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How much do you trust the accuracy of gas pumps?

Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:18 am
Posted by Rouge
Floston Paradise
Member since Oct 2004
138107 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:18 am
You look on the pump and it tells you gas delivered to the 0.001 gallons. Do you really believe that they are distributing gas to an accuracy of 0.128 oz?

I'm sure it's pretty close, but the amount of volume they do likely leads to so much theft that is questioned by nobody.
Posted by dkreller
Laffy
Member since Jan 2009
33217 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:19 am to
I always lift the hose to make sure I get everything I paid for.
Posted by NaturalBeam
Member since Sep 2007
14722 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:20 am to
Enough to make me never bother with whatever cumbersome effort it would take to disprove it.
Posted by Pepperoni
Mar-a-Lago
Member since Aug 2013
4121 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:21 am to
“gasoline pumps must meet an accuracy standard generally between ±0.3% (acceptance) and ±0.5% (maintenance), as mandated by NIST and enforced by state agencies, ensuring reliable fuel measurement for consumers.”
Posted by Adajax
Member since Nov 2015
8035 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:21 am to
And when you're trying to top off at an even dollar amount, they always get that extra penny.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
134904 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:24 am to
quote:

And when you're trying to top off at an even dollar amount, they always get that extra penny.


Every time.

So I just keep going up to the next dollar, and if it starts spilling out, it just starts spilling out, but i want my receipt to show $x.00 so we keep going.
This post was edited on 10/21/25 at 7:26 am
Posted by Rouge
Floston Paradise
Member since Oct 2004
138107 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:25 am to
quote:

gasoline pumps must meet an accuracy standard generally between ±0.3% (acceptance) and ±0.5% (maintenance), as mandated by NIST and enforced by state agencies, ensuring reliable fuel measurement for consumers.”


Because the states don't have any skin in the game with all the taxes that are added on to gasoline purchases, right?
Posted by aTmTexas Dillo
East Texas Lake
Member since Sep 2018
22077 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:31 am to
They have little sticker that indicate they are spot on. I believe it without question. I have an EV though.
Posted by Nutriaitch
Montegut
Member since Apr 2008
10452 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:32 am to
don't know about that, but I saw a sticker on a pump recently that said it was a federal crime to pump less than 4 gallons (or something to that effect).

don't ever remember seeing that on any other pump anywhere in my life.

why would that even be a crime?

Posted by Pepperoni
Mar-a-Lago
Member since Aug 2013
4121 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:35 am to
I cited an NIST standard.

Per search, some states like North Carolina and Washington have notably high pump rejection or miscalibration rates in recent inspections. Human error or deliberate - you can decide.
Posted by LCA131
Home of the Fake Sig lines
Member since Feb 2008
76112 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:36 am to
quote:

why would that even be a crime?



Something something something against the poors..
Posted by UptownJoeBrown
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2024
5853 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:36 am to
Might as well ask do you trust the accuracy of a gallon of milk.

Really don’t understand the OT fascination on gas and gas prices.
Posted by Mizz-SEC
Inbred Huntin' In The SEC
Member since Jun 2013
21917 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 7:59 am to
Meh. When I overfill my 5 gallon gas cans they seem pretty accurate.
Posted by Footballguy1800
Member since Oct 2025
348 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:15 am to
You can test it by getting a 1 gallon red gas can, and filling it up to see if it's accurate or not.
Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
155210 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:18 am to
quote:

How much do you trust the accuracy of gas pumps?

Not very much at all.

Sometimes I'll fill up and it will be 16.5-17 gallons. Sometimes it will be over 18. Makes no sense, and I'm sure gas station owners like stout are skimming off their customers all over the place.
Posted by piratedude
baton rouge
Member since Oct 2009
2753 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:18 am to
i trust them because they send guys out in really cool hats to measure the accuracy of the pumps.
cool hat guy video
Posted by Twenty 49
Shreveport
Member since Jun 2014
20705 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:21 am to
quote:

You can test it by getting a 1 gallon red gas can, and filling it up to see if it's accurate or not.


Andy Rooney did a piece where he asked for exactly one gallon of gas.

If the price was 1.59 and 9/10 (the price always adds 9/10), and they asked him for $1.60, he'd say something like, "No, that's too much. The price is only $1.59 and 9/10. I'll need some change."
Posted by W2NOMO
Member since Jul 2025
1459 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:34 am to
Used to run convenience stores. Guy shows up every so often in a state ag (iirc) truck that has tubes and such. He goes to each pump and measure and dumps the gas back in the underground storage tank. He brings all the receipts back inside. Same dept iirc that tests the scanners and pricing.
Posted by Cosmo
glassman's guest house
Member since Oct 2003
128525 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:36 am to
quote:

don't know about that, but I saw a sticker on a pump recently that said it was a federal crime to pump less than 4 gallons (or something to that effect).



Have never heard that in my life

I fill up a 2 gallon tank with ethanol free for my 2 stroke yard stuff all the time
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
12736 posts
Posted on 10/21/25 at 8:38 am to
Except the state department of Agriculture or similar supposedly tests them. OT rich shouldn't care anyway, do you not fill your tank until the vapor safety causes it to stop filling?
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