Costco gas pump nozzles too sensitive?

[y_p_w]

I've noticed this. Often it seems that after filling up at a Costco station, the gauge might not hit all the way like I find at other gas stations. I don't think I'm not getting the amount I paid for, but it seems like they're set to be really sensitive, like they want to avoid situations where people are spilling fuel.

Once I filled up my wife's car, and I was fully expecting it to be at least 9 gallons based on where the needle was coming in. It stopped at 6.5 after initially stopping at 5.5. So I pulled up to the next one and added another 3.5 gallons. An employee was there and he said that their nozzles were set to be fairly sensitive.

Here's a review of one station on Yelp:

Quote:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/costco-gas-station-san-jose#hrid:gRnlp0AgDOaVld4o3w6g-w

This gas station was clean and easy to use. The pumps seemed hyper sensitive to the car bladder being full. They would shut off before the tank was full as a safety precaution. It may have just been my rental car.


I was recently on vacation and filled up a couple of times at a local Costco. However, I didn't want to be dinged by the rental car company and filled up again before returning it. After driving maybe 8 miles I added 1.5 gallons.

 

[brandini]

Fill at a lower speed- tends to help me with picky pumps.

 

[The_Jeff]

Pull the nozzle halfway out if you can still pump that way (and don't have a vapor snake as required equipment). Hold it sideways, gangsta-style. Go slow. Take breaks. Bring a chunk of 2x6 to put under your tire to prop up the filler a little more.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: brandini
Fill at a lower speed- tends to help me with picky pumps.


+1

 

[TWG1572]

Our Costco has the same issue. What's worked for me is putting the nozzle only 1/2 way in.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Pull the nozzle halfway out if you can still pump that way (and don't have a vapor snake as required equipment). Hold it sideways, gangsta-style. Go slow. Take breaks. Bring a chunk of 2x6 to put under your tire to prop up the filler a little more.

That's a requirement in California, although it's possible to hold down the hood to get it pumping without putting it in too deep.

However, I'm guessing the Costco employees who are always patrolling the stations might see it and tell me I can't do it. Costco runs possibly the tightest ship in retail fuel. They actually have employees trained to do understand about how to run the fuel deliver side, compared to your average mini-mart employee who knows how to operate the register and maybe print out a lottery ticket.

 

[huffmuds9320]

I rarely go to Costco to get gas since its out the way for me and always a long line to wait to fill up. But the times I did fill up didn't notice it being too sensitive.

Usually when I fill the tank I select a low or medium setting on the pump. One time I was at a Shell station and was filling up and it clicked off before full (maybe half tank). So I start it again then noticed fuel was spilling out when full so the pump did not shut off correctly. I stopped the pump and told the cashier that the pump did not shut off right so spilled some. He shrugged and mentioned that its better to use the faster setting.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: lpcmidst128
I rarely go to Costco to get gas since its out the way for me and always a long line to wait to fill up. But the times I did fill up didn't notice it being too sensitive.

Usually when I fill the tank I select a low or medium setting on the pump. One time I was at a Shell station and was filling up and it clicked off before full (maybe half tank). So I start it again then noticed fuel was spilling out when full so the pump did not shut off correctly. I stopped the pump and told the cashier that the pump did not shut off right so spilled some. He shrugged and mentioned that its better to use the faster setting.

Since I researched their "Clean Power" stations, those have been my preferred gas stations other than the brands that advertise higher detergent additive levels. Not all Costco gas stations have it, including the one closest to where I live and several around my normal commute.

However, the key for me to fill up at Costco with minimal wait in line is to do it during commute hours. I can typically find a pump right away, or at most wait 5 minutes. I've waited longer at common brand-name gas stations. Now Costco at lunch time or on weekends can be lined up 8 deep. However, you don't get people paying in cash (a real problem at places with cash discount) where someone might be parked for several minutes while waiting in line to prepay for gas. I sometimes pump at a neighborhood Chevron station where sometimes I'm waiting almost at the sidewalk.

 

[brandini]

When are they going to put cash-accepter-mabobs on pumps like vending machines? That would be awesome.

 

[surfstar]

There are 3 main nozzles in use in California that are certified for Phase II. Healy, VST, EMCO Wheaton. I can't imagine that they somehow perform different at a different gas station. They don't have 'sensitivity' adjustments.

Read all about EVR specs, etc

http://www.arb.ca.gov/vapor/eo.htm

I noticed the first couple times filing my Vue, after purchasing it, that it may shut off early. So when I have a couple gallons to go, I step it down to the slowest setting - problem solved.

Likely to be the cause of the fill pipe and not the nozzle. The yelp 'review' noted it was a rental car. That makes for a useless comparison.

OP: it could be that the Costco pumps you used, happened to be dispensing faster, and were more likely to trip the overfill cutoff. Nozzles must flow between 6-10 gal per min, at full speed. If they're on the higher end, then you could see an early shutoff.

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: brandini
When are they going to put cash-accepter-mabobs on pumps like vending machines? That would be awesome.


They have those at ARCO am/pm stations here, but at a central point between dispensers and not one at each. I hate them b/c they won't let you use a credit card at the pump. Cash or debit (with fee!) only. I refuse to patronize them for this.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: brandini
When are they going to put cash-accepter-mabobs on pumps like vending machines? That would be awesome.

Unless they're locked down like ATMs, the sheer amount of cash that you'd find in these things would make a tempting target for thieves. As it is, I've heard of ATMs being removed, although it was probably tough to get to the cash with all the stuff they put in these things to prevent it.

 

[surfstar]

They look like this:

 

[brandini]

But that doesn't remove the bottleneck... though I guess you could have a few 'lanes' and a double sided ATM/cash accepter to keep the bottleneck on one side of the station.

 

[dareo]

Hate those Arco stations. They lure you in with cheap gas prices, then you have no restrooms, and no credit card payment. You have to guess what will fill your tank and go inside for change. Like a caveman.