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Think the gas pump is wrong? You may be right

Houston Chronicle -- State inspectors have found hundreds of gas stations in the greater Houston area - 350 or more - that likely stiffed motorists because of poorly performing pumps.

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Submitted May 28, 2012 By: nj2000ng

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DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,365 Points:1,245,375 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:59:40 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse So that's how I got 18 gallons in a 16 gallon tank...
voyagerkim All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:620 Points:173,110 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 4:49:38 PM Ignore voyagerkim Report Abuse Hmmm. . .interesting.
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:160,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:40:31 AM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse You do realize that the pump may dispense to much fuel as easily as to little? Either way the pump is out of tolerance. Any and all pumps will "drift" as it ages and only needs minimal maintenance. After 30 years I find that that the +/- of drift is about equal. Out of tolerance is roughly speaking +/- a teaspoon in 5 gallons. It is generally (99.999%) not a major malfunction and when it is, again it can be +/-.
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,976 Points:853,845 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:18:07 AM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Recent item on TV in DC showed a fair percentage of pumps giving it away also.
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,660 Points:1,119,625 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 5:24:33 AM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse this violation of the public trust is inexcusable. throw entire book at 'em. hard.
BIGOILEATURCRUD Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,785 Points:1,380,450 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 4:37:16 AM Ignore BIGOILEATURCRUD Report Abuse Fleecing of America. Do you really know what is going into your tank?
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:495,675 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 10:22:01 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse Not surprised
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:7,464 Points:1,542,015 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 10:10:51 PM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Not new,,,,,,going on for years!
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 10:05:31 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse New phrase for me: "pump jumping." Register gas dispensed before you even squeeze the trigger on the nozzle! Read the article: the frequency of inaccurate pumps is incredible, and this is just one city!
cheapchickKY Champion Author Lexington Posts:4,032 Points:799,215 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 9:18:40 PM Ignore cheapchickKY Report Abuse interesting, I'll look closer at the stickers on the pumps.
WalRus49 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,085 Points:870,815 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 9:07:06 PM Ignore WalRus49 Report Abuse More organized mayhem and pillage.............
amerk73 Champion Author Dallas Posts:7,060 Points:1,623,030 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 8:53:51 PM Ignore amerk73 Report Abuse still too high
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,995 Points:1,782,585 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 8:48:37 PM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse There will always be cheaters in the market. Today, I filled my tank up too the top $46.00 (full price) with 13.298 gallons. The pump said it was $3.45 per gallon, but when calculating it was less the whole price was .01 less then the one on the pump. Who made the mistake?
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,032 Points:1,191,125 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 8:14:12 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse 've seen that few times.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,344 Points:2,145,125 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:47:21 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On May 28, 2012 5:15:47 PM, MontanaMac wrote: >Corrupt retailers are common in the Lone Star state. Texas is fairly strict when it comes to consumer protection measures.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,344 Points:2,145,125 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:40:18 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On May 28, 2012 5:25:50 PM, pnd1 wrote: >The Department of Agriculture (for some strange reason) >is responsible for inspecting them in most states. It falls to the Department of Agriculture because they are the experts in weights and measures. In Texas, explain why the Railroad Commission regulates oil wells, the Department of Transportation regulates railroads, and the Department of Agriculture checks gas pumps. >They need to spend more time on inspecting. Texas inspects stations once every four years unless there is a complaint. I complained about a station here that they did not have current stickers and I got a phone call while I was on vacation from the Texas Department of Agriculture. They said that the stickers were updated and the pumps were checked and they passed. I find Oklahoma's pump inspection stickers useful. Not only do they state the pump was inspected, they give how much the pump was off. You may be able to find a pump that pumps more than indicated, I did.
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,912 Points:650,440 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:27:42 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse I have looked skeptically.
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,887 Points:1,521,255 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:26:39 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Add it to the list.
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:14:54 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse I would bet that our Congressmen and Senators are wrong more often than at the pumps. At least the department of weights and measures suppose to check on the pumps.
200porter Champion Author Toronto Posts:2,075 Points:544,085 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:01:14 PM Ignore 200porter Report Abuse Why doesn't this surprise me?
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,531 Points:1,833,565 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:55:44 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse There has been times I wondered.
kicksoholic Veteran Author San Francisco Posts:307 Points:98,645 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:52:50 PM Ignore kicksoholic Report Abuse the pumps in my area are tested and dated
Lugi1967 Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,798 Points:1,004,195 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:41:20 PM Ignore Lugi1967 Report Abuse And I think there is a lot of gas station operators that know it too
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:13,727 Points:2,116,085 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:35:16 PM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse and with smaller government there won't be any oversight at all. not that it's doing that well already.
mabrams184 Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,109 Points:535,740 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:07:20 PM Ignore mabrams184 Report Abuse Programs set up for oversight of these things are lacking high standards of professionalism and control.
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,790 Points:410,860 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 5:04:02 PM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse Better regulation and enforcement is needed.
hubie24 Veteran Author Michigan Posts:315 Points:204,080 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:54:53 PM Ignore hubie24 Report Abuse and they wont get in trouble
jwalkerh Champion Author Louisiana Posts:6,140 Points:1,369,355 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:52:22 PM Ignore jwalkerh Report Abuse What else is new?
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,499 Points:916,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:47:24 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse I always compare the price for 10 gal. because I know it should be 10 times the price per gal.
PurplepassionNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:838 Points:157,310 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:41:03 PM Ignore PurplepassionNC Report Abuse Great looking out for the greater Houston area..
katmandue Champion Author Detroit Posts:8,081 Points:2,136,070 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:40:58 PM Ignore katmandue Report Abuse I check mine everytime I fill up.
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,562 Points:560,245 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 4:29:26 PM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse Pumps around here have their inspection dates posted.
mikaye Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,844 Points:867,360 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:54:45 PM Ignore mikaye Report Abuse since it can't be proved by consumers, usually it just means they are ignored and stuck with it. have the stiffed motorists mentioned compensated in any way? no
BBopp Champion Author Dayton Posts:6,849 Points:1,940,405 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:45:29 PM Ignore BBopp Report Abuse Yes, just like the scales at the grocery. They are inaccurate.
me2002 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:763 Points:319,205 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:31:50 PM Ignore me2002 Report Abuse That sucks. Too bad for the folks in Texas.
pnd1 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:5,201 Points:1,065,110 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:25:50 PM Ignore pnd1 Report Abuse The Department of Agriculture (for some strange reason) is responsible for inspecting them in most states. They need to spend more time on inspecting.
MontanaMac Champion Author Washington Posts:1,736 Points:410,050 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:15:47 PM Ignore MontanaMac Report Abuse Corrupt retailers are common in the Lone Star state.
Pete12 Champion Author Albany Posts:4,880 Points:1,646,870 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:15:02 PM Ignore Pete12 Report Abuse They are checked regularly in my area.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,304 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:46:48 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse good luck on this one............
fjkcpa Champion Author Houston Posts:4,529 Points:604,160 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:44:08 PM Ignore fjkcpa Report Abuse Gotta keep a close watch.
The_DR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,795 Points:587,015 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:43:23 PM Ignore The_DR Report Abuse I believe it.
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,570 Points:1,546,325 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:07:02 PM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse When I fill in my fuel log book after getting gas it pretty well tells me if I got ripped off or not. I haven't had any problems here.
portlandcat Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,918 Points:346,210 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:01:09 PM Ignore portlandcat Report Abuse dang, this is quite a boon for the gas stations. How many people really pay that close attention to what is happening @ the pump? After reading this I know I'll be more watchful
bigthighs All-Star Author Tucson Posts:550 Points:52,965 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:49:39 PM Ignore bigthighs Report Abuse fix the junk or we won't by from them
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,440 Points:519,050 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:44:44 PM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Scammers everywhere, we must have Constant Vigilance! [Edited by: YaBassa at 5/28/2012 4:44:43 PM EST]
LEGION57 Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,676 Points:283,110 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:37:12 PM Ignore LEGION57 Report Abuse Fine them bad boys- like a butcher with his thumb on the scale.
Gazas Champion Author Oakland Posts:2,267 Points:449,825 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:25:11 PM Ignore Gazas Report Abuse Greedy.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,382 Points:1,982,010 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:00:06 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse In the 60's we would pump our dollar or two of gas - and then turn off the pump. While the nozzle was still in the tank, we would hold the hose up, pull the trigger and drain the hose. The next person to use the pump would pay for whatever gas we drained out of the hose. You CAN put a gallon or two more in some cars (most) than the listed tank "capacity". By the time you fill up the expansion "headspace" and the fuel filler tube / hose, you can add a gallon to your purchase.
matthwbar Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,073 Points:1,019,755 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:53:04 PM Ignore matthwbar Report Abuse That's why I am a zealot at checking gas mileage...
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:617,895 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:51:01 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse VA pumps are tested