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Extend the Fuel Line
Dual Gas Cap Alternative
  (+8, -3)
(+8, -3)
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against]


If this turns out to be a good idea then dhousman should get some credit for it since it came to me after reading his dual gas cap idea.

Instead of trying to line your car up with the gas cap on the proper side, why not just create a collapsible funnel that can be more or less permanently inserted into your gas tank. Then it wouldn't matter which side the gas cap was on. If you pulled into a station and found out it was on the wrong side you'd just pull out the funnel and securely clip it onto the fuel pump hose.


longshot9999, Oct 22 2004


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       Why not just have a longer fuel pump hose?

brodie, Oct 22 2004
  

       Why not just have a dual gas cap alternative?

EvilPickels, Oct 22 2004
  

       thank you, I'm glad I'm not the only knuckle head who forgets which side my gascap is on, then proceed to make a niusance of myself trying to turn around in the already crowded lanes of the station or driving around in circles like a buzzard trying to land on the correct side of the.. .arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

dentworth, Oct 22 2004
  

       I have to say [longshot], somehow you have managed to combine an acute observation for the little annoying problems that are in need of solving, with an absolutely terrible (not to mention dangerous) solution. However, I'm going to pretend that [EvilPickles] anno is part of your idea and bun you anyway. I want two caps.

wagster, Oct 22 2004
  

       A better alternative would be an extremely long hose attached to the gas pump. The hose would then be able to reach any car. The pumps could be arranged in a bank against the main building, and hoses would extend out to cars. On releasing the hose, it would shoot back into the reel, in a manner akin to vacuum cleaner cords. This strategy would also provide more time to shut off the gas pump or apply a tourniquet to the gas hose in the case that someone drives off with hose still inserted into car. Finally, if fighting hordes of zombies / vampires / possessed scarecrows, more portable gas pump hoses would be a valuable asset.

bungston, Oct 22 2004
  

       Hi Bungston, I like your idea about hoses all on one wall, would have to still work out parking lanes, perhaps prohibit double parking so as to prevent crossing other cars with the hose, scratching the finish etc.

dentworth, Oct 22 2004
  

       I'm missing the issue here. Just about every modern gas station I've been to has had a fuel line long enough to reach over my car if I'd parked on the wrong side. They generally are mounted high as well, to accomodate this mistake. It's only if you've parked on the wrong side and far away (say with the pump near the front of your car) that you'd have any problem.

Worldgineer, Oct 22 2004
  

       I've been driving minivans for a while, they never reach around for me.

dentworth, Oct 22 2004
  

       Worldgineer - I've gone into a lot of stations where the hose won't reach over my truck.   

       Those who suggested we just make the current hoses longer are proposing something that makes a lot of sense but it relies on getting someone else (the owners of the existing infrastructure) to make a costly change with no ROI other than a minor bump up in customer satisfaction. Since most of them aren't likely to do that at the stations that are already out there the solution has to be one we can implement ourselves, hence an insert we can buy and install.

longshot9999, Oct 25 2004
  

       I remember when cars had gas caps behind the rear license plate. This way you never were on the wrong side!

BMCCUE, Nov 08 2005
  


 
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