Is it illegal to wedge a fuel pump open

[The sled]

Does anyone know why the latch on fuel pumps have been disabled, wanted to know if it is illegal to wedge something in it to keep it open?

[tomtom]

I first wrote a reply saying "I can't believe it's illegal, it must just be some H&S suggestion thing to stop idiots doing it by mistake", but no!

http://community.evo.co.uk/users/Richard-Porter/bl...

I really enjoy being able to use it when shoving 70+L into the 355 in Europe.

[hunton69]

I use a £1 coin

Handy when you have to put 200 litres in an RV

[tomtom]

http://www.pumppal.co.uk/

[leigh1050]

I use my filler cap to hold the latch open.

[johnoz]

I have a split pin on my keyring, just put it in the hole in the side.
I have done it for years, only ever had the pump turned off once and told "you can not do that"

[battered]

My local petrol pump attendant, back in the day, used to carry a dead match in his pocket for this purpose.

[KungFuPanda]

To stop st like this happening?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrwQ-d090g

[Hackney]

leigh1050 said:

I use my filler cap to hold the latch open.

This. Ever since I saw an Audi TT driver do it in -20 degrees, Austria then get back in the car where it was warm.

[Medic-one]

In most European countries you can still put the latch on when you refuel, no idea why you can't over here.

[mygoldfishbowl]

^^ This may or may not be true but I did hear it had something to do with static electricity.

[SlimRick]

leigh1050 said:

I use my filler cap to hold the latch open.

This too.

[silentbrown]

It's for exactly the same reason you should turn off your mobile phone

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

[silentbrown]

mygoldfishbowl said:

^^ This may or may not be true but I did hear it had something to do with static electricity.

Actually, this makes lots of sense: http://www.pei.org/static

[Jim1556]

Hammond proved the static thing on Brainiac.

Caravan full of petrol, 20 different types of mobile inside being rung couldn't set it off.

Cue a party balloon and a bit of wire to carry the static spark and hey presto...

Boom!

One less caravan!

[clockworks]

My employer (supermarket) insists that we put the pump on hold unless the user is holding the trigger, i.e. if they latch it or let go for more than a few seconds. No idea if it's actually illegal, but it's part of our induction training, health and safety.
What happens if the safety cutout fails while the trigger is latched? Potentially, a large spillage.

[spunky-mon]

I think there was a thread on here, or possible biker section regarding this.

Biker had arrived, sitting on his bike filling up not paying attention, the self stop had failed and he ended up with fuel everywhere until he noticed and let go of the handle!
Now, imagine if this was a latched pump, filling a car, with the driver looking in the boot / sitting in the car until they heard a click...that never came.

In my eyes, its purely a health and safety reason.

[Black_mamba]

leigh1050 said:

I use my filler cap to hold the latch open.

Ditto on my 993. Love the looks on the other peoples faces as I potter around the car, they look intensely at their pump handle. Haven't burnt down a filling station yet, fill up twice a week.

[catfood12]

Paperclip through the hole in the side. Do it regularly, never been stopped on the forecourt.

[Timsta]

leigh1050 said:

I use my filler cap to hold the latch open.

This.

Pull the trigger and shove the fleet cap in there. My cap is tethered to my car so if the nozzle falls out so will the cap.