Stories when filling up at "gasoline station"

[owr084]

I can think of a lot of places to go on vacation, England is not one of them. Bad food and people with a weird sense of humor.

Italy, France, Spain, Germany, lots of things to see and great food & drink.

Hummmm!!! Must have been a family visit thing.

Oh c'mon Walt, I'm on your e-mail list and your sense of humor is out there too

 

[Old Navy]

Man ain't that the truth. I was and still am somewhat of an old hell raising SOB from the far side of the universe.

Never been to England, never heard a good word about it from bubble-head and tender friends. The two transplanted English families we have known had a sense of what was good to feed guest that was just nothing less than torture.

Besides what's to see in England but old cold drafty castles? One can see those on the continent and eat good food while at it.

 

[Jordan_Elias]

Thanks, about time...

The worst I ever experienced was two guys pointing and laughing in a station when I was on a trip east in my '00 NB but doing nothing to stop me. I made a point to pull around where they could see the large graphic on the back window that said TurboDiesel and then smoked them while burning rubber out of their station.

Yessss

 

[aspanier]

You know that's diesel, Right?

About once a month someone will ask what kind of mileage I get, always a conversation starter. I regret to say however that I am getting kinda tired of playing with the people who don't understand there is such a thing as a diesel car... "oh no it's really diesel, well maybe it won't cause a problem" in my experience the people who think it's a gas your putting diesel in, don't know what a turbo sounds like or that it is a good indication of a diesel....

 

[Old Navy]

"oh no it's really diesel, well maybe it won't cause a problem" in my experience the people who think it's a gas your putting diesel in, don't know what a turbo sounds like or that it is a good indication of a diesel....

I get that every time someone ask a question or comments about my diesel MB of all things. They comment about "I bet it cost a fortune to service that car", or something like that comment.

It really has surprised a few when I tell them 12,500 miles on oil changes and 20,000 on fuel filter and 50,000 on the engine air filter is only maintenance required till 142,000 miles when transmission and coolant is due change. Most expensive visit has been about $425 for oil change & filter, fuel filter, replaced air filter and dropped all under body covers to do visual inspection at approx 50,000 mile mark.

Most of my friends have spent more then that on their Asian wonder cars and are not riding in my comfort or room. Let alone have the MPG's or power that I have.

In case you could not figure it out I love my CDI and have become a die hard MB fan.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

I get that every time someone ask a question or comments about my diesel MB of all things. They comment about "I bet it cost a fortune to service that car", or something like that comment.

It really has surprised a few when I tell them 12,500 miles on oil changes and 20,000 on fuel filter and 50,000 on the engine air filter is only maintenance required till 142,000 miles when transmission and coolant is due change. Most expensive visit has been about $425 for oil change & filter, fuel filter, replaced air filter and dropped all under body covers to do visual inspection at approx 50,000 mile mark.

Most of my friends have spent more then that on their Asian wonder cars and are not riding in my comfort or room. Let alone have the MPG's or power that I have.

In case you could not figure it out I love my CDI and have become a die hard MB fan.

I have noticed. I've also driven a couple briefly and want one bad. Maybe in 10 years I can afford to purchase one

Definitely high on the want list, particularly the last of the I6s.

 

[Old Navy]

I have noticed. I've also driven a couple briefly and want one bad. Maybe in 10 years I can afford to purchase one

Definitely high on the want list, particularly the last of the I6s.

Bought the beauty used off lease, local Lutheran minister had it.

 

[dogdome]

Well not exactly a fill up story this time - but I thought it was amusing.

I had to put the car in the shop (warranty work and an accessory belt change + Oil change, )...and had to rent a car. Enterprise comes out, gives me a Mitsubishi Gallant (better then what they gave me last time, a Kia Rio...I felt like the wind would spit and knock me off the road with that thing).

The woman had been talking to me earlier asking me what kind of car I had, I told her I had a TDI - she asked what that was and I took the opportunity to educate her (the salesman next to us looked rather intent on listening as well!). We get out to the car and she says...

"Please don't put diesel in here. This is a GAAAAS car." Talking to me like I'm slow. They apparently had a woman that had a diesel and put diesel in one of their cars without thinking, ruined the engine.

I just wanted to smack her.

 

[bear's TDI]

It finally happened - after 400 K miles in 3 different VW TDIs someone finally asked me if I knew I was putting diesel in the car. Granted, I live in an area where diesel pickups are common and generally fill up at a local station, but I find it interesting that the person who asked was a 16-18 year old guy. After I said I had a diesel car, he shrugged and went back into the cubicle. Most interesting is that most of the folks who work there already are used to seeing VW diesels filling up - there must be a couple dozen in our area with about 30,000 people, so typically the attendants even know about venting the tank.

 

[VW_Factor]

Not that its hugely funny or anything.. I grew up in So.Cal.. I know how to pump my own gas.. Its definately not rocket science to swipe your card and activate the pump..

In Oregon (as previously mentioned) its full serve, but diesel is self serve.

I have been fueling up at the same Shell station for some time now, and gotten to know one of the "jockeys" there. Hes a neat guy, maybe late 30s..

There just happens to be a day where I get "the new kid". He was busy with his gas customers when I pulled up. The diesel pumps here are duel'ies. I pull up, swipe card, etc, etc..

Kid notices what Im doing and begins this mini freak mode, that I cant pump my own gas and such while running over to "stop" me. Took him a minute to realize I was pumping diesel, let alone that its ok for self serve. (Attendant in the store had to call out to kid to say its ok).

I found it rather amusing, his attitude. Like "us regular people" dont know how to pump our own fuel.

I would venture to guess that there are a large portion of people in Oregon that really dont know how to pump their own fuel. (I had to show my wife how to do it, when we were in California, and she loved it)

 

[s4phillips]

...I would venture to guess that there are a large portion of people in Oregon that really dont know how to pump their own fuel. (I had to show my wife how to do it, when we were in California, and she loved it)

I used to live in Vancouver, WA, had to show several Oregon natives how to pump fuel at self-serve stations on the Washington side. Easy to recognize the frozen stare at the pumps, then a quick glance to confirm the Oregon plates.

Had a similar "you can't do that" situation when I was back in the Portland area a couple of months ago. ...didn't bother fighting and just let the attendant show me how to operate the diesel pump.

 

[VW_Factor]

I used to live in Vancouver, WA, had to show several Oregon natives how to pump fuel at self-serve stations on the Washington side. Easy to recognize the frozen stare at the pumps, then a quick glance to confirm the Oregon plates.

Had a similar "you can't do that" situation when I was back in the Portland area a couple of months ago. ...didn't bother fighting and just let the attendant show me how to operate the diesel pump.

Ive had exactly the opposite reactions in PDX area. Only filled there twice, but each time, (diesel only pumps) attendant sees whats up and says go ahead..

 

[Saiga542]

I was refueling my plane two weeks ago and mentioned the diesel aircraft engines that run on Jet A and the line guy said he wanted to get a TDI. Smart fellow! I told him to check out tdiclub.com.

What do you have? The Katana diesel twin engine, a jet or a turboprop?

 

[jerryofva]

Ok, I seem to attract people who try to fill up their gassers with D2. Today, I had three people pull up on the opposite side of the pump with makes that don't offer a diesel option.

First guy in KIA gets out and starts trying to stick the nozzle into his car. I notice it's a KIA Optima and tell him that he is trying to put Diesel in his car. He gives me an embarrassed smile and then pulls up to the pump in front of him. Five seconds later a Toyota pulls up and the guy starts to get out of the car and I quickly tell him it's a diesel pump. I have only filled halfway and the third guy pulls up but before I say anything he gets back in the car and goes to another pump.

The pumps are dedicated to diesels and there is no way to get confused. My guess is that they saw a car on the other side and never thought that a car would be filling up with anything other then gasoline.

 

[roccman]

Ok, I seem to attract people who try to fill up their gassers with D2. Today, I had three people pull up on the opposite side of the pump with makes that don't offer a diesel option.

First guy in KIA gets out and starts trying to stick the nozzle into his car. I notice it's a KIA Optima and tell him that he is trying to put Diesel in his car. He gives me an embarrassed smile and then pulls up to the pump in front of him. Five seconds later a Toyota pulls up and the guy starts to get out of the car and I quickly tell him it's a diesel pump. I have only filled halfway and the third guy pulls up but before I say anything he gets back in the car and goes to another pump.

The pumps are dedicated to diesels and there is no way to get confused. My guess is that they saw a car on the other side and never thought that a car would be filling up with anything other then gasoline.

it would be funnier if the three were all in a line and did it one after another.

 

[jerryofva]

it would be funnier if the three were all in a line and did it one after another.

err, I think that's what I said.

 

[scooperhsd]

Jerry - you were a good man and did the right thing ...

 

[mojobucko]

I've got one for ya. I was at the fueling station recently and I was filling up at one of those diesel/gasoline combo with two pump/nozzles on each side. This younger fellow pulls up on the other side of me in a large Dodge pickup with trailer loaded down with lawn mowing equipment. This was in the evening and obviously at the end of a long day working in the summer sun in Birmingham, Alabama. I finish fueling my 2005 TDI and go inside to get a snack. While I was at the register this guy was asking the clerk how much gasoline pours out before the diesel starts coming out!!! I almost lost it. He pulled up to the right pump but grabbed the wrong nozzle!!!

By the way I have never had one person say anything to me at a diesel pump in the two years I've been experiencing the TDI , except "What kind of mileage do you get?".

 

[Joester]

filling up at the only diesel/gas combo pump was a chevy 1500. i turned around and back my car up to the "euro side gas flap" and let it idle for him to hear. he got done and pulled away, turned around and talking to me about how he knew he was using the diesel pump, but he was expecting "one o' them big ole pick up trucks to pull up." i told him that yes, mine was a diesel and that its a blast to drive. he said that he was sure of it and drove off. im still waiting for someone to tell me to stop putting diesel in my car or that my car sounds funny. =)

on another note, i saw a Prius do about 80mph today. i was relatively impressed, but i still laughed at him.... yes, it was he.

 

[Diesel_Mikey]

I would venture to guess that there are a large portion of people in Oregon that really dont know how to pump their own fuel. (I had to show my wife how to do it, when we were in California, and she loved it)

I must admit that having lived in New Jersey my whole life, I always have to shake off a bit of rust the first time I fill up on a trip away from home soil, but I manage. I do remember, though, that the first time I did it (back in my crazy college days, filling up my then-girlfriend's Plymouth Voyager near her mom's house in Florida) I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to keep the nozzle open without holding the handle (never noticed the little tab thing before). Curiously, she didn't know how to operate the pump at all, even though she grew up in self-serve-land, which is how I ended up wielding a nozzle for the first time. Ah, memories.

As with anything in life, it's just a matter of what you're used to...but I'm amazed how people from one side of this particular divide or the other so often just can't or won't adapt when they find themselves on the other side. I actually would prefer to help myself, but then I'm the kinda guy who always thinks the grass is greener on the other side.

 

[Concat]

Shell is out of Gas where I live, but there's plenty of diesel. Went to fill up last night and I could see the cashier was nervously watching me... I expected him to come running out the way he was watching me with that puzzled look. Alas he did not, otherwise this story would be more interesting. haha...

 

[nicklockard]

Thread jacking--please stop

I am removing all thread jack posts here.

This thread's topic is Stories when filling up at a "gasoline station"

--moderator

 

[PoliPino]

Filled up my new JSW for the first time this morning at the local Sunoco. At first I pull up and since I've never had to get fuel yet I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to open the fuel door. At first I went around and saw no finger notch so I go back and look for a button in the driver's area. I don't see one so I go back around and see if it I need to press on it, like my Infiniti. It worked!
Then right as I put my credit card in I hear banging on the gas station window. I look up and see the attendant furiously motioning for me to move my car to the gas pumps. And I'm furiously trying to motion back that I know I'm at the diesel pump and my car is a diesel. He must not have understood my series of international hand signals and came running out a couple seconds later and says 'Hey, that's Diesel!'. I nod and wave and he then says 'Oh that's a diesel?' I smile and tell him that it is and thank him.
I finished filling up but the machine doesn't print my receipt. So I went inside to get my receipt and while I'm in there I thank the guy again for his concern. It's good to see he was looking out for people.

So far, owning a diesel has been quite an adventure

 

[tdisky]

This morning at REC (White) Fuel in Providence, an older MKIV TDI pulled up to the B20 pump. I had already done my 1/2 B20 thing, and was at the D2 pump for the second half. The driver of the TDI and I started to chat, and I asked him if he was a member and gave him a TDIClub card. He was very interested, and thanked me. Then he asked if electrical problems were normal for these cars, or if it was just him. I said I'm afraid it's not you. So, it was a 1999.5, with unknown miles because the speedo didn't work. When he pulled away, the old TDI rattle and turbo spool sounded so sweet...

So please welcome new member Shane!

 

[jbright]

Back in the late '80s my stepdaughter had just learned to drive and we let her take the diesel Rabbit out for her teenage jaunts. One day the phone rang and she was frantic, telling me the Rabbit had just died for no apparent reason. I said, "Well, it's probably out of fuel." To which she answered, "No, I just filled it a minute ago." I said, "Where are you now?" She told me her location and after a moment I cringed, realizing (this being the '80s and diesel pumps much less common than now) that the only gas station in that neighborhood sold NO diesel. "Did you fill up at the xxx station?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. "Yes," she answered. "Uh, then you filled up with gasoline, not diesel," I told her. "Oh. . . .****," my stepdaughter said.

Boy did that cost me a pretty penny. I wonder if that old silver Rabbit is still running around somewhere down in Birmingham, Alabama, resurrected from the junk yard.

 

[Jordan_Elias]

ouch!

 

[no-blue-screen]

This thread still serves as a reminder of how much fun it is to own a diesel. One thing I really miss though is the ability to throw up the smoke screen when someone is following too close. But that is a good thing since that is one less negative those diesel nay Sayers have on us.

 

[mrGutWrench]

__. OK, the joke's on MrG this time. I pull up -- only lane open is one of two out of 12 with diesel. I start to pump and there's a guy on the other side with a white Nissan. And I'm waiting for questions or comments about why I'm pumping diesel and I look again and *HE'S* pumping diesel too from the other side of the pump. So, I look at his car closer and it's an A5 Jetta -- I didn't know anybody else in Nowheresville NC had a TDI!

__. Of course, we had to talk about how good diesels are and how much we like them. But that taught me.

 

[tdidieselbobny]

When I was just putting a little in to get me through a couple days,a guy walked up to me and asked if it was a clean diesel-I said no,it's a 98.....then he was going on how you could waste veggie oil -I said that wouldn't be a good thing on the new ones...

 

[scmadm]

Other day in Garfield Heights, Oh I pull up to a diesel only pump and go it to pay. While I'm waiting in like a guy comes in and says to me, "why did you pull up to the diesel pump? You blocking me."

First, he easily could have pulled around to the other side. Second, I tell him the car is a diesel and he is having hard time believing it. I tell him to come out with me, show him the fuel inlet "diesel only" sticker and educate him about VW TDIs. May have a new TDI owner on our hands.