Each morning before sales: dip every tank and take a water dip, record the morning density at 15 °C by 10 AM, test every nozzle with the 5 litre measure, check the Weights and Measures seals, and look for leaks. Display the opening stock and prices, and keep the stock, sales and density registers up to date.
Every morning, before sales
- Dip every tank. Product dip and water dip, written in the daily stock register (MDG 1.3, 1.4.1 b). How to dip.
- Read the pump meters and write the opening totalizers.
- Morning density. Sample from the nozzle, find the density at 15 °C, record it before sales and by 10 AM (1.4.1 c, 5.1.9). Calculator.
- 5 litre test on every nozzle; record the quantity used (1.4.2 d). Checker.
- Check the W&M seals on metering units and totalizers, and that the certificate is valid (1.4.2 a).
- Look for leaks at the pump, hose and nozzle (1.4.2 e).
- Display the opening stock and selling prices (1.3 i).
Through the day
- Bring the meter to zero before every sale, and show it to the customer (1.4.2 f).
- Keep filter paper (Whatman 2) for customers who want to check petrol (1.4.1 a).
When a tanker comes
Follow the decantation procedure: seals, dips, water, density within ±3.0 kg/m³, samples, then the composite density after 50 litres.
At day end
- Closing meter readings and sales by product.
- Reconcile the stock: opening dip + receipts − sales against the closing dip. Stock variation calculator.
Equipment to keep ready
Calibrated hydrometers and thermometers, the ASTM density table, a stamped 5 litre measure, water-finding paste (one suitable for ethanol-blended petrol), the certified dip rod and each tank’s calibration chart. Clause 1.5 (vi) makes the testing kit mandatory and asks for it to be shown to inspectors on demand.
Figures here are for reference. Your oil company’s certified calibration chart, approved instruments and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines always prevail.
Questions
Which records must I keep?
MDG 2024 clause 5.1.12 lists the daily sales register and the density register for the current and previous financial year among the records whose absence is an irregularity, along with others such as invoices and inspection reports.
What must be on display?
The opening stock of the day and the authorised selling prices (clause 1.3), and the density. Clause 5.1.12 treats not displaying density or opening stock as an irregularity.