Have they changed the gas pump nozzles where you live?

[Jay_Ev]

Most people used to do other things while the gas was pumping. Clean the windows, run in & grab a cup of coffee / smokes, clean the trash out of their car, etc. These stupid new pump nozzles prevent that. No more "killing two birds with one stone".

[cwskin69]

I live in southern Cali and some stations removed that thing and some still have them

[chiknives23]

yea i dont know why they changed em because in here in illinois or at least around me they are all the same they prop open by themselfs with that little metal plate on the bottom

[phillipsted]

In N.J. it's illegal for drivers to pump their own gas. The gas station attendent MUST do it for you.

(And all because one idiot set himself on fire.)

And all this time, I thought it was the Unions in Jerzee who kept us from pumping our own gas... :cool:

TedP

[mad as hell]

My understanding is that California has banned as them as well as New York and Mass. I purchased a ball at a local gas station that works very well for this and appears to fit all the pumps i have used it on. They sell it "for another purpose"....rrrright. Didn't take long for somebody to come up with a great idea to help with this, and they are cheap. I paid 3.99 for mine. Here is the url to their website for anybody interested. thegaspumpbuddy.com

[delicafreak]

there still here in illinois

[Javascript]

Found this:

"The (California) State Fire Marshal announced last Wednesday that it is mandating that gas station owners remove the hold open latches on Vapor System Technologies fuel nozzles, saying that seven people statewide have been sprayed by gas before the nozzle is placed in the gas tank. The removal of the latches must be completed by Oct. 15, 2010."

The order does not apply to a different model from the Healy company. Guess this explains why some do and some do not have latches here in my area of So Cal.

[jzmtl]

How do the geniuses manage to spray themselves before it's inserted into the tank? And how does remove the latch help?

[bohica1998]

Found this:

"The (California) State Fire Marshal announced last Wednesday that it is mandating that gas station owners remove the hold open latches on Vapor System Technologies fuel nozzles, saying that seven people statewide have been sprayed by gas before the nozzle is placed in the gas tank. The removal of the latches must be completed by Oct. 15, 2010."

How do the geniuses manage to spray themselves before it's inserted into the tank? And how does remove the latch help?

My first thought on reading the above too! Don't those people understand that the nozzle goes INTO the filler hole BEFORE they engage the latch? Sounds like more candidates for the Darwin Awards to me. :D

[RyanA]

They took them out a few years ago here in Ontario. A 25' or 16' tape measure fits in there no problem.

I think the reason they were taken out is people were getting back into their car and the electrical potential difference would increase causing static electricity. When they got back out of their car and didn't ground themselves to their car or the pump housing but instead grabbed the pump then there was the potential to ignite the fumes. That's also why you shouldn't fill up a jerrycan while it's sitting in the bed of your truck or in the trunk. This can cause capacitive static electricity. The greater the distance from the ground to the jerrycan is like increasing the distance of the plates of a capacitor which increases the charge.

Most times this is not an issue since the energy of a static electricity shock is only a few micro joules coming to or from humans but I guess if the situation is right it can cause a big problem.

You hit the nail right on the head.

This is the most important reason the change occurred. It's really more of a safety issue than a "save consumers a few bucks" issue.

[THG]

Just curious . . . What happened in California? Did a stoner light up at the wrong time? :rolleyes:

It's not everywhere in CA. I think that it has its upsides. It should stop stupid morons from driving off with the nozzle in their cars.