Real or Rumor?? Gas Pumps

[Mr.Wizard]

OK.. here we go.... Gas Pumps

Is it real or rumor?

When filling up a tank on a motorcycle you should always look for a gas pump with a separate nozzle for premium or the so called "Three Armed Bandit"?

Reason... a "One Armed Bandit" (that will pump all grades from a single nozzle) will have about one or more gallon of the last pumped fuel remaining in the lines from the electric pump switching head to the end of the pump handle which will normally be Regular grade octane. This could be critical when toping off thus degrading your Premium grade fuel octane.

Real or Rumor?

[katfish16]

Guess I have never worried about it since all I use is regular anyway....

[Nana]

Hmmmm. It is logical that there is some fuel left in the hose...... hadn't thought about it until we saw that one of our friends (rides a Harley) believes it so strongly he circles the pumps until he finds someone using premium, then pulls in behind them to be sure he only gets premium in his tank.

[The Wolf]

Let me get this right. Is there some fuel stations which have one nozzle for all types of petrol (gas)? I don't think we have this over here. I did do a stupid thing about 10 years ago. I put Diesel in a petrol car but realised after standing in line to pay. Cost me a fortune to have it syphoned and repaired

[Mr.Wizard]

Ouch...


Wolf.. yes, that is correct. Here in the states the majority of our gas pumps only have one nozzle. You push a button to select your grade (octane level) and use the same hose except for diesel. There is a servo valve that will switch over and give you what you selected but from that valve to the pump handle has what the person in front of you selected.

Also, here in the states, our diesel pump and gas nozzles are different size and diesel is normally green in color for the most part.

[John Luciano]

Gas is shut off before the hose. . This was done year's ago to prevent Gas spill when the hose was accidentally ripped off the pump when someone took off and forgot it in the filler. Because the hole is higher than the tank it empties into the tank.

[Trikerjim]

You may get a few drops or so but next time you go fill your lawn mower can, stick the nozzle in and squeeze. Look to see how much you got from the hose. But, like katfish16, I use regular too. (As per the owners manual)...

[Mattel]

I never use premium, so I guess I am ahead of the game.

When I was 17 I was in the Army and I was sent to fill up the gas cans for the generators. I asked for gas and thats what I got, unfortunately they were diesel generators. :eek: Oops, how was I to know? I caught a lot of crap for that, but I learned an important lesson - God made diesel and gas generators different, and if you mess up like that again, blame it on the people at the fuel depot!

[Mattel]

It seems I was able to find an artical that indicates this is true. It stated that the pump hose only holds 1/3 of a gallon. Here it is:

Does Fuel Get Left in the Pump Hose? - WSJ.com

I hope this helps. I have a 9 1/2 gallon tank, so it does not effect me much, that and I take regular gas.