Consumer Affairs

Oil Truck Meter Testing Program
Fact Sheet No. 6

Oil Truck meter tests are performed annually by weights and measures inspectors. Home heating oil delivery trucks are comprise the majority of these tests. Each Fall, heating oil delivery trucks schedule tests at the Test Station on Dearborn Street. Trucks pump 300 gallons of heating oil into a test measure. The meters must be accurate within 175 cubic inches (approximately 7/10th gallon). Lead-and-wire security seals are affixed to meters that are approved. Also, paper seals are placed on the meters to inform the consumers that the meters have been tested.

The Test Station also has 500-gallon and 1,000-gallon test measures for high capacity tank trucks (e.g., gasoline).

Delivery tickets are required by state law and city code. The delivery ticket must contain the name and address of the vendor, the name and address of the customer, type of fuel, unit price, quantity delivered, and meter readings.

Oil Truck Meter Tests

1995
Tested - 125
Failed - 36 (29%)

Applicable Laws:

Washington:

Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Chapter 19.94 "Weights and Measures - 1969 Act", Section 19.94.175 (registration fee), and Section 19.94.460 (home heating oil delivery ticket)

Seattle:

Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 7.04 - "Weights and Measures Code", Section 7.04.540 "Furnace and Stove Oil"

Applicable Standards:

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices (1997), Section 3.31 "Vehicle-Tank Meters"

NCWM

National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) Publication 12 Examination Procedure Outlines for Weighing and Measuring Devices (December 1991), EPO No. 23 "Vehicle-Tank Meters Power Operated"