In a surprising incident at an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) fuel pump in Chembumukku, Kochi, Deepesh Babu, the owner of a 2018 Volkswagen Polo, discovered that his car’s 45-litre fuel tank was filled with 53 litres of petrol. Deepesh, a loyal customer of the pump since 2007, immediately suspected foul play and reported the anomaly to both the car showroom and the pump owner, later filing a complaint with IOC for further investigation.
To address the issue, IOC officials, along with Deepesh and the pump owner, conducted an experiment. They completely drained the fuel tank of Deepesh’s Polo and refilled it using a certified five-litre can, monitored by IOC official Dalbin Christopher and the pump manager Shalu. Surprisingly, the tank held 57.83 litres, far exceeding the manufacturer’s stated capacity of 45 litres. Automobile experts explained that fuel tanks often have design allowances that let them hold more fuel than specified, though they caution against routinely overfilling to avoid safety issues.
While Deepesh’s case was resolved amicably, it highlights the prevalence of fuel pump scams across the country. Common scams include manual interruption of fuel flow, using long dispense pipes, distracting customers during fueling, and partial fill and resume tactics. These practices can result in customers being overcharged or receiving less fuel than paid for, emphasizing the need for vigilance at fuel stations.