Craziest thing I have been told while driving my Plug In Prius

I recommend portland, OR politics classifieds - craigslist for a discussion of your concerns.

 

Even better!

 

The frustrating thing about the attendants is that you have to wait for them to get around to your turn. We lived with it for 10 years as "resident aliens". Its nice to be home.

 

I found the quick cure to that. Get out of the car and try to pump the gas yourself. They come flying over.

 

Yep! been there, They came running over yelling at me. I thought they were going to mug me, or something!

 

I never tired that obvious solution. Does it actually work to get gas or do they just yell at you to wait your turn? Perhaps OR and NJ are different.

 

They saw I was from Wisconsin and filled me up, being nice to dumb tourist!

 

But wait, there's more. They'd also:
* clandestinely squirt some oil on one of the shocks, then 'discover' a failing shock, which of course they can repair in the shop right now;
* notice that one of your tires is going flat, and pump it up will mentioning they have plenty of new tires to choose from right now (funny that if you decline then drive off to re-check elsewhere, it is seriously over-inflated);
* mention that your tire tread depth is illegally low, and they have plenty of new tires to choose from right now;
* notice some orange coloration on the inside of your gas cap and point out that you have moisture or rust problems inside the fuel tank, which they have additives for;
* and find plenty of other 'problems' that neither you nor your favorite mechanic can verify.[/quote]

 

A year ago, when they were busy with others at a different pump island, I completely forgot the rules and went ahead with filling my own. Only after finishing and heading inside to pay did I remember that I wasn't supposed to do the filling. And they were confused about why I was trying to pay for something they didn't pump. But they came too before I could think about saying 'never mind'.

On other trips, I will sometimes get out, and prep for them by opening my fuel door and gas cap. The states can't outlaw me from touching my own property, only against handling their fuel hose and nozzle. If things are slow, I'll also inspect the credit card panel and start the financial transaction portion. They always get to me before that is finished.

 

Couldn't tell you for sure, most of the time it's not in english.

 

I was charging up at a public station the other day, and some guy in a small mistubishi EV pulls up, and he asks me "So, is that a Honda?"

 

In Texas in the 60's, they did have self-service stations which were a few cents cheaper than the "full service" ones, and those were the ones my father taught me to use as I began to drive. Full service for those rich folks who could afford 33 cents/gal.

 

Would any PIP owner actually let a part time high school age 'gas station attendant' touch anything under the hood of their car? Don't think so!

One old guy showed me the classic 'thumb trick' that almost always resulted in the sale of a qt of oil at the local gas station back in the day...
They would pull the dipstick, wipe it down, then when inserting it to check the level- place their thumb between the dipstick cap and edge of the dipstick pipe. It just so happens- that the width of the average male thumb will bring the dipstick up in height to almost exactly one quart short. They would then show the driver (usually a woman) that the oil level was at the bottom of the dipstick. When the driver OK'd it- they'd bring an already empty quart container over and act like they're inserting the spout in it for the first time. They'd then pretend to empty the oil into the engine and this time while re-checking the level- not put their thumb in between the dipstick cap and edge of the dipstick pipe.
Pretty slick scam- they got paid for a quart of oil without actually using any oil at all.... 100% profit.

 

In Oregon you are not allowed to pump your own gasoline, but you are allowed to pump gas
into your motorcycle once the attendant gives you the pump nozzle. Diesel fuel can be pumped
self serve as it does not come under the gasoline statue. I have a 2003 Jetta TDI wagon and always
pump my own diesel and the attendants appear to be well aware that diesel is OK for a customer to use.

Drive across the Columbia River from Astoria Oregon and in Washington you can pump gas into your car
all day long...

 

Pulled into a station in Montana, jeep, high lift kit, big tires, it's a jeep thing!, pulled into pump next to me and said. " how far can you go on a tank of gas with your prius plug in?" I told him about 450 miles on the highway. He said, "well hell! I can do that in my jeep!" I said well that's really nice, have a nice day. They are among us and they vote!

 

. I had a nice silver colored medallion proclaiming " 10 Year of Prius " but it went when I sold it, my 2005 Prius, But, I put the other one on my wife's Honda, so all not lost.

 

. If his criteria was range, there are bigger gas tanks. You should have told him the range is infinite. No, he hasn't a clue.

 

LOL, has she seen it?

 

. Most certainly, it has been on her car for a few years now, you might call it a upgrade.

 

I always like those people. I tell them, "yeah, but can you do it for less than $25?" Of course I have a 2nd Gen Prius, so I can't claim "infinite" mileage in town just yet, unless I lie, and I don't lie in part because the truth is still too awesome not to tell. I get the biggest kick out of telling people I deliver pizza full time and still only pay about $20-28/week for gas.