New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-28
Many Gasolene Pumps
Show Short Measure
State Bureau Finds Devices Delivering Less Than
Proper Amount of Fuel Often Through Care
lessness Alone

Short measure delivered by gasolene
measuring pumps causes a considerable
loss daily to thousands Of automo-
bilists in New York State, according
to a report made public by Commits
sioncr Eugene II. Porter, of the Divi-
sion of Foods and Markets. following
a statewide survey carried on by the
Bureau Of Weights and Measures in
conjunction with city and county
sealers.
Out OF LOO gasoIene measuring
devices tested, 535 indicated short
ages ranging from One-half pint to
one quart on a five-gallon delivery
and in a few instances sealers found
shortages running from two quarts
to as high as two gallons.
In Il majority of short deliveries
there was no apparent intent on the
part of pump owners to dcfraud,
the report says. Rather the shortage
is ascribcd to carclessness of unrela-
bic machinery. Carelcssness may be
evidenced in various ways, but inter-
est in the transaction on the part Of
the motorists will do much to estab-
lish better and more uniform service.
TO insure himself against shortage,
the motorists should watch The oper a-
tor to see that he makes a full stroke
when operating the pump. If the MA
chine bears an Indicator showing the
quantity as delivered this also should
be closely observed. The delivery
hose should IN nll cases be drained,
because it is likely to contain from one
to two quarts Of gas.
Responsibility rests with the pump
owner to maintain his machine in
n state of accuracy. In many cases
a pump may be inspected by Weights
and Measures official and found to be
operating correctly, but upon his re-
turn within month it may show a
shortage and prove to be wholly un-
dependable. In one instance. investi-
cation was made on complaint Of a
tourist who asserted he had received
four gallons of gasolcne instead OF
five. When the facts of the ease
we're brought out, it was found that
the pump had been previously run
INTO by a truck, yet the owner had con-
timed it's use without testing or re-
adius tment. Other cases OF neglect,
the sta tcment says, often result IN an
equally unfair deal for the mot0rist
IT has been found. for example, that
if the gas pump stands idle for any
length OF time its tirst delivery is in
variabiy short, due to the gasolene
leaking back through the check valve
in to the supply tank. This condition
can be noticed by one not familiar with
the operation OF the pump by watching
the operator. If nearly complete
stroke is made before gas begins 10
flow into the auto tank. 1t is evident
that short measure is being delivered.
Again, short delivery of gasolenc is
likely to occur if opera tors continue to
operate the pump when gas is low in
the supply tank. IN this case the pump
delivers air instead Of gas, and the
practice is easily noted by The sound.
Il is altogether possible that the OPP
orator is frequently unaware of the
vagaTics of his apparatus, and it is
certainly true that he pays too little
attention TO its accuracy. It ia the
purpose Of the Bureau Of Weights and
Measures, however. Commissi oner Por-
ter says, to undertake vigorous cam
paign for impresslng pump owners
throughout the state wth their respon-
sibility, and TO insist that they shall
test their dispensers at least once every
day. To do this, owners must supply
themselves with q standard tivccallon
measure-a smaller measure is i'm
practicable, since differences appear
fnlnlmizcd on q lesser quantity. Tho
operator who tests each day is living
up 10 his responsibility, and motorists