How come people who beg for gas at stations always seem to have a gas can?

[TheNinja]

Does anyone here carry around a gas can?? I certainly don't. Yet somehow every one of these guys who "runs out of gas about 1/2 mile down the road" seem to have a empty 5 gallon can.

Yet somehow everyone one of these "forgot/lost my wallet" OR "traveling to visit family and they have money for me" OR "just need to get home" guys walking around the gas station always have an empty gas can. What gives??

 

[mizzou]

I saw someone fill up a 40oz styrofoam cup with gas and then try to spill it into their gas can, only to have it spill everywhere because of that metal flap.

Usually everyone carries a spare gas can in the back of the car for emergencies.

What you might be describing is a homeless person who is using the gasoline as fuel for warmth, a vapor induced drug, or maybe they really do have a car that needs gas.

 

[TheNinja]

Usually everyone carries a spare gas can in the back of the car for emergencies.

Really? Maybe it's just me, but I have never carried a spare gas can in my trunk, nor do I know many other people who do. It seems like it would just be messy, smelly, and take up room. Plus I have a gas gauge on my car so I don't run out of gas.

 

[MtnMan]

Usually everyone carries a spare gas can in the back of the car for emergencies.

The invention of the gas gauge has eliminated this practice.

 

[The_Dude8]

Really? Maybe it's just me, but I have never carried a spare gas can in my trunk, nor do I know many other people who do. It seems like it would just be messy, smelly, and take up room. Plus I have a gas gauge on my car so I don't run out of gas.

##first world problem.

 

[jupiter57]

I saw someone fill up a 40oz styrofoam cup with gas

ORLY?

I propose an experiment:
Find a Styrofoam cup, add Gasoline, post results.
:biggrin:

(Tried it once when I was ~12)

 

[IronWing]

ORLY?

I propose an experiment:
Find a Styrofoam cup, add Gasoline, post results.
:biggrin:

(Tried it once when I was ~12)

I observed my parental units attempt the very thing when I was a toddler. It was like a magic show.

 

[alkemyst]

I saw someone fill up a 40oz styrofoam cup with gas and then try to spill it into their gas can, only to have it spill everywhere because of that metal flap.

Usually everyone carries a spare gas can in the back of the car for emergencies.

What you might be describing is a homeless person who is using the gasoline as fuel for warmth, a vapor induced drug, or maybe they really do have a car that needs gas.

I'd never carry a gas can in my trunk after I used it once.

 

[Northern Lawn]

They wouldn't be begging for gas unless they had a gas can, they probably bought them at the gas station. They do sell them and/or let you borrow them with deposit.

btw, I usually have two gas cans (4 stroke and 2 stroke) but in the back of a truck, never in a trunk.

 

[tcsenter]

A lot of gas stations will let you borrow one if you leave something, like a drivers license, wallet, or cell phone (assuming they don't have much money else they wouldn't be asking for gas money). Even though I got burned a while back, I still give people something, a couple bucks or my pocket change.

The kid who burned me, had been at the same gas station at least three times prior asking for "gas money", a couple weeks apart. I gave him a couple bucks one time, and then saw him again a couple weeks later, he asked me again for gas money. I told him to pull his car to the pump and I'd put a couple gallons in it, rather than give him money. I didn't even get 1/2 gallon in it before the pump started shutting off because it was already full! I could tell he was a little nervous while I did it. I glared at him and said "You know, nobody likes being scammed or lied to." I haven't seen him at that gas station since then (at least six months now).

 

[SSSnail]

ORLY?

I propose an experiment:
Find a Styrofoam cup, add Gasoline, post results.
:biggrin:

(Tried it once when I was ~12)

I thought I discovered the world's strongest bonding substance, and this is when I was 5.

 

[mizzou]

ORLY?

I propose an experiment:
Find a Styrofoam cup, add Gasoline, post results.
:biggrin:

(Tried it once when I was ~12)

lol maybe it was the plastic cup from QT then!! I had no clue! lol

 

[mizzou]

ORLY?

I propose an experiment:
Find a Styrofoam cup, add Gasoline, post results.
:biggrin:

(Tried it once when I was ~12)

oh and your avatar is extremely appropriate for this

 

[Vdubchaos]

Whenever someone approaches me at a gas station I say NO (and stare them in the eyes) before they even start talking to me.

:biggrin:

 

[onza]

When I got on long distance trips I do carry a 5gal Metal gas can - eliminates the fume smell since it doesn't have' to purge the gas. 5gals of gas is another 100miles in case of weather / poor planning. Just a little food for thought.

 

[BurnItDwn]

People do not approach me at the gas station.

 

[Insomniator]

Ive never heard of people begging for gas... nor have i heard of anyone keeping gas cans in their trunk. Is this in the south?

 

[Red Storm]

Shit load of good my gas gauge did for me when we had that storm that caused 13 hour delays on the road...

Though I wouldn't want to have a (full) gas can in my trunk because I don't want my trunk smelling like gas.

 

[Rifter]

The invention of the gas gauge has eliminated this practice.

Gas gauges are not always accurate, even on new vehicles.


<------ tow truck dispatcher who sends out many trucks a day for gas delivery calls, even on 2012/2013 vehicles.

 

[tokie]

What kind of old fashioned person carries around a spare gas tank?

What kind of dinosaur even drives a car? Either get a driver or take the subway.

 

[TheKub]

Gas gauges are not always accurate, even on new vehicles.


<------ tow truck dispatcher who sends out many trucks a day for gas delivery calls, even on 2012/2013 vehicles.

People are retarded.

<----- Never ran out of gas in 16 years behind the wheel.

 

[PottedMeat]

You're pumping gas into your new Q7 and go to your passenger seat to get something. You turn back to the pump and see a disheveled looking fellow approach. WHAT DO YOU DO? (he has no gas can).

 

[SandEagle]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2184483

 

[pcgeek11]

People begging at gas stations are crooks.
No sane person carries a gas can in their trunk or runs out of gas unless their gauge is broken.
Unless broken the gas gauge gives you accurate enough readings to prevent you from running out of gas.

This is a common scam everywhere.

 

[IronWing]

You're pumping gas into your new Q7 and go to your passenger seat to get something. You turn back to the pump and see a disheveled looking fellow approach. WHAT DO YOU DO? (he has no gas can).

He rambles on about he got locked out of his house, and his special underwear, and how running is a bad idea...