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Unless you want to leave it to the gas attendant (or a helpful passenger), as a driver you're going to need to know how to fill a gas tank. For the most part, it's easy and intuitive—following the steps below will get you back on the road in no time.
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Unless you want to leave it to the gas attendant (or a helpful passenger), as a driver you're going to need to know how to fill a gas tank. For the most part, it's easy and intuitive—following the steps below will get you back on the road in no time.
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Introduction
- Most of us need our cars to get to work, get to the grocery store, and just generally go about our lives—but we're not going anywhere if there isn't any gas in the tank. Luckily, this is easily remedied.
Step 1: Pulling Up and Paying
- First things first: find a gas station. In some states, like New Jersey, there's mandatory full service stations, in which case all you have to do is tell the attendant what you want. In most other places, though, it's up to you to put the gas in the car.
- Pull up alongside one of the pumps, with your gas cap facing the pump.
- Some cars have the gas cap locked; if yours is one of these, there should be a latch near the bottom of the driver's side door to open it up. Hit the switch.
- Turn off the car's engine.
- Get out of the car, and flip open the gas cap cover.
- Unscrew the cap itself, and put it off to the side.
- Many pumps allow you to pay with a credit card right at the pump. If you're at one of these, put your credit card into the machine where indicated, and follow the on-screen instructions. If the pump does not have this feature, or you do not have a credit card, you'll have to pay either in cash or by credit card inside the station with the attendant.
Step 2: Fillin' Her Up
- Take the nozzle from the pump that corresponds to the type of gasoline you want. Some cars run better on premium than on regular, so be sure to find out what kind of gas your car needs.
- Alternatively, some pumps have one nozzle, and buttons to select the type of gas, in which case you should press the corresponding button.
- Put the head of the nozzle into the gas intake, and squeeze the handle to begin pumping.
- Nearly all nozzles will have a latch you can use to hold the handle so it will keep pumping even if you let go. Further, nearly all nozzles will automatically stop pumping when the tank fills up.
- If you don't want to fill it all the way, keep an eye on the price/gallons readout on the pump, and manually stop the nozzle when you've put in as much as you want.
- Once your tank is full, take the nozzle out and replace it on the pump.
- Screw the gas cap back on, making sure it clicks several times.
- Close the gas cap cover.
- If you haven't already, pay for the gas, then feel free to leave the gas station.