5 Dumb Things Done at Gasoline Stations

NerdWallet compiled the list of gas station “goofs.”

​ALEXANDRIA, Va. June 9, 2016; The NACSonline republished NerdWallet's list of gas station “goofs.” We all make mistakes, and sometimes, those mishaps occur at gasoline stations. NerdWallet came up with a list of what it called “5 Stupid Things We Do at Gas Stations.”

1. Driving off with the gas nozzle in the gas tank. This mistake happens because the driver was distracted with his phone, said Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic initiatives. Damage isn’t too costly and usually runs about $250, mostly because modern hoses are designed to detach quickly when a driver forgets to disconnect at the pump.

2. Keeping the car engine running to dash inside the store. While most of us wouldn’t think to not turn off the engine when visiting a shopping mall, it’s fairly common for convenience store patrons to simply run inside with the car running outside. However, Lenard pointed out that “thieves seek out opportunity. It’s an easy way for somebody who wants to acquire a car to do it.”

3. Filling up with diesel when you meant to use unleaded gasoline. While this mistake has become increasingly hard to make, given diesel pumps have clear labels and bright green pump handles, driver distraction contributes to putting diesel fuel in unleaded gas tanks. Another saving grace is that diesel nozzles literally won’t fit into the gasoline tanks of newer cars.

4. Re-entering the car after starting to fill up. During the winter, this is more prevalent, as drivers sit in their vehicles to keep warm while gas pumps into their tanks. But re-entering a car during refueling can lead to a static electricity buildup, which can result in a flash fire upon returning to the pump, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Touching a piece of metal before grabbing the nozzle can mitigate the likelihood of sparking a fire.

5. Leaving someone behind. This happens but probably not as amusingly depicted as in the movies (think “Little Miss Sunshine”). One news outlet reported that an Argentine tourist left his wife at a Brazilian gas station and drove 60 miles before noticing.

With around 40 million U.S. drivers filling up each day, the majority of those transactions are normal. “But some are less boring than others,” Lenard said.