# Gasoline Pump Mystery **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362 "2000-05-12T19:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/21 "2000-05-15T04:08:04Z")
The Massachusetts take on this topic, as per 527 CMR, the State Fire Prevention Code: 527 CMR 5.07(7) A control shall be provided that will permit the pump to operate only when a dispensing nozzle is removed from its bracket or normal position with respect to the dispensing device, and the switch on the dispensing device is manually activated. This control shall also stop the pump when all nozzles have been returned either to their brackets or to the normal non-dispensing position. 527 CMR 5.08(3). Nozzles used for dispensing gasoline shall be manually held open during the dispensing operation. I’m going for fire code regulations on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Frumpy\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/22 "2000-05-15T16:00:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Those thingamagigs became illegal after an incident where a woman forgot that the hose was still connected to her car, & she drove off… & BAM! she got blown up to kingdom come. Okay. a few points on the whole issue. 1. Next time you’re at a gas station, take a look at the hose. See that metal thingy halfway or so up the hose? That’s a safty. If you happen to drive off with the nozzel in your tank, the nozzel SHOULD slip out and just fall to the ground (The curve and stuff)… but in the RARE instance your car has a vice-like grip on the hose, that saftey will let your car take the hose and seal up the remaining hose so no no vapors/gas escapes. 2)The only two reasons those little metal thinghys aren’t there are because of lazy managers or fire ordinances. 1. > [@](#): > > Some, if not all, stay clipped on after the pump, yes pump I’m not a pedant, has stopped. The next poor soul who pushes the lever up might find himself hosing his car or himself down with gas I find this one dubious. The flow thing cecil described in one of his [varticles](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_263.html), would still be present even if some stupid sap put the nozzle back after the inital shutoff. The release of the handle resents the shutoff valve. my .02 ---
**Author:** ![Frumpy\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/23 "2000-05-15T16:02:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Those thingamagigs became illegal after an incident where a woman forgot that the hose was still connected to her car, & she drove off… & BAM! she got blown up to kingdom come. Okay. a few points on the whole issue. 1. Next time you’re at a gas station, take a look at the hose. See that metal thingy halfway or so up the hose? That’s a safty. If you happen to drive off with the nozzel in your tank, the nozzel SHOULD slip out and just fall to the ground (The curve and stuff)… but in the RARE instance your car has a vice-like grip on the hose, that saftey will let your car take the hose and seal up the remaining hose so no no vapors/gas escapes. 2)The only two reasons those little metal thinghys aren’t there are because of lazy managers or fire ordinances. 1. > [@](#): > > Some, if not all, stay clipped on after the pump, yes pump I’m not a pedant, has stopped. The next poor soul who pushes the lever up might find himself hosing his car or himself down with gas I find this one dubious. The flow thing cecil described in one of his [varticles](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_263.html), would still be present even if some stupid sap put the nozzle back after the inital shutoff. The release of the handle resets the shutoff valve. my .02 ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/24 "2000-05-15T21:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Minxmom: With all due respect, if your remedy for the absence of a latch is unsafe, maybe you shouldn’t be jerryrigging gas nozzles. > \*\* I know I _shouldn’t_, but I do a lot of things that I shouldn’t :). Besides that, it’s not unsafe - just messy if you don’t catch it in time. To be truthful, I’ve only spilled over twice. I rig it in a way so that (usually) the pump (sorry, mangeorge :)) can still disengage when the tank gets full. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/25 "2000-05-15T21:44:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > . > > 1. > > > [@](#): > > > > Some, if not all, stay clipped on after the pump, yes pump I’m not a pedant, has stopped. The next poor soul who pushes the lever up might find himself hosing his car or himself down with gas > > I find this one dubious. The flow thing cecil described in one of his [varticles](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_263.html), would still be present even if some stupid sap put the nozzle back after the inital shutoff. The release of the handle resets the shutoff valve. > > \*\* I mention it because its happened to me, luckily I managed to get the nozzle into the car before too much gas got loose. Most of it splashed the side of my car, good thing I don’t smoke. I wouldn’t think its too common, I’m sure it was broken. If this happened often those levers would probably be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/26 "2000-05-15T22:20:01Z")
\*\* mangeorge \*\* you crack me up! 😃 ‘gas pump/dispenser pendant…’ But this has to do with what I believe is a UL about the woman getting money for having a ‘huge explosion’ after driving off with the hose still in place. My husband \* hit a gas pump, er, dispenser \* (::nods to wise mangeorge::), mainly because he’s a crummy driver and couldn’t steer himself straight. There was no explosion, but it did cause $2500 worth of damage that our insurance company refused to pay, \*\* causing ME to explode \*\* at my husband for his carelessness. There isn’t ‘gas’ inside the ‘pump’ as its name infers, and as wise mangeorge has already pointed out. So, I don’t see how an explosion could have ocurred, it makes for a good story, though not a true one. ---
**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/27 "2000-05-15T22:37:55Z")
**KCB615** : > [@](#): > > The Massachusetts take on this topic, as per 527 CMR, the State Fire Prevention Code Here in Acton MA there’s one Mobil station with those thingies on their dispensers and one Mobil station without them. Dunno if they’re flouting the law or what, but there they are. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362/28 "2000-05-16T13:07:48Z")
The May issue of Scientific American addresses the issue of how gas pumps work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-pump-mystery/19362.md?page=1)