B737NG captain reported being dispatched with less fuel than calculated.

Attributes
ACN	1606597
Time
Date	201812
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 183 Flight Crew Total 12252 Flight Crew Type 2882
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural MEL Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

We accepted an aircraft with a fuel gauge deferral. The requirements to meet the MEL for deferral appeared to be met. However; as we discovered through the flight; the error in the fuel system was around 1000 lbs and due to multiple factors we believe the actual fuel claimed to be onboard by maintenance was incorrect. We have no way of verifying drip stick measurements; and [maintenance] basically made their numbers work. Additionally; during the flight while fuel monitoring; we discovered the center tank; which contained 6600 lbs at start; only showed 6200 lbs burned. It is likely the fudged figures from [maintenance] and a tacit denial of a drip stick issue; combined with other fuel errors which didn't comply with the MEL; resulted in this flight operating in noncompliance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737NG Captain reported being dispatched with less fuel than calculated.

Narrative: We accepted an aircraft with a fuel gauge deferral. The requirements to meet the MEL for deferral appeared to be met. However; as we discovered through the flight; the error in the fuel system was around 1000 lbs and due to multiple factors we believe the actual fuel claimed to be onboard by maintenance was incorrect. We have no way of verifying drip stick measurements; and [Maintenance] basically made their numbers work. Additionally; during the flight while fuel monitoring; we discovered the center tank; which contained 6600 lbs at start; only showed 6200 lbs burned. It is likely the fudged figures from [Maintenance] and a tacit denial of a drip stick issue; combined with other fuel errors which didn't comply with the MEL; resulted in this flight operating in noncompliance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.