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A simple video published on Instagram created a real media storm in April 2025. A French surfer, convinced that he had discovered a scam, filmed a scene in an E.Leclerc service station. He pours a liter of petrol into a glass glass and concludes that a third of the volume is missing. His verdict is final: “We all get ripped off,” he claims in front of the camera. In no time, the video becomes viral, shared by thousands of indignant users. This phenomenon raises questions about the reliability of fuel distributors and relaunches debates around the transparency of commercial practices.
Leclerc and its fuel in the sauce
E.Leclerc is not at its first scandal in the fuel sector. Already in April 2024, the brand had been talked about in Gironde. Motorists then accused certain stations of diluting petrol with water, causing mechanical breakdowns on their vehicles. Michel-Édouard Leclerc, president of the group, had denied these allegations, reporting only 50 complaints for 450,000 full daily newspapers. However, he had recognized punctual superhumality problems in certain tanks. These incidents had been enough to sow distrust among consumers towards the brand’s service stations. This new episode only exacerbates this distrust, even if the facts do not seem to corroborate the initial accusations.
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A rigorously scientific test (no)
In his video, the Internet user uses a glass dedicated cocktail glass, which turns out to be problematic. These glasses include several graduations for the different ingredients of a recipe, and the “1 liter” graduation does not represent the maximum volume of the container. The resulting technical confusion explains the internet user error. In reality, by pouring a real liter of petrol in this glass, the liquid only reaches the graduation “1 liter”, creating an illusion of insufficient volume. This mistake highlights the impact of social networks, where the distinction between truth and false information is often vague. To check these accusations, Figaro journalists reproduced the test in an E.Leclerc station in Levallois-Perret. Their conclusion is final: a bought liter corresponds well to a delivered liter.
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Petrol stations face a strict regulatory framework
In addition to the manipulation error, French regulations make any generalized fraud almost impossible on fuel volumes. Petrol pumps are subject to Legal metrologyan extremely rigorous control device. Each fuel dispenser must pass periodic checks through approved organizations. These controls guarantee that the volume displayed corresponds exactly to the volume issued. In case of non-compliance, The use of the pump is immediately prohibited until the problems are solved. A table below summarizes the key elements linked to this case:
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| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Tag | Capacity of 2 liters with multiple graduations, used for cocktails |
| Test du Figaro | Confirms that a bought liter corresponds well to a litter delivered |
| Regulation | Strict and periodical controls by legal metrology |
Impact and public perception
The case aroused a strong reaction from the public, stressing the importance of confidence in major brands. The distrust generated by accusations, even unfounded, shows how sensitive consumers are to questions of transparency and ethics. Social networks amplify these concerns, offering a platform to voices which sometimes propagate erroneous information. It is crucial for companies to react quickly and in a transparent manner to defuse these potential crises. The question remains: how can consumers be better informed to avoid falling into the trap of false news?
The author relied on artificial intelligence to enrich this article.
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