Standing at the fuel pump during a fill up can be more than just boring. It can be cold, wet, dismal and… oh yeah, boring. The problem is worse since they stopped you setting the catch to fill till full, which is why this little gizmo has been created.
Pump Pal is designed to slot over the fill trigger on the pump handle to let you set it and forget it. The fuel will then flow until the auto-cutoff kicks in and everything stops. If you want to part fill the car, just keep an eye on the counter and remove the device when you’re ready. Simple, right?
We’re actually not sure why the pump trigger locks were removed in the first place, since they seem to work pretty well in stopping any spillage onto the ground, but this seems like a reasonable alternative. Of course it will cost, in this case £9.99. The product comes in a range of colors and is apparently very useful for those who suffer from impaired hand issues and weak grips.
Why would they get rid of the automatic shut off? It is a very tried & true way to shut off the pump when the fuel reaches the nozzle by means of a Venturi valve. Easy to spot, just look where the gas comes out and you can see the end of one of the valves at the end of the pump nozzle.
No not the auto cut off, they have shut down the trigger lock, so you have to stand there and hold the nozzle while it fills.
They take the trigger lock off so morons don’t get back in their car. Sliding in and out of a vehicle generates static which can be very deadly at a filling station.
Or you could just use your car’s gas cap, which tends to be tethered in a convenient location for this purpose, and is almost always the right size to hold the nozzle at 90-100% wide open (at least in the cars I have driven)
Now you can get on with checking the oil, and washing the windows!