When filling up a bunch of 5-gallon jugs with diesel I had to run the pump very slow to avoid creating too much froth and I noticed that the pump only registered around 15 gallons when I know I was pumping about 20 gallons due to having four 5-gallon jugs. That is the only hard evidence I have that some pumps register low when running slow, but I've had that gut feeling with other stations. The most annoying thing I've found is when the hose or the pump handle has a small leak and dribbles gas all over your shoes before you notice. Or the pump that doesn't shut off until gas has shot out of your car all over the place. So you get to pay extra to get doused with gasoline.
Gas pumps...are they rigged?
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Originally Posted By: strongt
Originally Posted By: Vilan
I "overfill" up to the next full dollar all the time. No problems.
X2 I always go past by a few dollars after the pump shuts off. I like to get it up to where the gas is sitting right to the top where the filler hole is. If I'm getting on the highway right after I fill-up.
I hate when I have to travel to a state that has those pumps that will not let you top off the tank because of gas fumes that may get into the air.
But I can get around most of them by pulling up on the collar of the nozzle.
You do realize if you don't get on the highway that day and your truck sits in hot weather you a recipe for disaster right?
Originally Posted By: Vilan
I "overfill" up to the next full dollar all the time. No problems.
X2 I always go past by a few dollars after the pump shuts off. I like to get it up to where the gas is sitting right to the top where the filler hole is. If I'm getting on the highway right after I fill-up.
I hate when I have to travel to a state that has those pumps that will not let you top off the tank because of gas fumes that may get into the air.
You do realize if you don't get on the highway that day and your truck sits in hot weather you a recipe for disaster right?
for those asking which gas station it is
19th and Judah 76. The one going southbound towards San Jose or the one with Cash Discount.
19th and Judah 76. The one going southbound towards San Jose or the one with Cash Discount.
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
When filling up a bunch of 5-gallon jugs with diesel I had to run the pump very slow to avoid creating too much froth and I noticed that the pump only registered around 15 gallons when I know I was pumping about 20 gallons due to having four 5-gallon jugs. That is the only hard evidence I have that some pumps register low when running slow, but I've had that gut feeling with other stations. The most annoying thing I've found is when the hose or the pump handle has a small leak and dribbles gas all over your shoes before you notice. Or the pump that doesn't shut off until gas has shot out of your car all over the place. So you get to pay extra to get doused with gasoline.
WOW... a 75% fudge? i don't know, would they make it that obvious? and in your favour?
I see weights and measures about 3 or 4 times a year in my little town, there is a servo but they are also probably travelling through. so they DO get checked.
When filling up a bunch of 5-gallon jugs with diesel I had to run the pump very slow to avoid creating too much froth and I noticed that the pump only registered around 15 gallons when I know I was pumping about 20 gallons due to having four 5-gallon jugs. That is the only hard evidence I have that some pumps register low when running slow, but I've had that gut feeling with other stations. The most annoying thing I've found is when the hose or the pump handle has a small leak and dribbles gas all over your shoes before you notice. Or the pump that doesn't shut off until gas has shot out of your car all over the place. So you get to pay extra to get doused with gasoline.
WOW... a 75% fudge? i don't know, would they make it that obvious? and in your favour?
I see weights and measures about 3 or 4 times a year in my little town, there is a servo but they are also probably travelling through. so they DO get checked.
Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Here they measure exactly 5 gallons. If the pumps are rigged, they sill pump this amount. Any other amount could be suspect.
When I lived in Illinois, one of the weights/measures inspectors was checking the pumps at a Speedway while I was filling up the Golf and after talking to him a bit he told me the range they were allowed to dispense: 5.000 gallons displayed should be 5- gallons ± 5 cubic inches. Yes, the mix of units is a silly artifact of the imperial measurement system. It's more logically displayed as 1155 ± 5 cubic inches. In other words, the pumps have to be within 0.433% at 5 gallons!
I have used pumps where the receipt didn't match the pump display and after bringing it up with the station management (and pointing out that their pumps or receipts were outside of the 5 cubic inch allowance), they have always been very nice about it, called in the calibration company to fix the pumps and refunded the difference in cost for my transaction.
Here they measure exactly 5 gallons. If the pumps are rigged, they sill pump this amount. Any other amount could be suspect.
When I lived in Illinois, one of the weights/measures inspectors was checking the pumps at a Speedway while I was filling up the Golf and after talking to him a bit he told me the range they were allowed to dispense: 5.000 gallons displayed should be 5- gallons ± 5 cubic inches. Yes, the mix of units is a silly artifact of the imperial measurement system. It's more logically displayed as 1155 ± 5 cubic inches. In other words, the pumps have to be within 0.433% at 5 gallons!
I have used pumps where the receipt didn't match the pump display and after bringing it up with the station management (and pointing out that their pumps or receipts were outside of the 5 cubic inch allowance), they have always been very nice about it, called in the calibration company to fix the pumps and refunded the difference in cost for my transaction.
Quote:
WOW... a 75% fudge? i don't know, would they make it that obvious? and in your favour?
No, I don't think most pumps are deliberately rigged. The point of my story was that some pumps are inaccurate for one reason or another. At gas stations I think you are more likely to get hit by someone using your credit card number illegally than you are by the pumps being off. I've had someone swipe my card twice at a full service station where they take the credit card inside to run it. They charged extra money on the second slip.
WOW... a 75% fudge? i don't know, would they make it that obvious? and in your favour?
No, I don't think most pumps are deliberately rigged. The point of my story was that some pumps are inaccurate for one reason or another. At gas stations I think you are more likely to get hit by someone using your credit card number illegally than you are by the pumps being off. I've had someone swipe my card twice at a full service station where they take the credit card inside to run it. They charged extra money on the second slip.
I use GasCubby on my iPhone, mostly to track MPGs and maintenance costs, but when I plug in the cost per gallon then the gallons pumped the "Total Cost" it computes must match. I found one Arco pump that was off by about .25 and never went back. I usually go to Costco (gas needs usually coincide with food needs) and they balance to the thousandths.
When it comes to rounding off dollars & cents: I stop on a number one- .01, .11, .21 etc. When I get my bank statement I cruise down the gas purchases, and if there's a purchase that doesn't end on a one, it isn't mine.
When it comes to rounding off dollars & cents: I stop on a number one- .01, .11, .21 etc. When I get my bank statement I cruise down the gas purchases, and if there's a purchase that doesn't end on a one, it isn't mine.
Originally Posted By: santov
When it comes to rounding off dollars & cents: I stop on a number one- .01, .11, .21 etc. When I get my bank statement I cruise down the gas purchases, and if there's a purchase that doesn't end on a one, it isn't mine.
Now that's smart! People naturally round to an even number ending in 0 or 5, by using 1 or 3 it lowers the odds and your detection methods are greater accuracy.
Ingenious!
When it comes to rounding off dollars & cents: I stop on a number one- .01, .11, .21 etc. When I get my bank statement I cruise down the gas purchases, and if there's a purchase that doesn't end on a one, it isn't mine.
Now that's smart! People naturally round to an even number ending in 0 or 5, by using 1 or 3 it lowers the odds and your detection methods are greater accuracy.
Ingenious!
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