Yeah I know trucks use them and so on, but still, the pumps themselves are always filthy, and when you pull the handle off the pump, its always running already, and when you're done filling up, you puul it off the car and its still running. Not to mention all the grime that build up on the ground around them. I only have two places to go for Diesel-one is in the hood and is filthy, and the other is in this sort of industrial corridor and is filthy. What gives?

It must be animal instinct in the attendants: gas pumps smell good, diesel pump...smell different from the other 35 pumps, not must clean and insult the gas gods

Spill a few drops of gasoline and it evaporates. Spill a few drops of diesel and it stays there collecting dust.

Knotman is right on with his answer. Gasoline is volatile, basically a solvent. Diesel is an OIL. Oil collects dirt and dust.

Of course, it wouldn't take 3 minutes per pump per day to wipe it down with a rag and keep it looking great.

Have a great day,

I keep a bunch of latex gloves in the car so when I go to pump diesel I can keep my hand clean. That diesel smell brings back memories of lots of good times, but it makes my head queezy too.

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'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

In Oregon they have to pump your fuel for you. I have noticed that their diesel pumps are spotlessly clean. At the one station that I use in Vancouver WA, where you fill it up yourself, they installed a new nozzle so I waiting to see how long it will take for it to get filthy.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Lots of places have special vapor retention nozzles for gasoline due to the volatility. They prevent vapor escape, which contributes to ozone, especially on hot days. In Atlanta, the nozzles are mandated and you cannot even smell gas when pumping. In Ohio where I used to live, they were leaky and usually had ripped rubber boots.
My biggest beef is that lots of places have diesel pumps set away from the gas pumps- out in the rain, uncovered by the roof over the gas pumps. for trucks I guess...

but, I fuel up at home anyway, so that only bothers me on long trips.

cheers,
Kevin

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

My biggest beef is that lots of places have diesel pumps set away from the gas pumps- out in the rain, uncovered by the roof over the gas pumps. for trucks I guess...

Try driving a pickup pulling a big horse trailer sometime and you will appreciate the diesel pumps out by themselves. Semi pumps are great except the idiots at GM put too small of filler necks on diesel pickups. So, the larger nozzles on semi pumps either don't fit well enough to stay in the neck, or they deliver way too much volume. For this reason "auto-diesel" pumps set out away from the regular gas pumps are a good thing to see.

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Keep everything as simple as possible-but no simpler--Albert Einstein

Take a big whiff... It puts hair on your chest!:p


Ahhh,..

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)