Filling up when fuel truck is at gas station?

[Owen Lucas]

Supposedly when the fuel truck is filling up a gas station, it stirs up sediment and debris at the bottom of the tanks. The sediment gets suspended and can find it's way into your gas tank if you are filling up when the fuel truck is hooked up to the station.

Is this true and should one avoid filling up when the fuel truck is at the station?

 

[atikovi]

Pretty sure the pumps have filters.

 

[oggb]

Is this true and should one avoid filling up when the fuel truck is at the station?

Wife had a scooter ~15 years ago and got gas that looked like tea from a Sheetz that had the fuel truck at it. Had to drain the tank. Engine wouldn't even idle on it.

I've never had an issue in a car/truck.

 

[brianl703]

They do have filters and this company seems to make most of them:

Dispenser Fuel Filters Particulate Water Removal - Cim-Tek Filtration

When it comes to fuel dispensers, Cim-Tek®offers a wide selection of filters for various filtration applications—from Particulate and Water Removal to Detection of Phase Separation.

www.cim-tek.com

 

[ATex7239]

One time this phenomenon happened to me but never again. And who is to say it wasn’t just crummy gas and had nothing to do with the truck filling the tanks.

 

[Rand]

IF the station is modern with new tanks and new pumps not much of an issue.

 

[BigCahuna]

I believe most modern gas storage tanks are made of fiberglass, so it won't be the cause of rust or scale. The only other place anything could get into the storage tank, would be from the delivery truck. And those get flushed out pretty regular. And there are filters that catch pretty much anything else including water, before it gets into your tank. My friends gas station years back, had water sensors in his tanks. And there was always some acceptable amount of water in them, according to the mfgr. I guess it wouldn't hurt to wait a while before gassing up because everything is getting stirred up, when the tank is being filled. But alot of people are blind to the fact the tanks are being filled, and don't seem to have alot of problems. Or at least you don't hear about it very much.,,

 

[walterjay]

Probably not a problem though I tend to avoid filling when the tanker is there.

 

[skyactiv]

Another case of what you don't know, wont hurt you.

 

[Chris142]

How would sediment get into an underground tank?

 

[Hall]

Is this true and should one avoid filling up when the fuel truck is at the station?

Pretend this is true.... How long do you wait ? 15 minutes, an hour, a day ?

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

You must never get gas at Costco. Seems like a tanker is there more than not.

 

[ecotourist]

Probably not a problem though I tend to avoid filling when the tanker is there.

I won't fuel up when there's a tanker there.

Might not cause a problem but why chance it. I'm never that desperate for fuel.

 

[ford250]

I won't fuel up when there's a tanker there.

Might not cause a problem but why chance it. I'm never that desperate for fuel.

What if they drove off 5 minutes before you got there
Would you know ?

 

[eljefino]

I've done it a bunch of times. Totally fine.

Like they said, fiberglass tanks.

 

[chemman]

Anyone else remember the Amoco final filter that was built into the nozzle assembly at Amoco gas stations in the past? Those were supposed to remove any particulates that found their way into the storage tanks so they would not get into the customer's vehicle.

 

[ecotourist]

What if they drove off 5 minutes before you got there
Would you know ?

You probably wouldn't. But then again water and big debris probably settle out in a very few minutes.

How old are the tanks? What are they made of? And how would you know? If you're a local and know when the station was built you have a pretty good idea. Otherwise you're in the dark.

 

[Lapham3]

Standard even used it before the name change. Marketing used it and it WAS called the Final Filter.

 

[ford250]

You probably wouldn't. But then again water and big debris probably settle out in a very few minutes.

How old are the tanks? What are they made of? And how would you know? If you're a local and know when the station was built you have a pretty good idea. Otherwise you're in the dark.

My rule of thumb is
I buy from a high volume station

Always getting fresh gas

 

[ecotourist]

My rule of thumb is
I buy from a high volume station

Always getting fresh gas

Me too.