What's the Secret to Gas Pumps?

it might not be you. sometimes i think they "disable" them. i think it was florida...somewhere i lived it was against the law to have the little lock thingies on there. i don't think we're supposed to get back in the car, regardless....that's when the static can build up. plus i always imagine knocking the pump out when i shut the door or something, and causing some giant disaster and being on the evening news lol.

now granted, i do use them when they have them available...it IS awful nice to put my hands in my pockets! :) but i also notice the gas pumps a LOT slower doing it the "automatic" way...so most of the time i get impatient and just hold it in so it goes faster....

I am 41 and still don't have a clue how it works. I have tried many times over the years and it just never locks. Reading below, I still don't understand. I'm completely inept with anything mechanical.

I've never been able to get the darn things to work either! So I just quit messing with them. I always feel like it is safer if I am standing there holding it anyway.
And I don't have any "mechanical issues" generally speaking, lol. I'm usually pretty adept at such things.

And, for anybody else who didn't know about it, (I had to point out to my husband) the arrow on the gas gauge on your dash indicates which side the gas tank is on. Very useful information if you are in a rental or the rare occasion you are driving your spouse's and can't remember, lol.

If I'm understanding you right, I think that you could make it work by using both hands instead of one. Squeeze the pump with your right hand and adjust the grooved thingy with your left hand. See if that helps!

I sit in the car and wait too - no point in standing in the cold and wind!

Dawn

It is highly recommended that you do not re-enter your vehicle while your car is being fueled up. Sliding off the seat and standing up can cause friction when you go to remove the pump and the gas can be ignited.

I still can't figure out how to not hold the gas pump either. I have tried many times. I always thought the things were broken, but I realize its just me! Hehe. I thought I was the only one who couldn't do this...so you're not alone out there! I myself, make sure I am bundled up when I go to pump gas and its cold outside. I will wear gloves and everything. I'm not sure if its safe, but if its 40 degrees or lower, I do not want my hands to freeze. I simply just stand there and let the gas do its work! Oh btw, I don't know if you all have the food store "Giant" where you live, but you can save $ on gas! I earn up to .40 cents or more per a gallon off of gas filling up at a Shell station. :)

Nah don't feel dumb at all... The only stupid question is one that is not asked.

As far as the secret... idk? I just push it in till I hear the click.

I read once tho, that it was safer and wiser to hand pump it anyways. If it is decent out I do this, but on those super cold days I will admit I am in my car or using my door to shield the wind.

Good luck!

That little piece often gets too loose and doesn't work. It might not be you.

A.- don't feel dumb. A few years ago my mom was with me in the car, and she is 67 years old. I stopped to pump gas, and hopped back in the car (i know, don't do that). Anyway, when I got back into the car, and the gas was still pumping, my mom looked at me really weird and says "what are you doing, how come you aren't pumping the gas?" I told her about the automatic pump, and she had never heard of it, and never saw my father use it!!! haha so don't feel bad!!!

LOL
I've never thought that hard about it--I just flip the lever down and it catches in a groove & I move onto the window cleaning!
(Did you realize that cars have a little diagram/arrow near the gas gauge inside indicating which side of the car the fueling door located?)

I put the nozzle into fill the tank and lock the little lever, then I pull it out just a bit...If I leave it in all of the way it automatically shuts off....just retract it just a bit...not so far it is going to fall out...that works for me :-)

You could do what my dear Mother always used to do...she just pulled up to the gas pump and sat there until someone decided that the poor woman needed help then they pumped it for her...lol. I always wondered how she got them to do it..but they always DID!!!!

I think you figured out how to use it properly, but it could just be your car. On my car it just doesn't usually work. I think the neck of the tank is at an odd angle and when the nozzle is inserted it backsplashes on it and causes it to stop. I have over 216K miles on my car, so I have lots of experience filling her up all over the country. I'm more surprised when it DOES work. Sometimes, I have to pull out the nozzle a bit to get it to work just right.

My husband's car works every time. So, it could just be your car. :)

This does not work in all states. It does not work in NY, but does in Pa.

If none of these ideas work for you, you can also put your gas cap under the lever to hold it up. That's what I do when those little doohickeys are broken or disabled.

LOL! I can never get it to work either :) Thank you for making me feel normal. I stop trying quick and hand pump, so no one can see that i dont know how....hehehe!

I never had a problem using them but I seldom do.
Even if I do I'll stand there and watch it with my hands in my pockets.
I don't like getting in/out of car more than I have to.
I like to get out, get it done, and get back in the car ready to go.
By standing there you don't get a static build up as you would from going back and forth and you can also make sure there is less chance of gas spilling over.
A spark can ignite gas fumes - so static is rather dangerous - and most gas stations caution against using your cell phone while pumping gas (though I see people ignoring that one all the time).
Can we get a national "leave your cell phone off'" day started?
Just have it with you for literal life and death emergencies but otherwise have it off for 24 hours?

Really?? I am not very good at getting things work, but this was very easy. I just press the lever until it locks and place the nozzle inside the gas tank groove. It stays there and the lever is auto - triggered back to close when the tank is full. I do this all the time and if it's very cold I sit in the car though I know it's better to stand close by while using the pump. I have never come across a disabled one, generally all of them lock fine. Maybe your car is not designed to hold the nozzle in place?

Btw, there is no secret. LOL. Next time maybe ask somebody at the gas station to show how to get it working. :)