Beware the green pump handle!

[mmueller]

Hey!

While travelling cross country we stopped at a fuel station that had fuel prices in GREEN. The fuel pump handle was GREEN. The fuel was GASOLINE! Luckily I was awake that day. WATCH OUT!

 

[BigPapa]

Yeah, I’ve had that happen to me. I posted here about it almost a year ago.

Unleaded in the tank

 

[NIsaacs]

Yes, some diesel handles are yellow....

 

[Topzide]

Diesel handles are supposed to have yellow covers to match the FED requirement of yellow diesel fuel cans. Stations are clueless to what needs to be on the handles. Look before you leap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Timd32]

Yep Black Diesel and Green gasoline was very popular on my last road trip 2 weeks ago. I think I burned up 200 gallons of gasoline, that was like almost 10 fuel stops from NJ to MO. And it was almost everywhere that it was not the standard colors we think of. But actually reverse colors. It was not like they were both black, or both Green, or yellow.

Probably needs to be brought to maybe the weights and measures folks who "check" these pumps since they are like the front line. Not going to happen.

It probably is a case of there is a big box of parts when they install the pumps and they just don't know. Green for gas, works for them..

 

[BigPapa]

Most diesel pumps around here have green handles. Many diesel fuel caps are green. These go on a lot of our buses.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Always smell the nozzle before you put it in the filler hole is a good practice

 

[Dl5treez]

ASTM F852 calls out a standardized spec for fuel cans that lists colors, but it's a purely a consumer product standard, not a law or requirement. IIRC the only state that actually has a written requirement is California, via CARB CP-501 2.2 but who knows who else has done it lately.

There isn't any real spec for the color of the nozzle unfortunately.

 

[bighammer]

Many years ago, a friend was driving home from somewhere (late-night/early morning hours) and pumped about 10 gallons of diesel in his classic Camaro before a voice on a speaker alerted him to his zombie-mode mistake.

 

[Topzide]

I know back in the 80's when working a gas island (yep, didn't have to go inside to pay, and no CC slot on pumps). The colors for handles was Red - gasoline, Yellow - diesel and Blue was Kerosene. I really don't care if it's green or yellow, just make it consistent no matter where you are and then all gasoline handles should be black. Sure would help or make the diesel pump separate from the gasoline pumps. Oh well, always double check before making a costly mistake!

 

[BigPapa]

Sure would help to make the diesel pump separate from the gasoline pumps.

Agreed. This would also leave the diesel pump open for diesel vehicles. This aggravates me to no end. Where I usually fuel up there are ten pumps, so that’s twenty “stations”, three pumps have diesel, six “stations”. Seems a lot of times there are cars at all the diesel pumps with six to eight pumps open.

Then you have places that have two committed diesel pumps in between two gas pumps. If the gas pumps are occupied you can’t get to the diesel and if there’s a truck at the diesel pump they can’t get to the gas pumps.

 

[Regcabguy]

Yes, some diesel handles are yellow....

Arizona's like that.

 

[Wiredawg]

Because of so much diversity in color coding pump handles, I'm initially looking for green handles, but read what the product actually is. So far, so good for me.

 

[Turbo Terry]

But what happen to me once on a road trip is I got 10 gallons of gas out of the green handle pump . Even said diesel on the pump. And receipt I was 500 miles from home. The 1999 5.9 had a 34 gallon tank. In a matter of a couple of minutes you could hear something was wrong. I had a guart of 2 stroke oil I dumped in. Drove a couple hundred miles add ten gallons of diesel . Barely made it home. Took out the VP 44 pump You could smell the gas on the fuel filter when I pulled it. Guy that owned the station said his dad had filled the tanks in the morning . He apparently put gasoline in the diesel tank . Funny thing is there where 40 ft motor homes filling up diesel at this station prime time tourist season Many motor homes I always sniff the hose now. The 2 stroke oil is probably the only reason I made it home

 

[Regcabguy]

But what happen to me once on a road trip is I got 10 gallons of gas out of the green handle pump . Even said diesel on the pump. And receipt I was 500 miles from home. The 1999 5.9 had a 34 gallon tank. In a matter of a couple of minutes you could hear something was wrong. I had a guart of 2 stroke oil I dumped in. Drove a couple hundred miles add ten gallons of diesel . Barely made it home. Took out the VP 44 pump You could smell the gas on the fuel filter when I pulled it. Guy that owned the station said his dad had filled the tanks in the morning . He apparently put gasoline in the diesel tank . Funny thing is there where 40 ft motor homes filling up diesel at this station prime time tourist season Many motor homes I always sniff the hose now. The 2 stroke oil is probably the only reason I made it home

I spoke to a tanker driver and asked if there were special fail safe connections for diesel or gas. Nope and he's only blown it once in 24 yrs he said.

 

[Regcabguy]

Because of so much diversity in color coding pump handles, I'm initially looking for green handles, but read what the product actually is. So far, so good for me.

We are in the age of Woke diversity so multi colored handles are approved.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Tanker drivers screw up probably happens more that you think. My oldest step son put diesel fuel in my new sears lawnmower . Red can said diesel on it in 4-6 places. Plus I told him there was gas and diesel jugs . My wife called me at work to tell me my new mower quit running I ask what happened lots of black smoke and then it quit duh. He’s a computer man now. Not a mechanic thank god

 

[Turbo Terry]

Sniff the nozzle every time I do

 

[crispyboy]

In our neck of the woods I primarily see green diesel handles, black regular gasoline handles and yellow E85 gasoline handles.

 

[Regcabguy]

Just returned from Northern New Jersey and all the pumps had green handles at the station I used to fill up a Tiquan rental car. Nice tight,quiet suv.