# Can I use fuel tank dip readings to work out diesel burned?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/fuel-tank-dip-readings-for-emissions

Yes. Diesel burned in a period is opening stock plus diesel bought minus closing stock. Dip readings give the stock: convert centimetres to litres with the tank's calibration chart and record the date and time. Invoices still prove what you bought; dips adjust for timing.

## What to record

- Dip in cm at the start and end of each month, same time of day.
- The tank's calibration chart, signed off.
- Every delivery with its invoice.

## Common errors

- Using a chart for a different tank.
- Reading right after a delivery, before the level settles.
- Forgetting fuel drawn for vehicles or other sites.

## Worked example (illustrative)

- Opening stock from dip: 4,000 L
- Bought in the month (invoices): 10,000 L
- Closing stock from dip: 3,000 L
- Burned: 4,000 + 10,000 minus 3,000 = 11,000 L x 2.68 = 29,480 kg, about 29.5 t CO2

Illustrative quantities only.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible keeps each bill and invoice behind every figure, dated and fingerprinted, so a reviewer can trace a number back to the document it came from.

- [Fuel stock: bought or burned](https://senseible.earth/answers/fuel-stock-count-when-bought-or-burned)
- [Fuel purchased vs consumed](https://senseible.earth/answers/fuel-purchased-vs-fuel-consumed)
- [Bulk diesel invoice in kL](https://senseible.earth/answers/bulk-diesel-invoice-kilolitres-15c)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Corporate Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard), [2006 IPCC Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy](https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.