Another day on the job here at the gas station,
and I’ve seen just about everything. The “get every last drop in the tank”
types, the nozzle tuggers, the nozzle ripper-offers! Even a few near explosions! So, I decided to spread the message. Here are the most common mistakes people make
while fueling up! 1. Putting gas in any container
If I see you with an empty jug of milk out there, I’m shutting your pump off. Yep, I can do it from inside the store! You can only pump gas into approved portable
containers. You also can't fill them up inside your car
or its trunk because static electricity can ignite fuel vapors. Always put the container on the ground. And don't forget that gas expands, so you
should leave 5% of the container space empty. 2. Being distracted
Think of it this way – every time you pull up to the pump, you’re about to handle a
highly toxic and explosive material. So nonchalantly scrolling through your social
media feed is no way to handle such a high-stakes situation. Otherwise, you could overflood the tank and
cause a spill. You might also accidentally pump diesel into
your gas-powered car. Distractions are also why so many people forget
to take the nozzle out of their tank, drive away, and rip the whole thing off the pump! Exactly why we put those “No Cell Phone”
signs up! 3. Not looking at the pump screen
Don’t assume all pumps are accurate and in perfect working order. Equipment can go bad, and gas station workers
might not notice it right away. Hey, we’re usually swamped! Instead of looking down at your phone or watching
those fancy little TVs many stations are putting on the pumps, your eyes should be on the pump
screen. Before you start refueling your car, make
sure the screen says $0.00 so that you don't get charged extra. Also, look out for stickers on the pumps that
tell you the date of the last inspection. They check that customers are getting what
they pay for. By the way, which of these gas-station no-no’s
are you guilty of? Let me know down in the comments! But I’ve got more, so let’s keep rolling! 4. Topping off your tank
Gas needs room to expand, right? Topping off your fuel tank can affect your
car’s performance and could possibly damage the engine because of the built-up pressure. Plus, once a gas tank is full, there’s no
way to fit any more in there. There’s a reason the nozzle kicks off when
your tank has all the gas it can hold – don’t push it and risk causing a spill. 5. Using your card at the pump. Because you don’t want to come into the
store and make small talk with me, I get it. But watch out! There’s this thing called card skimming
– which is when an illegal reader is attached to a payment terminal. And don’t look at me – I didn’t do it! Anybody can walk up to the pump and put that
thing on there! Then data from your credit or debit card’s
magnetic stripe winds up in the wrong hands, and you’re seeing all kinds of transactions
you didn’t make! Just come pay inside. Grab yourself a coffee while you’re at it! It’s fresh! Ok, kinda fresh… 6. Walking away while pumping
If you come in for that coffee I brewed over an hour ago before the morning rush, don’t
pop in while your gas is pumping. Again, I’ll shut your pump off. I know there’s that handy little stand you
can pull out to keep the gas flowing even if you’re not holding the nozzle. But it’s not there so that you can do other
things while your car fills itself. Remember that part about pumps not always
working perfectly? That automatic click-off might not work, and
you’ll have a nasty spill! Well, I’LL have a nasty spill to clean up,
so please don’t… 7. Not checking your tires
Checking your tire pressure is a good gas station habit to get into. I even have a nice air pump you can use…for
a price! If your tires are underinflated, you don’t
get as good gas mileage. Then you end up spending more because you
have to fill up more often. You can find the proper tire pressure for
your car on a sticker in the driver's side door or in your owner's manual. But never use the maximum pressure printed
on the tire's sidewall. Wouldn’t want any explosions. On that note… 8. Not touching your car before pumping gas
Remember that thing about static electricity igniting invisible fuel vapors? Well, get this: when you get out of the car,
your clothes sliding against the seat fabric creates some static charge. And when you grab that metallic nozzle, a
spark can happen. Just like when you accidentally shock someone,
right? Only, instead of giggling and seeing if you
can do it to your friend again, that tiny spark can light up those gas vapors! To dispel any electric charge on you, just
touch a metal part of your vehicle before you reach for the nozzle. 9. Not washing your hands after a fill-up
Escalator rails, ATM buttons, even your own mailbox! They’re among the dirtiest public surfaces. You know what’s on the top of that list? Gas pump handles. They’re covered in germs because everyone
and their cousin have touched them. So, you hang the handle back on the pump,
scratch your eye, bite your nails, and next thing you know, you’ve got a nasty virus. Just keep some hand sanitizer with you at
all times, and use it as soon as you’re done filling up. Don’t wait until you’ve reached your destination
because you’ll already have spread those germs all over your car, phone, and your face! 10. Driving in circles
You can’t imagine how often I see people driving in circles around the gas station
because they forgot which side their tank is on. Then they’ll pull up on the wrong side and
try to stretch the nozzle over the car! A pretty hilarious spectacle to watch, not
gonna lie. Here’s a little trick not many people know:
look at the dashboard and find the small arrow near the gas gauge. If it’s pointing left, the car’s tank
is on the left. If it points right, well, you get it. 11. Not locking the car
You’re gonna pop in real quick to prepay on pump 9. And maybe some coffee? Come on, it’s not THAT stale! Fine… But did you lock your door? Uh-oh, listen up! Stealing from unlocked cars at a gas station
has its own special name: sliding. Even if you’re quick about grabbing your
snack or paying for your gas, skilled thieves will already have “slid” into your car,
grabbed anything valuable, and fled the scene with time to spare! 12. Buying premium gas
There are so many myths connected with premium gas, so let’s bust them all in one go:
- “Premium gas means better mileage.” Nope! You’ll only see a difference if you’re
driving racecar speeds. - “Premium makes your regular engine perform
better.” Wrong. You won’t feel any change unless you have
that high-end engine. - “Regular gas can ruin a premium engine.” Negative…well, sort of. One fill-up with the less expensive fuel won’t
mess with your engine. But just one! Doing so regularly is a bad idea. Bottom line: get premium only if your car
requires high-octane gasoline. 13. Not knowing how to handle an emergency
Let's say you place the nozzle inside the tank and suddenly see it’s caught on fire. What’s your next move? Scream and run away? Me too, but here’s what you should do. First, don't remove the nozzle – just back
away. Shut off the fuel at the pump using the emergency
shut-off switch. Then, let me (your friendly gas station clerk)
know about the problem right away so I can shut off all the pumps with the one master
emergency control. Kinda always wanted to push that big red button. But then again, kinda not! Hey, if you learned something new today, then
give this video a like and share it with a friend! Here are some more videos I think you’ll
enjoy. Just click to the left or right, and stay
on the Bright Side of life!
