Gas station pump ripoffs continued..

What flow meter are you using, does it just fit on the end of the pump nozzle?

Part of the problem is also most gas stations are franchise owned and not physically owned by the oil company they represent, but agreed that the oil comnpany has a duty to ensure it's name through proper checks on dispensing accuracy.

Julian

I bought this a while back and added screw in metal tubes, one side for the tank and the other for the nozzle. I only use it to fill either the 5 gal containers or the diesel tanks in the pickup bed. I do not rely on the autoshutoff for obvious reasons.

fuel flow meter

Of course there is a margin for error in the accuracy of fuel meters! There is no such thing as a commercially sold meter that is 100% accurate. Such a meter is not manufactured, and it would be very expensive if it was manufactured. Angelo, even the meters you are using are not 100% accurate (+/- 2.5%!). And ... like all liquid meters, the accuracy varies with the temperature of the meter as well as the temperature of the fuel.

Did you notice CBS didn't mention the accuracy limits allowed by the state inspectors? Its probably very small, like +/- 0.1% or +/- 0.25%. So small that CBS' complaint would be laughable if the truth were known. Even if the limits of error are +/- 1.0%, that amounts to only 0.15 gallon for a 15 gallon fill-up. But remember, the error can go both ways, so its just as likely you may be pumping an extra 0.15 gallon and not paying for it. And that is still better accuracy than the meters Angelo is using.

California does a fair job of checking the accuracy of the gas pump fuel meters in my opinion, considering the state of the economy. Since it is risky to alter the fuel meter calibration the dishonest vendors in California "cut" their fuel instead. I find it common for my car to run roughly after a fill up at a strange refueling station.

I am against any federal program to monitor the fuel pumps. The jerks in Washington need to stay in Washington and keep their noses out of the affairs of the states. Shame on CBS for suggesting the federal government should get involved.

-G

Yup, I know the meter is only accurate to within 2.5%, but after starting to spot use it and changing fueling stations, the second month we saved almost 300 gallons in the company. THAT was a major savings for us. Our fuel usuage monthly in the summer months usually averages about 2500 gallons. Once the monthly report comes in and we spot a potential flag it is addressed immediatly. In this economy, it is simple survival.

Don't know about Calif checking all of the pumps for accuracy in the state, but given the financial woes that and other states are in, I bet there is quite a shortage of field inspectors, I know there is in Florida.

I am dead set against big government, I abhor the cost and top heavy regulation just for the sake of job and program justification. I do understand CBS suggesting a federal oversight, their audience is at a national level, they would naturaly look for a federal remedy. Personally, I would like to see the states pick up the ball and protect their citizens, and income...if the consumer is shorted at the pump so is the state in lost taxes.

On other note, our fuel dependance and usage is a national security concern, it makes sence to protect it. As fuel costs rise, so does all of our other costs. The housing market was a breaking point but not the sole reason for our economic downturn, it was preceded by rapid rising fuel costs.

I believe we all just need to be more aware and take action when we get ripped off.

Ang

2500 gallons per month? You must drive a Lincoln too!

Even more disturbing are the shady stations that fill their premium bulk tanks with 89 octane to make a tidy profit.
There is a station close to me who has been caught several times doing this.
Small town, single station and a less than desireable owner.

quote:

Originally posted by Cowboy from Hell:
2500 gallons per month? You must drive a Lincoln too!

HA! I DID go on a call once in an 84 I believe) town car a long time ago, Actually service vans and diesel trucks. The diesel is a killer. Diesel has historically been about 1/2 the price of regular here until the last major round of fuel hikes. And it was still lower than regular less than 5 years ago when I bought my last F250. Now it is higher than high test! I'm not saying nothin....just sayin. I remember selling regular at 50.9 and diesel at 18.9, thats cents per gallon. Did I just date myself?

Wish a loaded service van could get more than 14 mpg. I'm in friggen FLAT Florida, No hills give em time and a LOT of money and I'm sure an overengineered overpriced truck will get better.

Ang

quote:

Originally posted by fourdoorbronko:
Even more disturbing are the shady stations that fill their premium bulk tanks with 89 octane to make a tidy profit.
There is a station close to me who has been caught several times doing this.
Small town, single station and a less than desireable owner.

Unless the owner was in colusion with the distributer or driver (most likely), that would be tough to do in Florida. Last I knew when I was in the trade, the tanks are clearly marked and painted differently for each blend of fuel. The tankers delivered (years ago) all three blends, then some companies only started delivering high and low octane fuels to the newer pumps which would blend out for the middle range octane. I could be wrong but there was a bit of fraud and they went back to the tri delivery schedules. The highest profit margin was the higher octane.

Of course, filling your high octane tanks with the lower octane fuel = higher profit but very likely increased consumer complaints and lost customers whose cars would not run on the lower octane. Short term gain but long term loss.

Angelo

quote:

Originally posted by ANGELO B:


Unless the owner was in colusion with the distributer or driver

Angelo

Egg-zactly

These scams have been going on for years, alot of the time the station will have the pump to short you at set price levels. Also if the area you live in checks the stations out after hearing of complaints they arrive in specially prepared cars that put the fuel in calibrated tanks to do spot checks on these low lifes.
With the prices so high the ability to make ALOT of money from shorting you is a terrible temptation I bet.

Don't laugh at the 93 Town car. It gets 24MPG. I gave it to my son.. Years ago there was scam, in CA I iirc. They modified the digital readout, If you were the Department of Agricultue you got a fixed size container 5 gal.... maybe 2 gal.. The modified board was correct then. If you landed on an odd gallon amount, or If I set it up, you filled your tank. You got F***kd. I caught my local seller pumping low octane into the premium tank. I caught him because my car started spark knocking. I told him he was getting screwed... Come to find out he was the screwer. He is out of business.. 2-5 billion est gallons a day of gas is sold. I would like to have a .01 per gallon. We had a rock get lodged in the water meter at the fabric dye plant. It turned, but at 1/20th of the amount of flow. We saved a lot until they found it.

I think every gas station in Denmark is part of scam. First they have ridiculous prices, second they must all give less fuel than what they say, or else my gas mileage in the Longchamp is very low...