Does anyone know if......?

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 09:04 PM

This may be a dumb question but does anyone know if gasoline is filtered at the pump? In the past I have seen pumps with a filter on the hose but was curious about the pumps that don't have a visible filter. Given that the Titan fuel filter is part of the sending unit and on top of the tank I would like to make it last as long as possible. BTW, my Jeep Grand Cherokee has the filter on the tank also. I'm not sure why they do it this way. I guess it ensures a service visit at some point.

Bayou Titan · 03-23-2006, 09:12 PM

Yes, they are and they are changed quite often. A lot of pumps have a spin-on type gas filter that looks like an automotive type oil filter.

The filter is located behind the pump panel near the meter.

*TitanFan59* · 03-23-2006, 09:15 PM

I remember what you are talking about but haven't seen one in a while here. I think Chevron has the little bubble on the gas nozzle with the bead in it at some places still. I used to see the inline before nozzle screw ons at Shell alot.

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayou Titan

Yes, they are and they are changed quite often. A lot of pumps have a spin-on type gas filter that looks like an automotive type oil filter.

The filter is located behind the pump panel near the meter.

Great! That's good to know. I could just picture all that crud in the storage tanks going straight into my truck!

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanFan59

I remember what you are talking about but haven't seen one in a while here. I think Chevron has the little bubble on the gas nozzle with the bead in it at some places still. I used to see the inline before nozzle screw ons at Shell alot.

Yeah I saw one with the bead in the handle last time I filled up. What the hell does that really tell you other than the fuel is flowing? That's rather evident with the pump cost register shooting up to 60 bucks! It looks cool though!

DeTitan · 03-23-2006, 10:01 PM

Toxman,

The LSU Tigers

TKOed Duke WAAAAYYYY TO GO

Bayou Titan · 03-23-2006, 10:13 PM

After high school I worked for a company that sold and serviced gasoline pumps, tanks, and other equipment.

Needless to say, I learned a lot of valuable stuff about petroleum marketing while I was there.

Most modern gas pumps are not "pumps" but dispensers. A submersible pump (very much like a submersible water pump) is inside each underground storage tank and supplies all the dispensers. This eliminates having to have a pump motor, pump, belts, and a lot of other parts at each pumping station. If you've ever noticed, the flow rate will drop slightly while everyone is filling up at the same time. This is because a single pump is supplying all the gas of that particular grade.

Gas pump filters work very well removing particulate matter and hardly ever fail. When they do clog with dirt or whatever, it reduces the flow to a ridiculous rate which lets the station owner know that he hasn't been following his filter replacement schedule.

I can remember when I was working there a particular gas station had a problem with the gas in one of its storage tanks. About a third of the tank had a thick jelly that was like napalm. It would clog a spin-on gasoline filter in about 30 minutes. Even though the underground storage tank had gasoline that was contaminated, the filters did their job and no car owners reported bad gasoline.

The pickup pipe in a storage tank does not reach near the bottom of the storage tank. This keeps any sediment on the bottom where it won't be picked up by the pump.

A spin-on filter will not filter out liquids. If there is a breakdown in the refining process or if water is in the underground storage tank it will get pumped right into your Titan's gas tank. Luckily this is very rare.

If you are worried about contaminates getting into your Titan's tank you need to worry more about fluid contamination rather than particulate contamination.

*mach1* · 03-23-2006, 10:18 PM

I worked at a gas station for over three years and never once saw a fuel filter or saw one being changed. The only thing I saw was the amoco guys coming in to test the calibration accuracy of the pumps, but they never changed any filters.

As far as the titans filter being in the tank, well, every fuel injected vehicle has some sort of screen by the pump in the tank. What I think is actually happening is the "second" filter (the normal external filter) is just being eliminated. As clean as gas is these days, I guess they figure you dont need it.

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayou Titan

After high school I worked for a company that sold and serviced gasoline pumps, tanks, and other equipment.

Needless to say, I learned a lot of valuable stuff about petroleum marketing while I was there.

Most modern gas pumps are not "pumps" but dispensers. A submersible pump (very much like a submersible water pump) is inside each underground storage tank and supplies all the dispensers. This eliminates having to have a pump motor, pump, belts, and a lot of other parts at each pumping station. If you've ever noticed, the flow rate will drop slightly while everyone is filling up at the same time. This is because a single pump is supplying all the gas of that particular grade.

Gas pump gasoline filters work very well removing particulate matter and hardly ever fail. When they do clog with dirt or whatever, it reduces the flow to a ridiculous rate which lets the station owner know that he hasn't been following his filter replacement schedule.

I can remember when I was working there a particular gas station had a problem with the gas in one of its storage tanks. About a third of the tank had a thick jelly that was like napalm. It would clog a spin-on gasoline filter in about 30 minutes. Even though the underground storage tank had gasoline that was contaminated, the filters did their job and no car owners reported bad gasoline.

The pickup pipe in a storage tank does not reach near the bottom of the storage tank. This keeps any sediment on the bottom where it won't be picked up by the pump.

A spin-on filter will not filter out liquids. If there is a breakdown in the refining process or if water is in the underground storage tank it will get pumped right into your Titan's gas tank. Luckily this is very rare.

If you are worried about contaminates getting into your Titan's tank you need to worry more about fluid contamination rather than particulate contamination.

This explains the variabililty in pump rate at times. Seems this was thought out pretty well.

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeTitan

Toxman,

The LSU Tigers

TKOed Duke WAAAAYYYY TO GO

Yeah! How the hell did that happen?!!!!!!

miketan · 03-23-2006, 11:19 PM

I wonder how accurate the meter mechanisms are on gas pumps though. They did a story awhile ago on Dateline or something like that where they tested the accuracy of several gas station pumps. They found that a few stations were ripping people off at the pump. I guess people were getting less gas than what they paid for.

Another thing I wonder about are the different grades of gas that come from the same nozzle these days. Years ago, there used to be a different dispenser nozzle for each octane rating. Now, it's the same nozzle regardless of octane except for diesel. I usually like to fill up with 91-octane premium. However, what if someone who last used the pump put in 87 regular? Does that mean I get 1-3 gallons of 87-regular mixed in with 91-premium when I'm paying for premium?

I remember reading somewhere that you will typically get 1-3 gallons of whatever grade of gas the previous person was using at the pump when you select a different octane on those one nozzle dispenser pumps.

*mach1* · 03-23-2006, 11:24 PM

Thats what impressed me about Amoco. They were actually required to check the pumps for accuracy.

Yeah, i wouldnt be buying premium at the "one hose fits all" stations. Find you a good station with separate hoses for each grade.

mtofell · 03-23-2006, 11:45 PM

A friend of mine won't buy gas at 'mom & pop' stations because he says the gas sits around to long and gets old.... I think he's crazy and that there are plenty of other things more worthy of his worrying.... anyone have any input on how long gas can sit in a storage tank at a station? I had never even given it a thought until he brought it up recently.

Toxman · 03-23-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtofell

A friend of mine won't buy gas at 'mom & pop' stations because he says the gas sits around to long and gets old.... I think he's crazy and that there are plenty of other things more worthy of his worrying.... anyone have any input on how long gas can sit in a storage tank at a station? I had never even given it a thought until he brought it up recently.

They just add a little water and that freshens it right up!