More stations than you realize have gas pumps that cheat you maybe 5 to 10% every time you fill up. I always reset my "gallons used" computer every time I fill up.
I discovered that several places where I have been filling up (Shell and about 4cents cheaper) have been slightly cheating me, according to the gallons used computer. The pump would indicate I put in 20 gallons when my computer would only say about 19.2. This is 8 tenths of a gallon, or about $2.60 in gas I am being cheated out of. I always pump gas in the tank until the pump clicks at least 2 times and you can tell the gas is as full as it needs to be...not overflowing at all, but plenty full.
The pumps at these stations consistently indicate I used 1/2 to 8 tenths a gallon more than the truck computer indicates, depending how much gas the truck takes at fill up.
At the next fill up, I went to another station that I had not checked out. When the tank was full, the pump indicated it took 19.0 gallons, and the computer indicated I used 19.4. I gained 4 tenths a gallon. The truck was level in both places and I filled the tank exactly the same each time. My next fill up will be at this same place to see if the pumps here are consistent with my previous fill up.
I suppose there is a percentage range that is acceptable to the gas pump inspectors, like maybe 5%. That could be extra 5% profit for the station if the pumps are shorting you 5%. I wouldn't think the truck computer would be off more than .1 or .2 gallons per tank full. That will be an acceptable shortage. Anything more than that will send me to another station.
Any other observations on this?
I discovered that several places where I have been filling up (Shell and about 4cents cheaper) have been slightly cheating me, according to the gallons used computer. The pump would indicate I put in 20 gallons when my computer would only say about 19.2. This is 8 tenths of a gallon, or about $2.60 in gas I am being cheated out of. I always pump gas in the tank until the pump clicks at least 2 times and you can tell the gas is as full as it needs to be...not overflowing at all, but plenty full.
The pumps at these stations consistently indicate I used 1/2 to 8 tenths a gallon more than the truck computer indicates, depending how much gas the truck takes at fill up.
At the next fill up, I went to another station that I had not checked out. When the tank was full, the pump indicated it took 19.0 gallons, and the computer indicated I used 19.4. I gained 4 tenths a gallon. The truck was level in both places and I filled the tank exactly the same each time. My next fill up will be at this same place to see if the pumps here are consistent with my previous fill up.
I suppose there is a percentage range that is acceptable to the gas pump inspectors, like maybe 5%. That could be extra 5% profit for the station if the pumps are shorting you 5%. I wouldn't think the truck computer would be off more than .1 or .2 gallons per tank full. That will be an acceptable shortage. Anything more than that will send me to another station.
Any other observations on this?
