Gas pumps found to be germiest things we touch

Jeff Sabatini — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

We think Nissan has found its new spokesman for the all-electric Leaf. A microbiologist at the University of Arizona known as "Dr. Germ" says he's identified gas pumps as the biggest biohazard in modern society.

According to The Los Angeles Times, the doctor's research results show 71 percent of gas pump handles are "'highly contaminated' with the kinds of germs most associated with a high risk of illness." Other highly-contaminated items we encounter on an everyday basis include public mailboxes, ATM machines and escalators.

Now, before you run off and buy an electric car to avoid germ-covered gas pumps, know this: The study also found 40 percent of parking meters to be similarly infested. Maybe you should just keep a can of disinfectant wipes in the car. It'd be cheaper, at least.

Gas pumps found to be germiest things we touch originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Price of gas capped at $4/gallon for pumps that can't help it

John Neff — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Machines are only as smart as their creators, which doesn't say much about gas pump manufacturers in the mid-1990s. A report from Washington reveals that at least 12 gas stations in the state are using pumps not 13 years old that are unable to display and calculate a price of gas higher than $3.99 9/10 per gallon. These pumps were produced before everything went digital and you could simply slide your AmEx into the little slot to pay for your premium petrol. They use a mechanical computer with gears to calculate the price of gas, and the cost of retrofitting them to account for the current reality of $4+/gallon gasoline amounts to $8,500 in upgrades according to one station owner, if he could even find the parts since they're all on back order.

Just like computer engineers couldn't imagine that their little machines would last until Y2K, the mechanical engineers who designed these pumps back in 1995 when gas was the equivalent of $1.60/gallon apparently couldn't imagine a day in 2008 when dead dino juice would be this expensive. Unfortunately for customers who patron stations with this antiquated equipment, they aren't getting their fuel for the price advertised on the pump. Rather, the state's Weights and Measures program is giving these businesses extra time to upgrade or replace their pumps as long as the actual price of gas is clearly displayed and customers get an explanation of what's going. For now they're doing it the old fashioned way, by multiplying the gallons pumped by the price on the sign. Thanks for the tip, bojac!

[Source: Seattlepi via Fashion Funky]

Price of gas capped at $4/gallon for pumps that can't help it originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 May 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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