Petrol Pump Hidden Tricks: Do you also not get down from the car at the petrol pump? Know about the hidden game of petrol pump machine which is emptying your pockets.
Petrol Pump Meter Scam: Are you also one of those people who go to the petrol pump, sit comfortably in the car seat, make online payment and fill the fuel and move ahead? If yes, then change this habit of yours from today itself. This ‘comfortable’ habit of yours is draining your pocket of thousands of rupees every month. Often people think that just by seeing zero (0), they will get full petrol, but the game is not just about zero, the game is about the reset mechanism, nozzle lock and density hidden behind the meter, which you can never catch while sitting inside the car. Let us know about the ‘hidden game’ of the petrol pump, after knowing which you will not fill the fuel without getting out of the car next time…
Why is the game of ‘jumping meter’ not visible from inside the car?
When you are sitting inside the car, you cannot see the screen of the petrol machine completely and clearly. Many times the petrol attendant shows zero, but as soon as the nozzle is inserted into the vehicle, the meter directly ‘jumps’ from ₹ 0 to ₹ 50 or ₹ 80. This is called ‘jumping meter scam’. If you are standing outside, your eyes will be constantly on the screen and no one will dare to jump the meter in front of you. Sitting inside the car, you only see the final amount, not the middle game.
‘Nozzle cut’ and the trick of holding it down
This is one of the most common tricks at petrol pumps. The petrol nozzle (the pipe from which oil comes out) has an auto-cut button and flow-rate lock. The rule says that the petrol attendant should put the nozzle in your vehicle’s tank and lock it, so that the oil falls continuously at a fixed speed (flow). Many times workers keep pressing and releasing the handle of the nozzle repeatedly with their hands. By doing this the oil pressure stops again and again. The meter runs fast, but due to increase in air pressure inside the pipe, less oil and more air goes into your car. When you stand outside and keep an eye on their hand, they will not be able to do this.
‘Short refueling’ and the game of distraction
‘Sir, will you pay through card or UPI?’ ‘Sir, should I check the oil of the car?’ As soon as you roll down the window, an attendant starts talking to you or distracts you. At that exact second, another attendant starts filling your car with the same coupon or half-baked reading (say ₹200) and stops it at ₹1000. You think oil worth ₹ 1000 has arrived, whereas it has arrived only for ₹ 800. When you get down from the car and stand directly near the machine, no one can distract your attention.
If you want to avoid digital fraud, you will have to get down from the car.
Nowadays most of the people pay through UPI or QR code. Many times, while sitting in the car, you try to scan the barcode from inside or raise your phone. In this matter, your entire attention goes to the mobile screen and not to the petrol meter. When you get down from the car, you first see ‘0’ on the meter, then fill the fuel, and then calmly go to the payment counter and scan it. This simple habit protects you from any kind of manual fraud.
Check not only zero but also density
Not only are money and liters written on the machine, but there is also a small column for density. The purity of petrol is measured by this. Get down from the car and go to the machine and see if the density is correct. The correct density of petrol should be between 720 to 775 kg/m³. The correct density of diesel should be between 820 to 860 kg/m³. If this number is out of this range, then understand that the oil is adulterated or the meter has been tampered.
Disclaimer: This article has been written only for the purpose of general information and consumer awareness. Its purpose is not to hurt the image of any particular petrol pump, brand or employees. Most of the petrol pumps in the country work with complete honesty and under government norms. It is always the responsibility of a prudent consumer to remain vigilant regarding vehicle mileage, safety and proper refueling.