gas pumps and idiots

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can screw up putting gas into their vehicles. It's not that hard! Of course, I'm not an idiot either

Hell, I'm still trying to figure out how some of these people walk and breathe at the same time without screwing that up!

[EricKei]

Any number of bad things can happen if you don't stay with your vehicle.

The car not being there when you get back being one of the more obvious ones...

[dalesys]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can screw up putting gas into their vehicles. It's not that hard! Of course, I'm not an idiot either

You're the gas man, find the gas tank... "Well, what if I just pour it all over the car, maybe it'll suck in somewhere..."

[/200MPH]

[Merriweather]

the more I read, the more I'm ever so glad to have moved to Oregon, where we don't pump our own gas. I never minded pumping my own (even though I actually started driving back in the days before self-serve was the norm), but it's nice not to have to worry about what the other idiots are doing that can endanger my life.

[protege]

I'm still trying to figure out how people can screw up putting gas into their vehicles. It's not that hard! Of course, I'm not an idiot either

[Kristev]

Wow. Once again, I'm glad I don't have any kind of motorcar.

[Racket_Man]

I always hated the people that would "set" the pump to go to full, then go sit their lazy ass in their car, and all of a sudden, wow, a giant spill, and several extra dollars, then that idiot would want to argue with me about our "faulty" gas pumps and how they didn't want to pay that much or whatever have you.

.

had one idiot do this in the winter. except the "few extra dollars" in spilled gas was $30 or $40 worth of gas. asshole tried to argue with the manager about not PAYING for the "extra gas" but lost after the cops and the fire dept (HAZMAT situation) got involved.

[mattm04]

Once I witnessed a guy pull up, leave the car running and get out smoking and try to pump gas. The attendant had noticed and shut down said pump before he even started. A argument ensued over the PA and the idiot left.

Even on the coldest windiest days, i have never had issue standing outside for a few minutes to pump gas.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I was just pumping gas on my way home tonight. I'm so careful...I leave my cell in the car and only bring out my keys and my credit card (and lock the car while I'm outside it)...stand there while it's pumping, and usually touch metal somewhere other than the car before I grab the pump nozzle again. I saw a guy actually get shocked by a cell phone once, and it wasn't even near a gas pump...just an electrical outlet. Not entirely sure how the hell that happened, and he wasn't hurt, but it was scary shit...

[VenomX]

I worked pumping gas for 5 years. Theres a sensor in the nozzle that detects when the fuel is near the top by the nozzle end. When these start going bad it will not work sometimes. When it would do that to us we would just change nozzles. Some stations may not change then because they cost $350 or so each.

[raudf]

Every pump I have been too, there are tons of signs saying "No one under 16 allowed to pump," along with, what should be now labeled a super power, common sense rules on pumping.

Since I follow the theory that the default state of most technology is "broke," I stand near the nozzle and listen to the sound of the fuel running into the tank. When it hits a certain pitch that I've determined is "full," I'll stop it if the pump doesn't stop itself. That has saved me quite a bit of money due to spillage!

I used to know gas station owner who kept a fire extinguisher labeled, "IN CASE OF SMOKERS NEAR PUMPS." I don't know if he ever used it for that purpose, but he said the threat of it was usually enough to get the idea across, along with the pump being shut off.

He also told me a story of one time seeing a POTY letting their 5 year old pump gas, while they came into the store. He shut the pump off and laid into 'em for being the stupidest parent alive. Needless to stay, POTY wasn't thrilled, paid for what they owed (only 'cause he pointed to the nice camera and the phone) and left in a huff.

[dalesys]

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full?

When I worked at Little America (1972) we beat up the nozzles pretty bad at the truck islands... usually had at least one fail per shift, with an average spill of 30 gallons of #2 diesel per shift.

Yeah, it shouldoughta shut off, but...

[Sapphire Silk]

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full? I've been pumping gas before and I'll hear a loud "click" and the pump will stop when my car is filled - even if I hadn't reached my pre-pay limit yet. Yet, one time I went to pump gas, and even though I was standing right there with the nozzle in my hand, the pump didn't turn off when my gas tank was full. I ended up spilling some gasoline on myself and the ground.

When I told the attendant that their pump may be faulty, she looked at me like I was insane. I'm sorry I don't have the clairvoyance to know the exact moment I should take my finger off the nozzle.

The turn off switches aren't that reliable. If you don't have the nozzle in the gas tank just right it either won't fill your pump, or will overfill. The former happens fairly frequently, the latter every once in a while. But it's why I don't leave my car.

Plus, I wouldn't want some cheapwad to swipe my gas nozzle and fill his car, bike, or gas can on my dime while I wasn't looking.

[Moosenogger]

I always hated the people that would "set" the pump to go to full, then go sit their lazy ass in their car, and all of a sudden, wow, a giant spill, and several extra dollars, then that idiot would want to argue with me about our "faulty" gas pumps and how they didn't want to pay that much or whatever have you.

Don't pumps automatically turn off once the tank is full? I've been pumping gas before and I'll hear a loud "click" and the pump will stop when my car is filled - even if I hadn't reached my pre-pay limit yet. Yet, one time I went to pump gas, and even though I was standing right there with the nozzle in my hand, the pump didn't turn off when my gas tank was full. I ended up spilling some gasoline on myself and the ground.

When I told the attendant that their pump may be faulty, she looked at me like I was insane. I'm sorry I don't have the clairvoyance to know the exact moment I should take my finger off the nozzle.

[Sapphire Silk]

I saw a clip on Dumbest Criminals recently where a teen plays a "prank" on his friend who's filling up . . . and sets the whole car on fire in the process.

There's a baby in the back seat

This is why I got so pissy with a gas station manager a year ago who was SMOKING while cleaning around the pumps . . . while I was filling my brand new truck.