Stuck in the past: Some gas pumps won’t charge more than $3.99/gallon
05/07/2008, 10:56 AM
By Drew Johnson
$4 a gallon gas is definitely a headache for drivers, but it is posing an even bigger problem for some gas stations. In many rural areas of the country, gas stations with older pumps are discovering their pumps were not made to charge more that $3.99 9/10 per gallon.
One such station — Engels Repair and Towing — bought its three gas pumps in 1995, a time when obviously no one thought gas would ever cross the $4 a gallon mark. “When I bought these brand-new in 1995, nobody could imagine gas would ever be higher than $3.99 a gallon,” Lou Engels, owner of the station, told SeattlePI.
Engels’ pumps can only be set to charge $3.99 9/10 a gallon.
Upgrades for older pumps are available, but because the problem is happening nation-wide, there is at least a 15 week back order on the necessary parts. Purchasing new pumps would also solve the problem but since most of the stations are just small rural operations, they don’t have the funds to plunk down on new equipment.
In the meantime, Engels has to make due with posting the correct price on large signs and then multiplying it by the number of gallons purchased. Thankfully, Engels has a fairly loyal — and understanding — customer base.
But technically, operating a pump that doesn’t display the correct price is unlawful. However, the department of Weights and Measures has been fairly understanding of some stations’ situations. “We’re allowing them some time to operate under that situation if they can show they’re making a good-faith effort to get a retrofit done,” siad Kirk Robinson, program manager of Washington state’s Weights and Measures Program.
05/07, 11:01 AM
posted by:
broadrun96
Wait a bureaucracy understanding a technical problem and working with the company? That can’t be right, but it does make you wonder how dumb the manufacturers were that inflation and supply never impact the price, esp if they are digital display pumps
05/07, 11:03 AM
posted by:
F451
No problem, just send Dick Cheney, and George Bush over to replace those outdated pumps!
05/07, 11:15 AM
posted by:
Fletch
Just wait until a gallon costs more than $9.99 and ALL of the signs need to be changed. We still have a few years before the price is that high, well maybe 15 years. Best guess.
05/07, 11:21 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
when will use crystals to power our cars? or a small nuclear reactor? or how about a few gerbils running in exercise wheels?
05/07, 11:31 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The problem with small rodents is most are awake only at night so perhaps during the day small children could be used.
05/07, 11:40 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Awwwwwww too bad, they can’t screw us out of even more money. Where’s my violin….
05/07, 11:43 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
The pump operators actually don’t make a lot of money.
05/07, 11:58 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
LOL @ johnnycanuck. I think I’ll use puppies and baby seals too
05/07, 12:11 PM
posted by:
F451
Personally, I rather use the abundance of horse**** that has resulted from eight years of the current Washington administration.
05/07, 12:23 PM
posted by:
MercMark
The horse**** method is good, but the tanks will explode when the next administration takes over.
05/07, 12:26 PM
posted by:
moto-racer13
I’m probably the only once that looks forward to even higher gas prices, it means less traffic on the roads, and more room for me fly down the road. It only costs me $16 to fill up my Ducati and I got the performance of a half million dollar exotic. Also owning stocks in BP and Royal Dutch Shell helps my bank account.
05/07, 12:39 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
Nobody cares about your Ducati or your bank account moto-racer. Your a tool….
05/07, 1:50 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
well i have a Schwinn Bicycle that cost me NOTHING to fill up- just my stomach to get me from A to B
05/07, 2:16 PM
posted by:
olds307
In the 70s people said that gas prices couldn’t ever pass 99 cents a gallon because of the mechanical limits of the pumps at the time.
05/07, 2:41 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
^^^ You must be an old codger. “I remember when you had to walk to school up hill both ways in the blinding snow and gas cost just a nickel, can you believe that, a nickel”
05/07, 3:03 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
people were also on Weed and Acid in the 70’s
05/07, 3:17 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
I bet T Boone Pickens pumps work just fine.
05/07, 3:19 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
I have a friend who has a Ducati moto-racer13, the biggest POS ever.
05/07, 5:11 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
When gas hits $5/gal on July 4th… $10 won’t be but about 5 years away.
05/07, 5:44 PM
posted by:
shaver
Why will we need gas in 5 years, the planet will already have exploded by then.
05/08, 1:17 PM
posted by:
swamprat
They could go to 1/2 gallon pricing, which will be good for a few years more, up to $8.00 per gallon. Of course, if it goes that high, we will be riding bicycles.
05/08, 6:40 PM
posted by:
AMGoff
^^ Or they could just charge by the liter like they do in Europe.
05/08, 8:10 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
ACtually moto-racer, if you jump off a tall building you get supercar performance (acceleration, top speed) for free using no gas at all! You should try it homo!