[Shotimes] Pennzoil & Teller Illusions

[Paul Nimz]

You can carry a portable scale and a hydrometer with you to figure out the
quantity by weight.  :)

Paul Nimz
'97 TR
'93 EG mtx


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jon Heese" <heese@digi-net.com>
To: "SHOTimes List" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Pennzoil & Teller Illusions


> 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
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