how do you pump gas?

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
probably a stupid question, but I'm about to turn 26 and I've never actually pumped my own gas ;) every time I've driven out of state before, I've usually had someone with me who knew what they were doing (typically my old roommate, who lived in PA till he was 22), but next weekend, I need to make a trip by myself out to middle-of-nowhere NY (by the canada boarder) and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make the whole drive from NJ on a single tank of gas :p

is it just a matter of putting the nozzle in the hole and letting it go?
 

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
9,148
0
0
Go to the station and read the instructions. If there aren't instructions, wait for the next dude to come in and stand beside him. When he looks at you funny, hop in his car and drive off. Oh, hope you didn't drive to the station for option 2.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Originally posted by: j00fek
-4544542156456/10

pumping your own gas is illegal in NJ and Oregon, two of the three states I've lived in (I did spend 4 years in PA, but I didn't have a driver's license at the time). :(
 

Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
0
71
1. Make sure you pull up to gas pump with gas cap side closer to pump.
2. Swipe credit card.
3. Open gas cap as card is processing.
4. Select proper fuel grade and insert nozzle
4a. Some older places have a slider or a lever to turn on the pump. It will be written in nice large letters if you need to do so.
5. Squeeze and hold until pump stopsl
6. Press yes for receipt.
7. Remove nozzle and place it back on the pump.
8. Tighten gas cap till it clicks.
9. Take receipt.
10. Drive away as fast as you can.



 

DefDC

Golden Member
Aug 28, 2003
1,858
1
81
I usually insert nozzle, swipe card, select grade, pump, shake it 3 times, and put it away...

However, my wife usually likes to: insert nozzle, swipe card, select grade, pump, WIPE the nozzle, and put it away...

My porn star neighbor: insert nozzle, swipe card, select grade, pump, pull out nozzle and spray down the back of the car...



Old jokes FTW! ;)
 

xeemzor

Platinum Member
Mar 27, 2005
2,599
1
71
Originally posted by: loki8481
Originally posted by: j00fek
-4544542156456/10

pumping your own gas is illegal in NJ and Oregon, two of the three states I've lived in (I did spend 4 years in PA, but I didn't have a driver's license at the time). :(

At least you have an excuse. I knew one person around here (IL) that didn't pump their own gas for over 2 years after starting to drive. The first time she tried pumping gas they actually spilled a decent amount of gas on herself. She also didn't cook for herself, but that's another story.
 

captains

Diamond Member
Mar 27, 2003
4,065
1
0
Originally posted by: Savij
1. Make sure you pull up to gas pump with gas cap side closer to pump.
2. Swipe credit card.
3. Open gas cap as card is processing.
4. Select proper fuel grade and insert nozzle
4a. Some older places have a slider or a lever to turn on the pump. It will be written in nice large letters if you need to do so.
5. Squeeze and hold until pump stopsl
6. Press yes for receipt.
7. Remove nozzle and place it back on the pump.
8. Tighten gas cap till it clicks.
9. Take receipt.
10. Drive away as fast as you can.

switch 6 and 7
cant get reciept if nozzle is not hung up
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Originally posted by: LoKe
Put the nozzle in the hole and squeeze the trigger.

you may have to select whether you are going to pay inside or use a credit card. you may have to push a button to select which grade of gas you want as well. it sucks that almost every gas station is different.
 

Skacer

Banned
Jun 4, 2007
727
0
0
This thread is awesome because I like to make a big deal out of easy shit that I've never done before also. Like worry about not knowing how to use the self checkout lane in a supermarket or something like that.

Anyhow, people already gave you good steps, the 2 main things is to know what side of your car your gas cap is on and to simply read the LCD display on the gas machines, they tell you exactly what step is next (insert credit card, load nozzle, pick gas grade, etc).
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
1) Drive up
2) Look at prices and swear
3) Bark at the guy to fill'er'up
4) Look back at the price per gallon and swear again
5) Stew over price, sit in the car, get angry over it
6) Swear
7) Pay the man
8) Swear
9) Drive away
 

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
Originally posted by: fanerman91
I didn't learn how to pump gas until a few weeks ago (I'm 21). No shame.

My parents had me pumping gas since I was about 8.
 

adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
78
91
I don't pump gas - here in Oregon we have servants that are required to do it for us.

I never have to leave the air conditioned cab of my truck if I do not want to.
 

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
When the pump automatically stops pull the nozzle out while holding it upright. so many people just pull it straight out and let the nozzle drop a little which causes residual gasoline to spill all over. Actually with gas prices now try tipping the nozzle a little and giving a little shake so that residual gasoline goes into your tank :)

Also if you dont like standing there holding the nozzle's trigger all day some gas stations have a little metal bar you can pull out and wedge between the trigger and trigger guard to keep it shut without holding it. Otherwise if they removed it you can usually just wedge your gas cap in there ;) I've been doing that for years now and no one seems to mind... I never understood why some stations remove that metal wedge from the trigger guard...
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
Wow, amazing. This is one of those things you just assume everybody knows how to do already. I don't mean that in a bad way, it just makes me think about stuff that I have no idea about that everyone else would know.

4a. Some older places have a slider or a lever to turn on the pump. It will be written in nice large letters if you need to do so.

It's not always written, though, that's the problem. If I'm at a weird gas station, I always just try pulling up the nozzle rest instead of searching for text on the pump somewhere. If it pulls up, then good, if not, I start pumping.
 

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
Originally posted by: adairusmc
I don't pump gas - here in Oregon we have servants that are required to do it for us.

I never have to leave the air conditioned cab of my truck if I do not want to.

You live in Oregon and need air conditioning? Pfft, what's their maximum high there, 82? :p
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
Originally posted by: Savij
8. Tighten gas cap till it clicks.

Definitely don't forget to make sure it clicks several times, if not you won't get a tight seal and it will cause your CEL to come on.