Why are gas tank vents BELOW the fill port?!?

[Jason B]

I stick a butt load of paper towel directly under the pump between the nozzle and the opening. Mine makes an audible change in pitch as the fill hose starts to get full. I have yet to wet a paper towel with gas in the last couple of years, but before I noticed the noise change, the paper towel helps to DRASTICALLY cut down on the spilt fuel and makes clean up a snap-- you just throw away the fuel soaked paper towels.

If you LISTEN, you will not over fill the tank.

[IDBoating]

Put your ear directly over the nozzle as you are filling your boat.

Agreed, that's why I said 'I guess I'll be filling using the tried-and-true "listen carefully down the fill port" method.' There is definitely a change in the sound.

BTW, if you are putting the pump on auto-fill and then walking away...well. The only thing to be doing when fueling the boat is FUEL THE BOAT not anything else...and nobody but me puts fuel in my boat period.

I use the auto-fill to save my hand from having to hold the handle the whole time. 40 gallons (out of 48) can take a long time to flow out of some pumps. But I never leave the nozzle - it's always immediately reachable.

And I agree - nobody but me comes anywhere close to my boat with fuel. Good thing we both don't live in Oregon, where it's actually illegal to pump your own fuel! (I've gotten into a couple of arguments there about it.)

[embo]

haha...I haven't had anyone tell me I can't fill my boat. They don't let you fill the cars but boats are different. Seems they all understand that if they spill on the boat they will be buying the "re-gelcoat the boat package" I offer. Actually, I stand there and they have always handed me the nozzle without much hastle at all. I am always polite about it and it seems to work out great.

[IDBoating]

haha...I haven't had anyone tell me I can't fill my boat. They don't let you fill the cars but boats are different.

I haven't had a boat down there so my experience is limited to cars and trucks. The last time I was there, I had my (then) brand new one ton. I jumped out and grabbed the nozzle myself, but the guy saw me and started closing in. I explained it was a brand new truck, and suggested that I insert and remove the nozzle. He could actually pull the lever (so he would be "pumping the fuel") but otherwise I would do everything so there was no chance he would ding the paint. He agreed readily, and we were both happy.