{"id":1939,"date":"2022-10-17T11:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T11:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.automotiveguider.com\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2023-07-06T17:25:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T17:25:53","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-a-tanker-to-fill-a-gas-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.automotiveguider.com\/automotive-guides\/how-long-does-it-take-a-tanker-to-fill-a-gas-station\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take A Tanker To Fill A Gas Station?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, you pulled into your favorite gas station and noticed there is a tanker truck filling up the underground storage tanks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You think to yourself, “Ugh, I should have gone to the other station down the street.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then you start to wonder, how long does it take a tanker to fill a gas station? The answer may surprise you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most tanker trucks can fill a gas station’s tanks in just a few minutes. Depending on the size of the gas station, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading as I discuss different tanker sizes, how much fuel they can hold<\/a>, and how quickly they can fill a gas station’s tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does It Take A Tanker To Fill A Gas Station?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned, it depends on the type and size of the tanker truck<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the US, most top-loading tanker trucks that carry fuel have an average maximum capacity of 10,000 gallons of fuel with the ability to pump 900 to 1000 gallons a minute into an airline tank or to fill an airport or service station underground tank.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you’d assume, it will take a large size tanker truck around 10-12 minutes to fill a gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that’s not always true.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"top-loading<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Top-loading tanker trucks, as the name suggests, feature top-loading transport trailers with insulated compartments for different products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, the oil tanker trucks will have 3, 4, or 5 insulated compartments depending on the size and used to transport gasoline or other flammable liquids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since each compartment is kept separate, the tanker will take more time to fill a gas station as they need to connect the nozzle to each compartment and fill it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, it takes these large tank trucks around 20-30 minutes on average to fill up a gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, there are different sizes of tanker trucks. The smaller ones have a capacity of 5,500 gallons and can pump out around 450 gallons per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it will take these smaller tanker trucks 12 minutes to fill a gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom-loading tanker trucks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Things get interesting here.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bottom-loader<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Bottom-loading tanker trucks are another type of fuel tanker truck that is used to fill up tanker trucks from the bottom. This is a faster process as the truck doesn’t need to be connected to each compartment individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They use a special nozzle with shut-off apparatus and vent lines that can take up to 15 minutes per compartment because of weight calculations, but the process also depends on how many nozzles are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if one is used for each section being loaded (say 3 compartments) and 2 in total then it would take an average 40-minute time to empty a 9,000-gallon tanker and fill up a gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While bottom-loading tanker trucks are generally faster to fill a gas station and offer more options when it comes to loading or unloading fuels, they have a downside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, let\u2019s just say things get hectic fast. You need all hands on board ASAP so everyone knows what his or her job is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Do When a Tanker Truck Is at a Gas Station?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you see a tanker truck at a gas station, the first thing you should do is stay away from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it’s tempting to go and ask the driver how long it will take or to take a selfie with the big rig, but trust me, it’s not worth it. The reason is these trucks are carrying a lot of flammable liquids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, please, for your safety and the safety of others, keep your distance and don’t do anything that could potentially start a fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second thing you should do is find another gas station if you’re in a hurry. I know it’s not always convenient, but it’s the best thing to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, tanker trucks need a lot of space to maneuver, and they block the gas pumps while they’re refueling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, that might lead to the next question –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should You Fill Up on Gas When a Fuel Tanker Is Present?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There’s a widespread myth<\/a> that you should never fill up your tank when a tanker truck is present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reasoning is that you’d get gas from the bottom of the storage tank which is filled with sediments and these particles can erode your car’s engine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this might have been an issue in the past, it’s not something you need to worry about now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most modern gas stations have multiple filters working to ensure the gas you get from the pump is filtered before it even goes into the storage tank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, your car also has a fuel filter so sediments and other particles are not an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, if you’re still worried about it, you can always wait for the tanker to leave before you fill up your tank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, it’s advised to wait for 30 minutes to an hour after the tanker truck has left to give the storage tank time to settle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, at the end of the day, it’s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n