[Shotimes] Pennzoil & Teller Illusions

[Jon Heese]

I remember seeing a segment on a semi-weekly news magazine (DateLine or
some such) a few years back on this.  The sneaky gas stations in the
report had their system set up to be accurate on the 5 gallon marks
(i.e. at 5, 10, 15, etc. gallons the correct amount is in the tank), but
in between those marks, the computer slows down the pump without slowing
down the counter, resulting in a ripoff situation.  The reason they do
it like that is because the regulatory agencies would come by with 5,
10, and 15 gallon (if memory serves) calibrated tanks to do the
testing.  As a result, I think the testers now pump a random amount to
cover the volumes in between the round numbers.

In short, I don't think the "5 gallon jerrycan" test is conclusive any
more.

 - Jon Heese

On Tue, 11 May 2004 at 08:53:46 EDT, MonsieurBoo@aol.com wrote:
> Rick G:  "I actually filled up Sunday morning....I put 20.46 gallons in that 
> 16 gallon tank."
> 
> ... And folks, I just made a mental connection between this statement and 
> something I read last week in the local news.
> 
> Some people around here are reporting that they don't think they're actually 
> getting full gallonage pumped into their tank, as compared with what shows on 
> the pump.  
> 
> Yes of course there are regulatory agencies whose job it is to check the 
> accuracy periodically.  Next time you pump gas, look at the little sticker and see 
> when the last time was that they actually did it.  Some of the ones I've seen 
> are too weather beaten to read!
> 
> I do some freelance database development and systems integration, and 
> occasionally do stuff for our neighborhood Exxon.  Exxon stations use a proprietary 
> mini-UNIX box and software to handle all the pump and tank stuff.  The way you 
> manage the computerized pumps isn't too dissimilar to how they tweak the 
> computerized slot machines in Vegas, and it wouldn't surprise me if these pumps 
> could be tweaked just as surreptitiously.  In fact I wouldn't doubt the same 
> son-of-a-bitch wrote both programs!
> 
> Now I gotta see if I can borrow his system manuals again and go digging for 
> any relevant functionality buried in a sub-sub-submenu ;-)
> 
> All y'all might want to calibrate a 5 gal jerrycan and do some freelance 
> testing at your usual fillup spot!
> 
> Cheers,
> Mark LaBarre / Washington DC the capital city of illusions
> 94 ATX 125k