Geeze, just tell the attendant that it’s a custom gas intake, and what they need to do to get it to work. They’ll do it, you’ll be on your way.
You think they’re not going to believe you or something? Wouldn’t the gas shutting off every couple of seconds be a clue that you weren’t kidding? The gas station attendants out here are–get this–human. A lot of them are high school students, but even so, most can speak and hear. In the unlikely event that you find one that won’t do what you want, ask for their manager, or pull ahead a quarter mile to the next station.
As for taking care of the vehicle, every time I’ve had one spill gas on my car, they’ve wiped it off without my asking. I’m pretty sure it’s routine.
The way outsiders regard Oregon gas stations as some sort of apocalyptic nightmare amuses me. Oregonians have had numerous chances to vote in self-service gas; none of them have come close to passing. We LIKE having other folks pump it, and it provides numerous (albeit low-paying) jobs for the high schoolers, part-time moms, and even a few of the semi-retired elderly.
Plus, for those of us who came of age in other states, it provides the opportunity to look very world-wise and bold when we take our Oregonian friends to other states and pump our own gas.
I was raised in NJ, strange as this might be, I had zero problems pumping gas when I left the state for a while. It was rather easy and in SoCal I did not even have to worry about the weather.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt, but I’m thinking that if you were to ask Oregonians who own cars that set check engine lights due to a mis-installed gas cap, you might get a different point of view.
Something about having to take time out of your day for the 3rd or 4th time to stop by the shop to have the light killed all because the idjit can’t screw a cap on straight. That or failing your DEQ inspection for the same reason.
