Accuracy at the Pump
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The high cost of gasoline and diesel fuel is prompting consumers, including at least one Emporian, to pay more attention to the numbers rolling by on the pump meters.
Lewis Hutfels, a technical specialist with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s weights and measures division, has noticed a significant increase in the number of complaints during the past several years. Hutfels checks “dispensing devices” — the pumps, nozzles, hoses, and related equipment that fuel cars and trucks at service stations and convenience stores.
“Two years ago, we probably had in the neighborhood of 150 complaints a year,” Hutfels said. “Last year, I think we had more than 350 complaints.”
This year, he expects even more as consumers begin to double-check the pumps.
One Emporian already has been counted among the 2008 statistics.
Conrad Wempe said that he pulled into a west-side gas station and had pumped in $19 worth of gasoline when he released the handle and saw the price meter was still turning.
“I was getting ready to start putting some more gas in when to my amazement the pump started to turn by itself,” Wempe said in a letter to The Gazette, describing his experience. “I stood there looking at the pump, trying to figure out how it was doing that when I did not even have the handle engaged.
“I pulled the handle out of my truck to find out that there was no gas coming out.”
Wempe went into the station and asked the attendant to come out to watch the numbers roll along independently.
“I showed the attendant that no gas was coming out,” he said. “She told me that she thought the pump was fixed, but evidently it was not.”
Wempe drove across the street to Bluestem Farm and Ranch and waited to pick up his wife for lunch. Nothing was done to close the pump while he waited, and he checked it again when he took his wife back to work.
The pump still did not have a bag over it, nor was it posted “out of order,” he said; it was still being used by customers.
“And I thought ‘That’s it. That’s it. I’m calling the state,’” Wempe said.
He filed a complaint with Weights and Measures and got action and a reply within two weeks.
The inspector found discrepancies on several devices at the station, Wempe said. One pump would not re-set to zero or start on zero value, and several other devices had meters that indicated 3- to 6-cent sales before dispensing fuel, according to a copy of the report Wempe received from the agency.
“These devices were rejected and a stop sale was issued on two of the devices. These devices are required to be repaired before the facility can sell fuel from them,” the inspector’s report to Wempe stated.
The station he reported changed ownership again on Aug. 13, and the new owner said he is attempting to have the needed repairs made. He has called in a different state-licensed dispensing device repair company because the company previously used was unable to make lasting repairs, he said.
Dispensing devices at each gasoline and diesel outlet across the state are checked regularly for accuracy, Hutfels said.
“It’s usually 18 months before we get back there, unless there’s a consumer complaint or we have to do a follow-up inspection,” Hutfels said.
Pumps and auxiliary equipment can be rated by inspectors at several levels, including “approved,” “rejected specifications,” “rejected tolerance,” or “red-tagged,” and taken out of service.
Devices can be approved, even if they show minor problems that will need to be corrected soon, such as small leaks on breakaway hoses.
“Basically, we just notice wetness around it,” Hutfels said. “Now, if it’s a bad leak, or it’s actually running out of there, it would be condemned and we would take it out ... because it not only would be inaccurate, but it would be hazardous, too.”
Pumps noted as rejecting specifications have less-serious problems than those rejecting tolerance, he said. Rejected specifications was a common situation noted at a number of gas pumps in the area.
“Rejecting specifications would be like labeling on the pump,” Hutfels said. “These are really minor infractions, but they’re things that need to be done. ...”
A hose may be deteriorating, bulbs burned out, pricing illegible, a nose beginning to deteriorate, or a nozzle not functioning properly, but nothing that pertains to accuracy of the fuel being dispensed. An anti-drain valve that doesn’t work also is cause for rejecting specifications.
“The hose has to be full of product at all times,” Hutfels explained; “you can’t drain the hose. The point of sale is the nozzle.”
Rejected tolerance is a more-serious infraction. In some cases, rejected tolerance reports can render the pump out of service or, in extreme cases, result in confiscation. It often involves accuracy at the pump.
Hutfels said tolerance is rated at two levels — acceptable tolerance, for any device that is new or freshly repaired, and maintenance tolerance on an existing, but unrepaired, unit.
Acceptable tolerance must be accurate within plus or minus 3 cubic inches for 30 days after installation or repair.
Maintenance tolerance must be plus or minus 6 cubic inches of product.
Devices occasionally show small sales when there are none.
“We refer to that as ‘computer jump.’ If you turn on the device and it jumps like to three cents, or shows a sale before you dispense anything, then yes, we would take it out of service,” Hutfels said. “... There’s really not any tolerance on something like that. It has to start on zero value.”
Needed repairs must be made if pumps are to remain in service, and inspectors return in 30 days for re-inspections.
Each pump is tested twice, once at a slow flow and once flowing as fast as possible, Hutfels said.
“The reason we do the two tests, the slow flow puts a pressure back against the meter, and we’re checking to see whether there’s ... any wear in the measuring chamber,” he said. “Normally, if there is wear in the measuring chamber, it will be (small amounts of fuel) away.”
Hutfels has found that station owners almost always cooperate in getting their equipment back to the standard required by the state. Fines ranging up to $5,000 can be imposed, though that option has not been used in recent years.
“We’ve never gone that far,” Hutfels said. “Most people, when you don’t get it done, then we’re going to take it out of service. Then it usually gets that done pretty quick.”
The state has a list of repair companies that are licensed and allowed to work on dispensing devices.
“ Normally, we don’t have much problem with anybody getting anything fixed,” Hutfels said.
Comments
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Posted by Maximus (anonymous) on September 6, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, I guess we assume that the Gazette is protecting the name of the gas station for some reason? Hmmmm.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on September 6, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Wempe drove across the street to Bluestem Farm and Ranch"
They sure didn't hide it's location though. There's only one gas provider across the street from Bluestem, unless you include the restaurant.
Posted by justthinkin (anonymous) on September 6, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not surprised that Emporia merchant's are screwing their customers - AGAIN - Are You?
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on September 6, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's quite a blanket statement justthinkin. I don't think any of the Emporia fuel merchants are knowingly setting their pumps up to overcharge the customers, the claim being implied in this story. The state goes around often checking the accuracy of pumps, look for the stickers the next time you fuel up, they are on the pump. Most of what I read on the list provided by the Gazette in another thread on this subject appeared to be maintenance issues rather than deliberate rigging of the meter. Fuel pumps, especially the newer digital pumps are very expensive to buy and maintain. That doesn't excuse the businesses from allowing them to malfunction by any means, and the businesses should be checking them more often themselves to maintain integrity.
I do feel that we are paying too much for fuel locally due to actions by those who supply the area. The place that was always be the lowest is now consistently the highest. One station on the Eastside of town is now usually the lowest, along the interstate where it is typically higher priced. I've seen anywhere from a one or two cents a gallon difference up to a dime difference in pricing, which is rediculous considering they all buy from the same refineries in this area.
Posted by rdgrey (anonymous) on September 7, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not suprised about what station it is. I too have done business there and feel as though it just isnt a very friendly place the times I have gone there to spend my money and I interupted a visit time on the cell phone for the attendents. I made it my last time to go there a few months ago and even called to tell the management about it. He was just as rude as the fella on duty and pretty much was told what business I contribute there wasnt squat. Wow how to make your customers happy and make me want to shop emporia first. Yes all I was getting was gas (card reader was not working and had to enter numbers manually), pop and a lottery ticket which about sent the employee through the roof when I asked for the ticket too. But it is my hard earned money and yes I do expect adequate service (not the red carpet). It just doesnt suprise me about this station at all and I doubt the owner really cares as long as out of town truckers keep buying there he wont care either.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on September 8, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i buy gas at that station and its always clean and the cashiers are polite, maybe your cashier was just having a bad day.
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