How to Fill Up a Gas Tank

Pumping your own gas is simple and easy. There's no reason to pay top dollar for an attendant to pump gas for you at a full-service gas station.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Latex Gloves
• Credit Cards And Loans

1. Find out which side of the car the gas tank fill spout is on.

2. Pull up to the appropriate gas pump, making sure the fill spout is facing the pump.

3. Turn off the car.

4. Open the gas tank door. On newer cars, this is done with a button from the inside of the car, but on older cars the tank can be opened by hand, often with a key.

5. Unscrew the cap of the gas tank.

6. Put the gas cap where you won't forget it.

7. If you're paying with a credit card, run the card through the machine and follow any printed instructions. Otherwise, see the attendant. Many gas stations in cities require you to pay before you pump.

8. Select the type of gas you'd like (regular, premium, super). Never put diesel fuel in a nondiesel engine.

9. Lift the handle of the gas hose off its stand and insert the nozzle into the tank of your car. Make sure it is securely inserted by pushing it in firmly.

10. Push the switch or press the button on the pump to allow the gas to flow. This switch is different at different stations; follow the instructions at the pump.

11. Pull up on the trigger located in the handle of the gas hose. This will release the gas into the tank of your car.

12. Some triggers lock into place, freeing you to wash windows and check oil while the machine pumps gas. Check for this feature.

13. Note that when the tank is full, the fuel will stop pumping. Remove the gas hose. Don't try to "top off" the gas tank because this will lead to spillage.

14. Firmly screw the gas tank cap back into place and shut the gas tank door.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a box of latex gloves in the glove compartment. Put them on when you get gas to keep your hands clean.
• Be sure your car is turned off before you begin to pump.
• Extinguish all cigarettes before entering a gas station. Don't smoke when pumping gas.

[Boothy]

on 1/15/2007 fdwalker.... Keeping your tank low may not cause damage to the fuel pump but you will suck up any crud in the bottom of your tank, causing filters to become blocked before their time or other blockages elsewhere in the system. Also less fuel in the tank means more air in the tank and this can cause evaporation of fuel.

[fdwalker]

on 12/22/2006 My husband thinks keeping low fuel in my car will eventually cause damage to the fuel pump!?!
Is this a fact?

[katrina]

on 11/25/2006 I still have trouble filling gas in that I can't lock the hose for it to pump automatically, so I end up holding the hose all the time the gas is pumping..any suggestions anyone?? Thanks :)

on 6/30/2006 On all new cars there is a small arrow on the face of the fuel guage that points to the side of the car that has the fuel filler door. Lots of folks never notice this!

on 11/22/2005 You should discharge any static before handling the fuel pump or removing the gas cap from your car. To discharge static, you do not have to touch a non-painted metal part of the car. Simply touch any metal part of the car to discharge static, painted or not.
Cell phones sparking fires is an urban legend. Static electricity sparking fires is not. However, talking on your phone while pumping gas is not wise. Your attention should be focused on the task and your surroundings.