Pump glitch adding to gas costs

Common problem with gas pump mechanism could add as much as $5 per fill up, also cheats gas station.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Angry about the price of gas? Just imagine paying for gas you don’t get.

Some alert consumers have noticed it over the years: A pump that seems to hesitate a second when the lever is squeezed. Anywhere from 2 to 6 cents tick off before the rush of gasoline starts. That’s what happens with a common, hard to diagnose and mostly ignored problem with the “check valve,” which is supposed to make sure gas flows at the same time the price meter starts.


But even if your gas pump works, it can still be off as much as $5 for every fill up. Tests by local regulators allow a pump to charge as much as 6 cents more than the gas delivered in a five-gallon test.

Don’t blame the gas guys. Even consumer advocates say retailers may be losing as often as consumers and no one appears able to rig the meters. But the small “check valve” at the end of the multibillion dollar industry just wears out, and often goes unnoticed for months.

Regulators’ records show short staffing, particularly for financially struggling counties that try to inspect pumps every six months, but too often don’t even meet the one-year requirement in states like New York.

AP