has a notice on the till saying that specifically that refueling of boats on trailers is only allowable if it can be done whilst standing on the ground. The wording (which unfortunately I did not write down) seemed to claim that there is a significantly higher risk of static causing ignition if refueling is done with you aboard the the boat on the trailer. Just did a quick search and this thread seemed closest Does anyone know if the rules or guidelines have changed recently?

Thanks

Nigel

Hightower · 20 September 2007, 21:41

So do all pumps in Garages shut off at 100 litres then? Most I've put in a boat is 80. I'm having to fill up my 200 litre tank soon, that'll hack a few motorists off, specially if I fill the car at the same time

codprawn · 20 September 2007, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel

The Esso Garage in Petersfield now has a notice on the till saying that specifically that refueling of boats on trailers is only allowable if it can be done whilst standing on the ground. The wording (which unfortunately I did not write down) seemed to claim that there is a significantly higher risk of static causing ignition if refueling is done with you aboard the the boat on the trailer. Just did a quick search and this thread seemed closest Does anyone know if the rules or guidelines have changed recently?

Thanks

Nigel

That is crap - the fuel hoses are conductive to get rid of static - a car sits on rubber tyres anyway so is just as insulated as the boat on the trailer!!!

mdt · 21 September 2007, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

That is crap - the fuel hoses are conductive to get rid of static - a car sits on rubber tyres anyway so is just as insulated as the boat on the trailer!!!

Granted, but since when have they let the facts got in the way of health and safety.

I have now perfected the stand by car filler cap pump in hand once they switch it on, open boot and fill away technique.

MustRib · 21 September 2007, 07:44

I recently tried to fill a single 22l tank after filling the car up, and I had not unscrewed the filler cap from the plastic tank before starting to fill the car. After shoving 50 quids worth in the car, and while still holding the nozzle in my hand, I bent down to unscrew and remove the 22l tank cap...maybe took 12 seconds tops, and the pump switched itself off in the meantime.
Forecourt was v busy and it took ages to get someone to turn the pump on again, fill the 22l tank, and as I had wanted, pay for it all together.
(Sainsburys in Bedford). They didn't have a problem with filling the container, they just said the pumps turn themselves off if not pumping fuel after fifteen seconds. Being ready to go at the start of the operation seems to be the way to go!

ribraff · 21 September 2007, 08:00

On a visit to our local sainsbury's i tried to fill up a 22 ltr can and was told i could only have 10 ltrs!, this was a little bit annoying to say the least so i took the ten ltrs, payed, drove off round the block, came back and put another 10 ltrs in the same tank, there was nothing they could do to stop me.

nikster · 21 September 2007, 08:29

takes me back to the old round solent rib races that Alan Priddy use to organise... for those that remember it was the same time as shell had the promotion on for the scale cars at the till - remember the really big ones normally on top of the cigarette shelf...... Well, i pulled into the shell garage on the spur road out of portsmouth next to the commercial port pulled into the centre and took all 4 pumps and started pumping into all 4 tanks we had with the 8mtr - £300 later we were full..! - so i walk into pay and the young girl behind the counter makes some comment about taking all the pumps etc... swipes my credit card and gives me a receipt......uuuhhmmmmm i say... can i have my vouchers please.... she looks at me and says... are you being serious.... duhhhh yeah.... by which time an orderly queue is forming behind me and she is starting to get a bit flustered - "i havnt got time she says to count them out" so i said the amount of fuel i have just bought plus the vouchers i have in my wallet equal the "red ferrari" and the "ac cobra" on the top shelf please........walked out chuckling with 2 boxes under my arms... Those were the days.....

9D280 · 21 September 2007, 09:08

Taking the "only 10 L in a plastic tank" rule to it's logical conclusion, most new cars will only take 10L max fill!

So far I've never has a problem with the SR - I've filled both 30L tanks in the boat, in the boot and out the boot on the forecourt floor. So far no problems, but that may have been down to luck, and i;'ve always de- capped them before picking the pump nozzle off the cradle.....

Technically you could argue the toss that "it's not a petrol can it's a fuel tank"....

Tomas · 21 September 2007, 10:36

Hmmm....You know I fill my tank, in place in the boat once a week and never thought about static spark risk. However...I recall seeing information that was very credible on instances of containers being filled in pickup truck beds causing explosions. I think that fuel carriers have straps that are fastened to the frame and drag the ground to dissipate static charge. I also recall from my days as a volunteer firefighter that fire trucks also have this grounding system due to their proximity to fuel spills. That would tend to indicate that static charge can accumulate on a vehicle with tires and metal contact to "ground" is a good thing, not a bad thing.

I think I recall a special caution about an onboard tank resting on fuzzy or carpet material. When you fill your vehicle tank, the nozzle is in direct metal to metal contact with the vehicle. Not so when you fill a plastic tank onboard.

I'm going to do some research and see what the facts are. Filling my 13 gallon tanks on the ground and hoisting them into the boat is not a good option to say the least.

Tomas · 21 September 2007, 12:12

There's a ton of different data on the subject but the most reliable sources indicate the following:

1. There are over 150 instances of static electricity igniting fuel while filling portable containers, in the vehicle, not on the ground.

2. Metal cans were involved in more incidents, but plastic has been involved
as well.

3. Risk can be reduced by doing the following;
a) Touching the nozzle to the container before opening the fill cap.
b) Reducing fuel flow at the start of the fueling process.

4. In spite of these steps, actual fuel flow can create it's own charge so
it is recommended that the nozzle be kept in contact with the tank at
all times during a fueling.

Personally, I'm going to observe 3 & 4 more carefully than I have in the past and continue to fill my portables, in the boat.