Drove the E300 down to NJ to visit family over the 4th. Stopped at the Hess Station on Route 46 in Parsippany to refuel, even though I still had nearly half a tank and nearly 400 miles on the first half. NJ is the only state I know of where it is UNLAWFUL to self serve so I had to sit and wait for the attendant to come out. He finally came out with a cell phone glued to his ear and filled the car up with diesel, as requested. The car took 11.3 gallons and as I was figuring out my mileage (just over 34 MPG) I got my CC receipt and drove off. I thought it odd that I got two copies of the receipt but threw them into the compartment I keep my papers in and drove off. When I reached about 35 MPH I heard the unmistakeable sound the of fuel door slamming shut. I pulled over to find the cap was left off and fuel had spilled out all over the back quarter panel and right rear wheel.

I made the 2 jug-handled u-turns to get back to the station where I found the idiot attendant (still on the phone) and he started yelling at me for taking both copies of the receipt (which he gave me) and when I pointed to the cap sitting on top of the pump he says "is that one yours?". I replied yes, and so is all the fuel I spilled on Route 46 getting back here. I told him that maybe it wasn't such a good idea for him to try and talk on his cell phone and pump fuel at the same time...maybe only one thing at a time is his limit.

In 25 years of pumping my own fuel I have never left the cap off...only when these idiots giving me "full service" have taken over has there been a problem. My cap doesn't have the little rubber teather any more so I use the little clip to hold it when I pump it but the numbskull attendant apparently didn't. Good thing he also left the door open or I would never have noticed the cap was off until my next refueling.

So, I hate NJ and their idiotic law forbidding me from pumping my own fuel. I suppose there are people out there too stupid to pump their own fuel...but do you really need a law to forbid the rest of us from doing it?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Not only that, but I would guess using a cell phone at a gas station is also against the law (as it's extremely dangerous). Report the guy and get his sorry [insert expletive here] fired.

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1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

..........yep, and some of them are employed by Hess.........

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe you can pump your own diesel in OR and NJ. It's only gasoline that's illegal to self pump.

Add Oregon to your list......

There is nothing at all dangerous about using a cell phone while pumping gas (Or any other fuel). MANY many many tests have shown proof that its safe.

What causes fires is getting into the car to fetch the phone, getting back out (Causing static to build), and then touching the nozzle (Static electricity discharge, ignition).

Marty.....you should always look on the bright side..at least it was not 11.3gal. of gas he pumped into your diesel MB.....I've had that happen at a "full service" station.

I also pulled off the road one time with a side-wall puncture. Limped into a "full service gas station" on my rim to have them mount a new tire...Was told it would be 30 minutes or so before they could mount it. I walked up the road to a resturant for dinner, came back and the car was still sitting there with a shreaded tire. I asked how much longer and was told the car "was done" ???? THEY HAD MOUNTED THE TIRE ON SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE THAT WAS THERE FOR SOME OTHER MINOR REPAIRs and the people had since driven away with miss matched tires. I laughed so hard at those morons I pissed myself! Changed out the tire to my spare emergency donut myself and drove home.

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FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

I'll have to remember this and only take the diesel through Oregon.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

While I can't find the specific law, I have never been able to pump my own diesel in NJ. Even at the truck stops along the NJ Turnpike there are attendants who won't let you touch the pumps...I suppose even if the law only applied to gasoline you would never convince the dimwit at the station that he was wrong and you should be able to do it yourself. From now on I will get out and watch them though, that is for sure!!

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

why is it illegal in NJ to pump your own gas? id rather pump it myself

Two tips if you get down to south Jersey:

1) Get off NJTP at exit 4. Go 1000 yards north on route 73 and pick up I-295 south.

2) Get off at exit 2c and stop at the Flying J. Cheapest fuel in the state and you generally can pump it yourself. If not, there is an attendant who will be reasonably qualified and quite friendly.

From Wikipedia:
"Interestingly, in both New Jersey and Oregon, it is legal for customers to pump their own diesel (although not every station permits diesel customers to do so; truck stops typically do). The rationale is that truck drivers are expected to know how to refuel their vehicles safely and in an environmentally sound fashion as part of their job."

From DEPARTMENT OF OREGON STATE POLICE, OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL

Definitions

For purposes of ORS 480.310 to 480.385 and OAR 837-020-0025 through 837-020-0125 only, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Business Use" shall mean that all Class 1 Flammable Liquids dispensed into Motor Vehicles and Containers shall be used only in the course of business activities.

(2) "Class 1 Flammable Liquid" shall mean any liquid with a flash point below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, closed cup tester.

NOTE: Diesel fuel is not a Class 1 Flammable Liquid.

(3) "Container" shall mean all types of portable containers.

(4) "Conditional Use Customer" shall mean a Person who may dispense Class 1 Flammable Liquids at a licensed Conditional Nonretail Facility, and meets the requirements of OAR 837-020-0045 through 837-020-0125.

(5) "Conditional Nonretail Facility" shall mean a Nonretail Facility licensed by the State Fire Marshal, where Conditional Use Customers may dispense Class 1 Flammable Liquids.

(6) "Dispensing" shall mean the transfer of a Class 1 Flammable Liquid from a Facility to a Motor Vehicle or Container.

When I see these posts I'm still amazed. I can't remember if it was the 70's or the 60's, but wow has it been a long time since I've even seen an attendent. I can remember them from riding with my Sainted Mother during my childhood.
I'm guessing they don't check under the hood......
Is it "Back to the Future" where somebody drives into a gas station and 2 or 3 attendents run out to the car? (they actually knew what to do)
Ahhhh, the good ole days........

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I drove through a bit of Oregon on my way to Idaho a while back. I stopped to stretch my legs and saw a full-service gas station. The pump jockey appeared to be about 50. I didn't get gas though (was in the Lincoln) as I had filled up at the last station in Nevada. I was impressed at that last Nevada gas station, as it was the only one in the state I've been to where you pump the fuel first, THEN pay. All the others are pay-first.

I have a great-aunt who has lived in Philly her whole life. She's something like 87, and still driving. She always crosses over into Jersey for gas, as she's never learned to pump it.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I'll be visiting Oregon later this year and am interested to see what reaction I get when I try to pump my own diesel fuel. I'll also be trying to find biodiesel, not easy while on the road but I have a list of places that supposedly sell BD.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970