Online listing of reliable gas stations?

[SkinnyJoe]

Is there an online listing of some kind where gas stations that are checked/certified/verified/whatever for ACCURACY (i.e. if I pump 9 gallons the readout says 9 gallons and not 10 or 11) can be found?

Thanks

 

[TorzJohnson]

I don't know of any such list, but if a gas station is fiddling with their pumps they are probably risking jail time. In NY the Bureau of Weights and Measurements checks gas pumps and they put stickers on the pumps. There's probably similar organizations in other states, it's worth looking into.

 

[Gollnick]

Mr, SkinnyJoe chooses not to tell us anything about where he's located, so nobody will be able to comment specifically.

I do believe that every state in the US has a Weights and Measures department that checks gas station pumps regularly.

If you've got a question about a specific pump, get yourself a gallon gas can, weigh it empty. Then add enough water to bring the weight up 8 1/3 lbs. That is one gallon of water. The can will not be completely full, but should be close. Notice just how full it is.

Empty the can and let it dry out for a few days.

Go to the station and get exactly one gallon of gas in your can by the indication on the pump. Notice just how full it is. It should be just as full as it was with 8 1/3lbs of water in it.

You may also want to take it home and weigh it. It should weigh about 6 1/8 lbs more than it weighs empty. The weight is less of an indication than just how full the can appears to be. The weight of gasoline as sold to the retail public varies quite a bit depending on additives, especially ethanol which is often added this time of year. But, 8 1/3 lbs. should be about right.

 

[Mike G]

Look for your states inspection certificate on the face of the pump.

Here in Washington State, it is usually right next to the price screen on the pump.

As for reliable stations with good fuel, my immediate family and I exclusively use Costco for gasoline.

I buy diesel at a station near my house whos reliability is just as good as Costco's, but a bit more expensive.

Never a problem.

 

[SOLEIL]

Gasoline can be a funny thing. It weighs less than water (1 gallon of gasoline equals 5.8 to 6.5 lbs) so you would get more of it at the same weight as water. It also tends to expand and contract much more dramatically than water so it very well may not be at the same measured level in a container as water would. Gas is usually sold and regulated by the gallon in the US. The only time it is listed by weight is usually by the ton when in barges or tankers, but I am sure there are exceptions. An example of expansion: A 10,000 gallon tank will never have 10,000 gallons in it. If it did the tank would push gas out of the vent/fill pipes due to its expansion during daylight hours. A 10,000 gallon tank usually has about 8000 gallons in it when full. In some parts of the country they may fill to 9000 IIRC. As far as certification I believe that every state in the US has certifications or inspections listed on every pump.

 

[SkinnyJoe]

Mr, SkinnyJoe chooses not to tell us anything about where he's located, so nobody will be able to comment specifically.

.

The pump in question is the BP in Lebanon, IL, about 4 miles North of I-64. I live in Clarksville, TN, if it helps.

I think a person should probably stick with busy locations and large chains, unless he/she is willing to fiddle with graduated cylinders and whatnot.

Thanks on the tips.

 

[SkinnyJoe]

Go to the station and get exactly one gallon of gas in your can by the indication on the pump. Notice just how full it is. It should be just as full as it was with 8 1/3lbs of water in it.

I have read somewhere years ago that dishonest gas station operators set up the pumps so that output volumes at standardized volumes (5,10, 15 gallons or whatever) are accurate, as inspectors show up with containers with those volumes, whereas 8.73 gallons screen output may only be 7 gallons of actual output (an example).