gas pumps and idiots

[Andara Bledin]

In my stint as a gas monkey I hated the ones behind the license plate... They were spring loaded, and the damn things would always snap at my fingers.

I had one of those on two different cars I owned. I learned at a young age (too young to drive, but not too young to escape having to pump gas for parental units) that it's best if you just keep a foot on the plate to hold it down while pumping gas.

^-.-^

[EricKei]

she put two and two together and made five.

Was that a 1984 reference, or mere coincidence?

[wolfie]

IIt seems in the 60s & 70s, when I learned everything I needed to ever know (Gedoffamalawn!) the hoses were pretty consistently long enough to reach the far side of a car. Then Gary Larsen ruined it.

How would Gary Larsen ruin the concept of hoses long enough to reach The Far Side?

IAt the petrol station where I work, each pump has extra long hoses so if you've a) got a reasonably sized car and b) park close enough to the pump, it is entirely possible to stretch the hose over the car and fill it. However, if you're driving an SUV the size of a Sherman tank, it's not going to be possible no matter how much you yank at the hose. -.-

I've encountered hoses that were long enough to reach the far side of large vehicles (places that didn't have satelite pumps). I'd like to see one of those SUV drivers try to fill up at one of these pumps - especially since most SUVs I've seen have gas engines. These "reach the far side" hoses are for semis, which have tanks on both sides.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Depends what counter she was referring to. If it's the gauge on the dash, she's a moron. If it's the counter on the pump, I could understand turning off the nozzle, pulling it back so it was barely in the filler (i.e. you could see the stream of fuel, but it would go into the tank), then squeezing the trigger to see if fuel comes out. Pulling a nozzle that's set on "full blast" completely out of the tank is a moron stunt.

It was her car's fuel gauge. Cuz the pump was going and her fuel gauge wasn't going up, she put two and two together and made five.

How about the idiots who park on the wrong side and try to get the nozzle and hose to go around their car

At the petrol station where I work, each pump has extra long hoses so if you've a) got a reasonably sized car and b) park close enough to the pump, it is entirely possible to stretch the hose over the car and fill it. However, if you're driving an SUV the size of a Sherman tank, it's not going to be possible no matter how much you yank at the hose. -.-

[dalesys]

In my stint as a gas monkey I hated the ones behind the license plate... They were spring loaded, and the damn things would always snap at my fingers.

It seems in the 60s & 70s, when I learned everything I needed to ever know (Gedoffamalawn!) the hoses were pretty consistently long enough to reach the far side of a car. Then Gary Larsen ruined it.

[fireheart]

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.

I get the click as well with ours, although occasionally they'll click early. I usually put in around $20 when I go and refuel.

[Bandit]

The parent's '77 Olds and '83 Chevy also had the gas cap behind the rear plate. It was handy as it was "any pump, any isle". Made life easier.

When traveling a lot for work in the '90s, I always had to double-check which side the filler was on and put a post-it on the dash to remember.

B

[XCashier]

I used to have a 1972 Cutlass that had the gas cap behind the rear plate. Never had to worry about what side of the pump I needed. Damn, but I loved that car.

My first car, a 1962 Dodge Dart, had the same thing. I thought it was quite clever, actually. I loved that car, and still miss it.

[Shalom]

How about the idiots who park on the wrong side and try to get the nozzle and hose to go around their car

At least if I realize I did it wrong, I move. I don't even attempt anything stupid.

I've done the first part recently a few times, and just shrugged and moved the car. I recently switched from a Chevy (tank on the driver's side) to a Subaru (tank on the right, which I suppose is the driver's side where that car was made) and I keep forgetting where the fuel goes. My mother drives a Ford Explorer, and that one also goes on the right. I wish the manufacturers would get together on this.

Of course in the great state of Joisey it's illegal to pump your own gas, so a lot of the worst idiocies are averted; the attendant simply won't pump your fuel if you're being stupid.

Speaking of idiocy, whoever designed this car is a moron. Never mind the seats that give you leg pain after a half hour of driving, it's simply not possible to reach down and pull the lever that opens the gas flap without getting entirely out of the car. If I could bend that far, I'd be able to autofellate myself...

Behind the rear license plate.

Both of the cars my father had when I was a kid had this, the '72 Plymouth Fury III and the '76 Impala.

Behind the tail-light. (Is this one on the right or left side)

I am told it was the left. I heard this from someone in Europe who'd bought a used Peugeot, couldn't figure out where the gas went, brought it back to the dealer, and they couldn't find it either.

Under the hood. (VW Beetle)

The DeLorean had it there as well.

[protege]

I used to have a 1972 Cutlass that had the gas cap behind the rear plate. Never had to worry about what side of the pump I needed. Damn, but I loved that car.

I don't have to worry with my '70 MGB GT either. I can use any pump, since the filler is on the rear of the car. But, since it's closer to the right side, it's easier to use those pumps. Not always possible though, so I just pull up a bit further. Usually, because the filler is at an odd angle (I temporarily have a filler tube from an earlier model year fitted...which isn't quite the same angle), the pump sometimes shuts off while I'm using it. No big deal, I don't insert it all the way, and I'm good. Within a few minutes, the car has another tank of Premium, and I'm back on the road for another session of "spirited" driving

[laborcat]

And the creative places auto designers would put the gas cap...

(Is this true of any modern cars?)

Behind the rear license plate.

I used to have a 1972 Cutlass that had the gas cap behind the rear plate. Never had to worry about what side of the pump I needed. Damn, but I loved that car.

[dalesys]

And the creative places auto designers would put the gas cap...

(Is this true of any modern cars?)

Behind the rear license plate.

Behind the tail-light. (Is this one on the right or left side)

Under the hood. (VW Beetle)

[blas]

How about the idiots who park on the wrong side and try to get the nozzle and hose to go around their car

At least if I realize I did it wrong, I move. I don't even attempt anything stupid.

[wolfie]

* Idiot woman who pulled the nozzle out of the car for no reason. Even so, a load of diesel still got splashed all over the ground and over the idiot customer. She said that she didn't think that the fuel was going into her car, cuz her fuel counter wasn't going up. Duh... I don't have a car and even I know that doesn't move while the engine is switched off. -.-

Depends what counter she was referring to. If it's the gauge on the dash, she's a moron. If it's the counter on the pump, I could understand turning off the nozzle, pulling it back so it was barely in the filler (i.e. you could see the stream of fuel, but it would go into the tank), then squeezing the trigger to see if fuel comes out. Pulling a nozzle that's set on "full blast" completely out of the tank is a moron stunt.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I've seen various idiots during the time I've worked at the petrol station; some of these people have obviously been driving for years so they ought to have worked out how to pump fuel without making a hash of it.

I've switched off a pump for the following reasons:

* "Father of the Year" who passed the nozzle to his eight year old daughter. I switched off the pump, due to the rule represented by stickers on the pump that says that no under sixteens can pump fuel. He of course came into the kiosk to bitch about his pump being switched off and to say that it didn't matter, cuz he was there to supervise her. Yeah, never mind the fact that the girl's face is directly opposite the fuel hole, and any splashback will go right in her eyes. It's sad to think that we cared more about his daughter's safety than her own father.

* Customer who pulled out his mobile twice. He did it once and was told off and informed that doing it again would mean his pump was switched off. He put the phone away, waited til the collegue returned to the petrol station, then pulled the damn thing out again, cuz we can't see shit once we're in the kiosk, right? -.- He then stormed into the kiosk, ranting about how it was an important call and he had to take it. My manager then told him that if it's that important, he can take it inside the kiosk... she has a special voice she uses to deal with idiots with flash suits and cars who think they're speshul. After hearing it, he shut up and went back outside to finish filling his car; this time, he left his mobile in his pocket.

* Idiot woman who pulled the nozzle out of the car for no reason. Even so, a load of diesel still got splashed all over the ground and over the idiot customer. She said that she didn't think that the fuel was going into her car, cuz her fuel counter wasn't going up. Duh... I don't have a car and even I know that doesn't move while the engine is switched off. -.-

* Bloke who's moronic wife lit up a cigarette while sitting in the car with the windows wound down. When she saw that we'd seen her, she ducked her hand down but seeing as the smoke was curling up... it was a waste of time. I switched the pump off and my collegue went out to give her a bollocking.