About

Fuel logistics relies on mass for billing but volume for storage and transport. A discrepancy in conversion factors leads to inventory shrinkage or overfill hazards. This tool addresses the thermal expansion of hydrocarbons. Gasoline expands as temperature rises, lowering its density. A static conversion at 15°C is insufficient for field operations occurring at 30°C or 0°C.

We use the standard formula relating mass, density, and volume, adjusted for the coefficient of thermal expansion common in petroleum products. Precision here prevents financial loss in large-scale transfers (e.g., tanker trucks or railcars).

Formulas

The core calculation relies on the relationship between Mass (m), Density (ρ), and Volume (V). Temperature correction uses a simplified Volume Correction Factor (VCF) based on the thermal expansion coefficient (α).

Standard VolumeV₁₅ = m × 1000ρ₁₅

To account for temperature changes:

V_obs = V₁₅ × 1 + α(t_obs − 15)

Reference Data

Fuel Type	Density @ 15°C (kg/m³)	Expansion Coeff. (α)	1 Ton @ 15°C (Liters)	1 Ton @ 30°C (Liters)
Gasoline (Regular)	730	0.00125	1,369.86	1,395.54
Gasoline (Premium)	755	0.00110	1,324.50	1,346.36
Diesel (Automotive)	835	0.00084	1,197.60	1,212.69
Jet A-1	804	0.00095	1,243.78	1,261.50
Fuel Oil (Heavy)	990	0.00070	1,010.10	1,020.70
Ethanol (Pure)	789	0.00110	1,267.43	1,288.34
Biodiesel (B100)	880	0.00078	1,136.36	1,149.66
LPG (Propane)	510	0.00290	1,960.78	2,046.08

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquids expand when heated. 1 ton of gasoline occupies more space (liters) at 30°C than it does at 15°C. If you bill by volume without correcting for temperature, you may receive "hot" fuel that shrinks when it cools in your underground tanks, leading to apparent inventory loss.

In most international logistics and ASTM standards, 15°C (59°F) is the reference temperature for reporting density.

Refer to the Bill of Lading (BOL) or the Quality Certificate provided by the refinery or terminal. If unavailable, use the standard averages provided in the tool's database, but expect a margin of error of roughly 1-2%.

Yes, select "Jet A-1" from the dropdown. Aviation logistics requires strict adherence to mass calculations (kilograms/pounds) rather than volume for flight range estimation.