Inaccuracies at the Pump

Thank you Dave for the info on this news piece! Did they happen to say how 'off' the pumps were on average? One in Ten gas pumps is an extremely large figure, IMHO. I'm sure it's probably worse in DC, which is known to be a fairly corrupt city.

-m.

 

I'd like to know if any of the measuring devices used by any of the states would be willing to sell those to the public - I know I'd gladly use it with each and every tank I fill up, and check all the stations I could.

 

The device they used when I worked at my dad's service station was pretty low-tech. Simply a 5-gallon fuel can with a calibrated neck that was about 6 inches tall and about 3-inches in diameter. After calibration, the fuel was simply dumped back into the supply tank.

You should be able to see the date the pump was checked on a sticker visible on every pump. The pumping mechanism is sealed and doesn't offer much opportunity for tinkering by the station's owner.

 

After searching around on the internet last night regarding this, I kind of figured it was something along the lines of KISS - ie, Keep it simple stupid.

I did find that in the state of Virginia, there are "Public Weighmasters", much along the lines of a Public Notary - from what it sounds like (and I could be mistaken), you just need to prove you have 'accurate' measuring devices, pay $10 a year and pay for your stamper that has your name and the state seal on it - and you're then a Public Weighmaster for the state. I'm definately going to check into it more, but if this is the case, it's something I'd gladly join up to do.

-m.

 

Some more studies recently around the country:

Florida: http://www.wtev.com/news/reports/story.asp...D7-E58962CEAED0

Arizona: http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/21365.php

Both seemed to show "more than expected" discrepancies, but the measurements are somewhat small (tablespoon lost per gallon, or shot glass per 5 gallons) - still, it's a disturbing trend of too few workers checking out the pumps, and too few gas stations having regular maintence on their pumps. So, roughly estimating, of the pumps that come up short, you'd lose .1 to .2 gallons per 11 gallon purchase. Doesn't sound like much, but it's definately enough to throw off hand calculated mpgs.

-m.

EDIT: In the worst case scenario case in AZ, they said the pump was 15 times the allowed limit (the above mentioned .1 gal per 11 gallons) - this would mean you'd be shorted 1.5 gallons (or, actual fill of 9.5 and displayed fill of 11) FYI.