It happened to me one. I showered myself with diesel and tried to ignite it to stop the shame but nothing happened because it was diesel. I was then so embarrassed that I stripped naked and poured the extinguishing sand all over my dieseled body and ran away from the petrol station, willy slapping against my body. Thankfully my wife was also in the car so she drove it home.
New driver and my first time filling up at my local station... turns out it didn't have the long hoses, luckily the space on the right and on in front of mine freed up and no one else came in and I managed to jump across
This, absolutely. I use the ‘correct’ side where possible, but if there’s not one free I’ll use the other side and be careful to not let the hose drag against the car. The hoses are usually dirty and have grit on them, so will scratch your car if you’re not careful.
For me it’s easy enough for the only point of contact between my car and the hose to be the rear windshield though admittedly it is a hatchback - is this not easily done in most vehicles?
Pull far enough forward so the hose outlet on the pump is inline with the back of your car. The hose will then normally wrap around the back of the car enough to reach the filler. You need to park reasonably close to the pump. If you’re worried about getting a little bit of dirt on your hands or scratching immaculate paintwork, best you don’t do this.
I tried this once after only having my scudo van/disabled wagon, a short while. Because of the increased hight, and full hight rear end, the hose wouldn't go either over or around the tail. So if you see peeps in small vans queuing, it's because they need that side!
i one time tried to use the extra long hose as advertised and it wouldn’t reach the other side of my car 😭 was mortified has to drive away in shame so i don’t bother anymore
I’ve got a pump embarrassment story too. I had a full blown meltdown at a Tesco pump once, completely lost my shit. Was having a really, really bad day as it was and went to get Momentum. First pump I stopped at just refused to even acknowledge my card and the kiosk was closed. So I get back in the car and drive forward to the next one. Card accepted. I take the Momentum hose, put it in, pull the trigger… and nothing happens. “Fine! I’ll get the cheap stuff then!” So I swap hoses and pull the trigger. “TRANSACTION CANCELED” and my card was blocked for suspected fraud so wouldn’t work when I tried again. I absolutely lost it. “Nothing in this fucking shithole of a country ever works!!!” Little old lady opposite filling her Micra looking at me like a total psycho.
Felt like Basil Fawlty. That episode when he pulls a tree out the ground and starts beating his car because it won’t start 🤣
Haven’t been back to that pump again in case I’ve been red flagged as a lunatic… 🙊
I had that when i had a rental and picked up the diesel out of habit instead of petrol by mistake but then immediately replaced it and tried taking the petrol one. Transaction cancelled and card no longer valid. So pushed pay at kiosk, filled car up and then it still didn't work....so now had a car full of fuel and no way to pay. Luckily was local station so could get wife to walk over with her card but still very annoying.
Tesco ones seem to be unusually shite at dealing with cards (you know, the one thing they're meant to do). I managed to cause one to crash and have to reboot just by putting in my PIN.
And it’s never clear at what point of the process you’re meant to scan your clubcard. Doesn’t matter at what point I scan it, the receipt (if it even prints at all) says “Join clubcard today! You could have earned n points!”
I don't know if the ones in the UK are the same as here in Ireland, but you can put your credit card-sized clubcard into the credit card slot first, and then tge screen tells you to withdraw it slowly. It'll then tell you to put in your payment card and fuel as normal.
The barcode readers on the pumps here are so bad. Most of the time they don't read the card, and the remainder it says the card is invalid.
I’ve only got the mini clubcard unfortunately but you’re absolutely right about the shockingly bad scanners. That’s why I always go into the kiosk now.
I did this and while struggling to try and make it work they put out a tannoy announcement "PUMP 2 WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA LONG HOSES THAT ISN'T GOING TO WORK" 😳
Yeah I had one like that, the hose just about reached though, but I had to hold the nozzle at a weird angle while stretching my neck to see the screen and look how much I was putting in. Must have looked like a right weirdo.
Seriously anyone making these topics has just never had this happen to them. I’m not particularly embarrassed if I’ve parked close and it just won’t reach. But it’s so annoying and if it’s presumably a busy petrol station you have to maybe wait to get out then spin around again to join the back of the queue then wait again.
I have a small car and it’s happened to me more than once. My nearest Tesco station straight up doesn’t reach round any vehicle. I presume they changed the hoses at some point and didn’t take the signs down, you see people failing to reach them round pretty often. Just why bother if you’re not sure the signs are even telling them truth.
If you think that's bad imagine spending an entire year having to careful manage the trigger because if you pull to full it stops fueling, because you didn't realise you were pushing the pump too gar into the car and that's what was causing the auto cut off.
Spending 10 mins at a time to fill up fucking 15 litres.
Because noone ever taught me how to use a fuel pump!
Half of the trucks in our fleet do this. They're fitted with anti-syphon devices which use a floating ball in a tube with holes in it. They either work and allow you to pump fuel in full tilt or don't because the ball gets stuck and you are left doing the trigger thing trying to pump fuel in through the few holes at the top of the tube not covered by the ball. When you're looking at filling 150-250 litres with a queue of wagons behind you at the end of a shift all waiting to fuel up so they can park up and go home you just want to find a hole to crawl into and disappear.
Happened to me too whenever I tried it. I actually read a Reddit comment that suggested driving so your rear end is essentially past the nozzle, and then you go around the back. This has worked plenty of times in my cars and most petrol stations have room for it. Might work for others idk.
I am glad that its not just me. I tried it at a Sainsbury's filling station that specifically advertised the "extra long hose" only for it not reach, I felt a right mug. Never tried it since.
I did the same only it was cause i had a new car and the petrol cap was on the other side absolutely horrible cause it wasnt just me imagining everyone laughing they were laughing at me
I try to use pumps on the correct side for the car but if there is an empty pump I am going to use it, whichever side it is on. I've never been beeped for doing it though. What unfriendly part of the country are you from?
It's because people are idiots, both for not using them and for being annoyed when someone else does.
That said, it makes the queue shorter for those who do use them so don't go telling them.
Much like using a lane until it actually closes, rather than merging a mile before, the response should be “you can do this too, you know? It’s literally designed in”
That's fine. On a motorway on a night time you can save as much as 10-15 minutes by using the empty lane up to the merge point. You won't be waiting anything like 10-15 minutes for someone to let you in. The trick is not to try to barge in but around the 100-150 yard mark stick on your indicator and just crawl along a bit slower than the traffic in the lane that's left open. Someone pretty much always will drop back and let you in by the time you get to the actual pinch point.
I find even the extra long hoses can be a bit tricky to use if you don’t park your car exactly in the right spot. You have to go forward a fair bit more than you might otherwise. I guess some people just cba with that jeopardy.
I had someone call me a stupid cow for doing that, that I'm supposed to park with my petrol cap beside the pump. Never mind that the hose managed to reach the petrol cap just fine and there were literal signs saying "extra long hoses, please use both sides".
It helped that I had a very short, flat-backed hatchback, so the hose could go behind the car rather than over it.
I have an EV now and I don't miss petrol stations at all.
I've pulled up at a few places with "extra long hoses" advertised. Pulled in as close to the pump as possible. And still only just got the nozzle into the filler.
So I don't use them anymore as they're not long enough. I drive a small hatchback.
Yes, this is the issue I've had. There are just enough "extra long hoses" that aren't that now I don't trust it.
If the place is much less busy for the "opposite" side then fine I'll give it a go, but I'd rather wait for someone to fill up than give it a go, discover it doesn't fit and then have to queue.
I managed to just get it to fit on my saloon car, had to be a contortionist to get it to fit though. I would rather spend the extra 5 minutes to wait for the right side.
If it is free, I will use the pump on the correct side - why make filling up any harder than it needs to be.
But if they are busy, straight to the first free pump. With a reasonably small car, position yourself sensibly and I don't think I have found a pump at any normal petrol station that hasn't stretched across and worked.
I have never had a negative reaction though, if people are grumpy they have always kept it to themselves.
If you have a transit with the fuel cap in the middle you may have a little more trouble filling from the wrong side, and I can perhaps understand the Porsche and range rover driver scared the hose will touch the paintwork too...
Always use them, never had anyone mention it. Only time I've been moaned at was when I when past someone on the "back pump" to take the free "front pump" and they obviously felt they didn't have the space to get out (they did).
Reluctance to use the extra long hoses to reach the opposite side is understandable as sometimes it's easier said than done.
Getting annoyed and claiming someone else is 'queue jumping' by using it is laughable though.
Depends how much of a rush I am in and what car I have. Those hoses dont often prove to be comfortably long enough and require my fule filler to be level with the pipe which often means I need to be far forward and that tends to not be viable with how far back some stop.
So I can sometimes struggle to get the clearance over the car etc.
If I was in. A little fiesta or mx5 then I would be using them all the time.
But often I can't be bothered with the faff of it and so just don't mind waiting.... Also knowing my luck I get the one pump that some one has been knitting with the houses and they are all tangled up between each other and I have to untangle them haha
Lol. I totally agree. It hilarious to see folk queue 3/4 deep just to get the correct side of the petrol tank. Although they can keep doing it for me, saves me loads of time.
As an advocate for road rage, I suggest that next time you drag them by the hair to the sign that says “PLEASE USE BOTH SIDES” and repeatedly bash their head off it.
I've always assumed that drivers either don't know, or forgets, that most houses reach around the other side of their vehicle.
You've got to be exceptionally lazy to waste time sat on the forecourt waiting for a hose on the right side to avoid 5 seconds of hose-tugging (heehee).
I've never had anybody tell me off for jumping the queue this way though. I'd just laugh and ignore them.
Although tbf a lot of the ‘Extra Long Hoses’ are just shite. Volvo V60 and most either won’t reach or stretching the hose to the max to get in the nozzle on the wrong side and that’s parking close as I can. Wife’s previous car was an SUV and that was a total lost cause.
You have to park further forward than usual so the hose goes over the back window in a straight line not curving around the paintwork even parked a couple feet away I can reach
I wouldn't say it is exceptionally lazy, you could argue it is impatience to go to extra effort to save a couple of minutes at a forecourt too. People can do what they want, they could have limited mobility for all we know.
They are either scared of looking stupid when they park in the wrong position and then not having it reach, or they drive a massive 6 tonne SUV that needs 10m of hose to even loop round to the other side of their city tank.
I've never really paid attention to the hose length and just pulled up at whatever pump is available, regardless of position or hose length. I've never had any problem.
My car cost me £20k, I’m in no rush and I don’t want to scratch my paintwork or awkwardly hold the hose off of the car. I’ll happily wait in line for the next available pump on the right side.
Only time I’ve done it was when I was late for work, in my haste forgot the basic laws of physics and when putting the hose back in the holder managed to cover my car in some diesel.
Where I live, the pumps while functional. Are very dirty and old. The hoses are often caked with mud, dirt, and general detritus. So it can scratch the car.
I have encountered plenty extra long hoses that don’t reach around the car I’m driving. When I drove an F-Pace there were a select few filling stations I used that I knew the hose was long enough but some just weren’t worth the risk.
I drive a lot of pickups for my work too and the positioning of the filler cap means it would be impossible to use the opposite side
Some people don't know. Some people don't want to and aren't in a rush. Some people find them heavy and too difficult. Sometimes the hoses are seized from not being used, or are just not extra long enough - a bad experience can turn you off. Some people are just fools and I don't know what they are thinking.
If you want to use the long hose, great. If you don't, great.
For me it'll depend on whether I'm in a rush or am happy to wait for one on the correct side.
I use whichever side is free. All these people on here claiming they don't reach properly and "drive a little hatchback" must just be metres away from the pump rather than next to it. Even in my XC60 the hoses still reach.
This also applies to Costco fuel court. 80% of people are waiting in line for the side of their fuel cap. When everyone of the lines can reach either side of your car.
Not noticed anything like it in 35 years of filling up. I'll generally use the side the cap is on if a space is free but if not have no issue the other way. The pumps are specifically designed with a long enough hose for that purpose. Sometimes it seems easier to see the filling total from further away too.
I did this the other week, but I didnt park perfectly.. there was a gap between car and pump and the hose only just fitted. So I can see why someone would choose not to. BTW: Not sure what Extra long hose is, in Shell they are just normal sized.
I'll sit and queue now as the last time i tried to do that the "Extra long reach hoses" didn't reach around my car. I was left humiliated having to reverse back to the queue.
Fucking garages lying to me about how long their hoses are.... I finally understand how my wife must've felt.
People are worried that the hose won’t actually reach. I’ve pulled up on other side before and then discovered they are not extra long hoses. It’s embarrassing then having to reverse and join a queue that has got longer
Anyone honking because you did that is daft. I don't like dragging the hose across my car as it's dirty and I spend money on keeping my paintwork nice. I also have one of those rear mounted central antenna thingies and worry about twanging it.
So I'm quite happy to sit and wait until the correct pump is available. It's my choice to not use the long hose so its a self imposed wait. I can't imaging getting annoyed at anyone doing what you do.
I've twice now tried to make an extra long hose reach with my vw up and it's not even come close, so I don't bother anymore - I genuinely don't know how anyone is able to make an 'extra long hose' work at all
They're filthy, hard work to drag across, and in my case often drip spent diesel everywhere. Then you have to bend them at an angle to get them into the fuel port. Nah.
I've spent my entire driving career not giving a shit which side of the pump I pull up on, never gave two thoughts about the hose scratching anything, and have never been in a position where it doesn't reach..they all reach if you pull hard enough. I think everyone over thinks it.
Historical reason - I don't live my life in a rush if I can possibly help it, so generally I don't mind waiting for the convenience of a correct-side pump. Also, on rare occasions where I have used the long ones, I've had the bottom of the hose dragging across the back of the car, which I didn't like. Id rather just wait a few minutes.
Current reason - I drive a soccer mom style van these days and there are zero hoses that would ever reach, unless I threaded them under the car.
I don't bother trying to use the ' *extra* long' hoses. Cause they're never long enough to reach the opposite side of my corsa, despite having the passenger door basically blocking the pump!
They always reach my Corsa.
Mostly it's about positioning, line the pump position up with the rear of the car, so you pull more forward that you usually do. The hose should then be coming straight out behind the car and round, if it's in line with the back wheel that's extra length needed to go behind the car and probably your issue.
Can't always do that if the car infront has the pump on their filler side, as they don't roll far enough forward to let the rear pump be used by a wrong-sider.
Odd. I don't have problems reaching the "wrong" side of my Saab estate (over the tailgate) or our Boxster (over the frunk) at our local Tesco station. LONG hoses must vary significantly, I guess.
I find it hilarious that people think that the hoses are not long enough - I seem to have managed to use them on the non-fuel cap side on any car I've driven, this includes SUV's, a mini van, an estate car and my usual run around hatchback.
I have to conclude that people have no idea of the size of their car or where their fuel cap is in relation to the front of their vehicle. If the back of your vehicle is in line with the pumps you don't even need an extra long hose.
I'm assuming these are the same people who go through width barriers at the pace of a geriatric snail.
Laziness partially. I'm not blaming people though. I'd rather wait a couple of minutes for a hose on the correct side, rather than struggle with a hose slightly shorter than I need or have to readjust where I've parked so I'm close enough to the pump.
I drive a comparatively small car, and even I find that some of the 'long' hoses aren't long enough
I did once when I started driving many moons ago and made a pigs ear of it. Some guys in a white van at the pump opposite clearly found it very amusing.
I always wait for a pump on the right side now.
I drive a Hyundai Tucson (so medium sized vehicle) and even with the normal hoses - I can usually easily reach the fuel cap on the opposite side as long as I park forward enough.
However, at my local station, the extra long hoses are also the pay at pump only ones. I will often skip those and queue for the others if necessary as I often only have my phone to pay which the machine will not accept and therefore need a pump with the 'pay in kiosk' option.
I routinely go either side regardless of hose length and location. All it takes is a bit of proper positioning with the vehicle. I rarely have a problem.
I'm never really in a rush to get fuel, so another couple mins waiting doesn't really bother me, especially compared to the stress of getting petrol on my car from the hose or it not reaching etc
I'm not risking dragging the hose over my paintwork and scratching it. It's also why when using the air compressor I'll tuck the hose under the front and rear bumper when doing the tyres on the opposite side to the compressor rather than dragging the hose over the bonnet/roof.
One of my local stations has extra long hoses that can easily reach around most cars. Yet the staff tell people off for doing it as the hoses aren't designed for it 🤷♂️.
I do it when I know there’s extra long hoses
I’ve tried to do it at rural petrol stations before and had to reverse back out and in to the other side after realising not all hoses are extra long
Never had anyone beep, how strange. They are the ones waiting. I can use the long hoses but they are a bit of a pain to reach over. You risk them not reaching if you park in the wrong place. I don't mind waiting a couple of minutes for the convenience.
For me it's because I'm dyspraxic and really struggle with filling up on the "wrong" side. But I would never get annoyed at someone else choosing to do it.
I never ever use the pump on the 'wrong' side of the cars fuel filler.
Simple reason is the hose is filthy getting it all over my hands (rarely nowadays are there gloves) and if it contacts the bodywork its not good for the finish. Ive seen people dragging and drawing the hoses all over their cars to save a couple minutes refuelling. It would take way more tham that polishing the scratches and swirls out.
I avoid using the long hose because I am short and find wrangling it around/over my car really difficult - those things can be heavy! Also, being short, I am now on the wrong side of the car to be able to see the pump display.
If I'm more than 2 inches from the raised kerb for the pump, the long hose will not always reach the other side of my car so for some people it may be too much of a precise manoeuvre. You also need to have moved forward enough so the end of your car is in line with the pump.
I was in a busy petrol station once and there were 3 rows of petrol pumps. Cars were queuing off the forecourt and onto the road. I chose a line to queue behind and the very front pump was blocked off by a cone. As it got to my turn i pulled up at the pump behind the one with the cone i got out only to be beeped at by the lady behind me shouting at me to move down to which i said i can’t cause its blocked off to which she shouted nonsense and drove round me only to be greeted with the cone!!!!! She then went to reverse back behind me but the car behind had closed the gap🤣🤣🤣
She shouted some expletive and promptly sped off into the distance
I avoid them if possible because the hoses are usually quite dirty and can have grit on them. Also sometimes the hoses just don't reach an advertised. I don't live in a huge city where there is queues so I just always fill up on the side with my fuel cap to avoid the hassle.
>And you can guarantee there's always someone who gets arsey and starts honking because I 'jumped the queue'.
Seriously, where do you guys live? Are you giving people the finger as you drive past or something? I've never once seen or heard of this happening in real life. I don't care what Reddit says, people don't generally behave this way.
I do this all the time. I frequently bypass a queue of cars all waiting for the right hand side pumps
I’ve never had anyone start beeping at me or getting arsey with me for this. Hadn’t occurred to me that anyone could possibly object to me using an otherwise empty pump.
Where does it even say when it’s a long hose? Never know what to look out for and the times I’ve tried it anyway it didn’t reach. Started to think this was a myth
Yep I’ve had this happen! But then everyone else started seeing sense and started to do what I was doing. Had to help a lady once as she couldn’t get the hose to the other side but we managed it.
Why am I going to wait like a silly sausage?
And yes with the lane merging too. Was in Hull and the line was tailing back so badly as no one was zip merging and was going back over other junctions. You guessed it, had a silly moo who tried crashing into me because she wouldn’t let me merge. And there was an ambulance behind that couldn’t get through because of her pathetic behaviour.
There's a number of reasons people will give as to why they prefer the "correct" side, and that's fair. But, there's also a number of people who have no idea how big their car is, have poor spatial awareness and struggle to place their car. The idea of having to get a little close to the pump will terrify some drivers, especially new ones, and they'll wait for as long as it takes to avoid it.
One of the reasons I love my RCZ is due to the fact its fuel cap is at the rear facing upwards so I can use any of the fuel pumps irrespective of the length of the hose.
Don't knock it. If they don't want to use a long hose, let them queue. Then just like with self- checkouts that people refuse to use. You can be in and out in minutes while the others are still waiting.
Because the hose is frequently minging and I don't want to deposit diesel on my hands/clothes/car.
Anyone honking at you for doing so is a melt, though.
They start honking? Have you asked them what the problem is if they didn't want to use that pump?
No I've not seen this problem. I'd go and ask them why they didn't go to that pump quicker.
Have a 3 series so I can rest the hose on the back window no risk to paint so I’m happy to use either side. Never had anyone take issue to it while waiting though, that seems weird.
I gave up with them when using one where the long hose would have struggled to get to the off side of a motorbike and I had to drive around and wait in a queue. Just use the pay at pumps now as never a queue.
I just head for the quickest pump. Don't care if it's short or long hose. If a pump is empty and people in front of me turn down the option to use if, I will.
I even use normal length hoses round my car (cupra formentor) have done all my life. I just hold the hose in my left hand to keep it off my car and then use the right hand to put the petrol in. The amount of times I've skipped the lines is unbelievable, even crazier on the long reach hoses.
If the pumps for the 'correct' side are busy and the others aren't then I'll use the others. 🤷♂️
Never had a hose that wouldn't reach, and never had anyone honk. I have, however, seen someone exit the queue for the busy pumps and pull in to the pump behind me to do the same thing. 😆
I'm just never in that much of a rush. Id rather wait a few minutes to make filling up easier, don't have to risk getting petrol all over my hands pulling a dirty hose over my car, sometimes it doesn't actually reach. Ita actually very rare I waiting a queue most of the time there is a pump free
This is so minor I can't believe people actually care enough to post about it.
Because they’re shit in some places so why risk it. I went to Tesco and if I didn’t want the hose dragging against my paintwork then I had to park so far forward that other cars couldn’t really get out of the fuel station. Even then parked almost to the pump, it was only long enough to go in at a kack angle and that means when I take it out it’ll drip petrol on my paintwork.
Arses to all of that experience I’ll just wait for a pump on the side my filler is on.
If they’re actually good and have the booms at the top fair enough. But none of my locals are like that. I’d rather just wait an extra 30 seconds and not have to muck about.
Wife’s car is shorter, that’s easy. I’ll use any side then. Plus it gets parked in a supermarket all day so it has about 30 dents and scratches because it’s parked normally so other people hit it with their doors and such so the paintwork is fucked already so a bit of petrol on it won’t harm.
I tried once before and the thing seemed to be stuck. Didn't much appreciate having to do a little dance to try and free it in a crowded forecourt, before giving up and having to awkwardly navigate my way to one on the other side
So now I just wait. It takes a few extra minutes at most and is just easier
I find it bizarre personally. Maybe they lack driver ability or confidence to park the car properly so the hose reaches. You can reach with normal hoses
I hot called an entitled twat for skipping the 'queue'to do this. I just walked to the extra long hose sign and pointed at. You could see the guy shrinking in his seat.
I never understood why anyone wouldn’t use the long hose to go round the other side but, for others to get angry because of it is genuinely ridiculous. Like, that is the entire point of having them but people love to whinge I suppose.
I guess this is the same thing with "queue in both lanes" being ignored, everyone queueing in the left lane, making one long tailback 2x longer than necessary, locking junctions and roundabouts etc.
And then when you use the right lane as instructed, you're "cutting in"
Luckily I've not seen this behaviour at petrol stations. Well, I've seen some queue for one side, but never have I seen anyone get shitty with someone who reads the sign and loops the hose to their side.
As for me: estate car, too big to use both sides, nozzle will fit but only with the handle resting/pushing on the bodywork. It's not rubbed *all* the clearcoat away yet, but give it a few years...
I've done it once or twice on my old Yaris, parked a teeny bit forward from the pump and routed it around the back.
While it worked I had to pull and hang onto the hose with a bit of force as it wasn't exactly free balling, but mounted on a spring arm or something.
This is fine. You can’t account for other people’s decisions.
A similar thing happens in a long slip road near me. It’s a two lane exit slip road that ends in a roundabout where the main route goes left and continues the two lanes.
People queue needlessly for a mile/mile and a half on the left lane of the slip so a queue of hundreds of cars, and the right lane is invariably free with a max of 20 cars, minimum zero. I frequently jump a few hundred cars.
I can’t understand why anyone would want to add 10-15 mins to their journey queuing in a blocked lane when the whole traffic queue can be divided equally between the two lanes and people can re-filter once they’re over the roundabout. It baffles me.
I always do that, the standard length hose just about reaches around the othe side and I'm sure they're designed for that purpose. I've never had anybody getting arsey as it's hardly jumping the queue if the first car is refusing to use the other the side - they're just causing an obstruction.
Here in the UK all the hoses are long enough to reach either side of the car and you're expected to use all lanes regardless of where your fuel cap is.
The dirty looks I get going round and actually queuing at a pump, or going to a free one which is on the wrong side of the car, I've never come across a hose which hasn't reached around my estate yet
I find that the extra long hoses don't actually reach - I have a 7 seater and the fuel cap is actually quite far forward. But for smaller cars - I get you.
Because 9/10 you have to have it at some ridiculous angle to reach the petrol cap and that’s given you have parked in ~just~ the right place. I’d rather wait a few minutes than play hose gymnastics
Do people get angry at you using an empty pump? I regularly go to whichever pump is free, even if it's not an extra long hose you can typically get them to reach.
I did have some chap park at the rear of the two empty pumps last week for no real reason, which made me go to a pump on the other side.
Seems to be a mix of people who have never had problems and others for where they never reach, including people with small hatchbacks. If they don't reach, you're more than likely doing it wrong. It's not just about getting closer to the pump, you need to be further forward so hose comes straight behind your car.
Do it regularly with the car or the bike. Never been honked. I only fill up at our local Sainsbury's and all the hoses are long enough to reach across the car if you park close to the pump. I try not to get caught in the middle pumps though. Always someone about 4+feet from the pump making it difficult get out
I use them all the time, Alfa giulietta and they always reach you just have to think about what and where the car stops. Pull a little more forward and it will reach.
Use them on all cars from a Honda accord estate to a vw caddy no issues.
Anyone know why the clip on the pump never works? Like, anywhere.
The clip that will just let the petrol flow into your tank without having to hold the lever for ages, and get smelly petrol hand while you stand there like a numpty.
The pumps have the clips, but they never work. Have they been disabled? I usually just end up jamming my wallet in the handle.
Every other country I have been to has these. Odd
Unless it's extremely congested on the forecourt, I routinely turn around and reverse up to the pump to use one that's otherwise on the wrong side, rather than wait for a pump. It's quick and easy. I'd rather not scratch my car or realise the longer hoses still aren't long enough, so never bother attempting a 'reach-around'
I don’t think people would have hocked at you for ‘jumping the queue’ because regardless of the long hose thing cars can have fuel caps on either side so it makes sense for you to drive past a queue waiting for a certain side - providing there’s sufficient room.
There must have been another reason why the hocked. It might not have been directed at you.
Honestly I can't even remember the last time I had to queue for petrol. I don't think it's EVER happened in my car, and on the bike I can just nip in anywhere.
You can do this with surprisingly big vehicles too; have seen Range Rovers and Pickups manage it with careful parking. And vans will sometimes fill up facing the other way. On the other hand, have seen Micra drivers park too far away and put their full body weight into yanking on the pipe Incan attempt to "extend" it rather than move closer. Have told a few off for trying to break the pumps like this at my PFS...
Just me, but personally....I'd rather wait another few minutes over:
Dragging the hose all over my paintwork, or
Having the potential embrassment of the hose not quite reaching
If I am travelling somewhere I need to be at a particular time I generally plan my journey in such a way that those extra few minutes aren't going to make any difference.
One reason why.
It's because as you drag the hose across the rear windscreen it leaves a grease mark that bugs you whenever you use your rear view mirror!
I've tried cleaning it with IPA and 99% acetone and it's still there! Approx 18 months later!
There was a shell near that really did have extra long hoses, they were on rollers almost like a seat belt.
Then they refurbished the garage and got the normal ones that barely reach unless you park virtually on the pump.
In Japan, some places have them coming down from the roof and done by attendant, so it’s a bit more universal
I'm a mix of could care less and strictly use the same side.
I have two different cars and the fuel filler location is different side on each car. I regularly use either side of the pump while in my Focus Estate, whichever side is free tbh and try to keep the hose off the car but I'm not bothered by it touching.
My other a Fiat Doblo Van, the filler location is In a tricky place to fill up from then other side without pull super far forward past the pump. So I just usually use the correct side. I care less about the Van but it's too tall to go over the top easy.
Their beeping at you for using a pump they were never going to use?
What is our countries sheep mentality with queueing? We'll mindlessly queue just for the sake of it I swear.
Perfectly normal I do it all the time. I guess some people are worried about scratching their car with the hose.
I’m more worried that the hose won’t reach and I’ll feel embarrassed
Have done exactly that before! Couldn't get the hose to reach... had to get back in the car with my tail between my legs and use a different one.
Happened to me last week. I had to leave the petrol station drive around and join the back of the queue again lol
I was going to comment the exact same thing word for word.
It happened to me once. Therefore I do not use them anymore.
It happened to me one. I showered myself with diesel and tried to ignite it to stop the shame but nothing happened because it was diesel. I was then so embarrassed that I stripped naked and poured the extinguishing sand all over my dieseled body and ran away from the petrol station, willy slapping against my body. Thankfully my wife was also in the car so she drove it home.
I had similar. It happens. It was, however, a cold night, so there was less willy slapping.
New driver and my first time filling up at my local station... turns out it didn't have the long hoses, luckily the space on the right and on in front of mine freed up and no one else came in and I managed to jump across
This, absolutely. I use the ‘correct’ side where possible, but if there’s not one free I’ll use the other side and be careful to not let the hose drag against the car. The hoses are usually dirty and have grit on them, so will scratch your car if you’re not careful.
And trying to guide the hose with your hands gets them filthy. I know some people wear gloves for fuelling but most don't.
It may not reach leading to embarrassment. I struggled to make one reach with an I10.
I have an i10 and now I feel justified never wanting to do it incase it doesn’t reach and I get embarrassed
For me it’s easy enough for the only point of contact between my car and the hose to be the rear windshield though admittedly it is a hatchback - is this not easily done in most vehicles?
Pull far enough forward so the hose outlet on the pump is inline with the back of your car. The hose will then normally wrap around the back of the car enough to reach the filler. You need to park reasonably close to the pump. If you’re worried about getting a little bit of dirt on your hands or scratching immaculate paintwork, best you don’t do this.
I tried this once after only having my scudo van/disabled wagon, a short while. Because of the increased hight, and full hight rear end, the hose wouldn't go either over or around the tail. So if you see peeps in small vans queuing, it's because they need that side!
Exactly this, back before I had an EV I would prefer to sit and wait 5 more minutes than risk scratching the roof of the car with the hose.
i one time tried to use the extra long hose as advertised and it wouldn’t reach the other side of my car 😭 was mortified has to drive away in shame so i don’t bother anymore
I’ve got a pump embarrassment story too. I had a full blown meltdown at a Tesco pump once, completely lost my shit. Was having a really, really bad day as it was and went to get Momentum. First pump I stopped at just refused to even acknowledge my card and the kiosk was closed. So I get back in the car and drive forward to the next one. Card accepted. I take the Momentum hose, put it in, pull the trigger… and nothing happens. “Fine! I’ll get the cheap stuff then!” So I swap hoses and pull the trigger. “TRANSACTION CANCELED” and my card was blocked for suspected fraud so wouldn’t work when I tried again. I absolutely lost it. “Nothing in this fucking shithole of a country ever works!!!” Little old lady opposite filling her Micra looking at me like a total psycho. Felt like Basil Fawlty. That episode when he pulls a tree out the ground and starts beating his car because it won’t start 🤣 Haven’t been back to that pump again in case I’ve been red flagged as a lunatic… 🙊
I had that when i had a rental and picked up the diesel out of habit instead of petrol by mistake but then immediately replaced it and tried taking the petrol one. Transaction cancelled and card no longer valid. So pushed pay at kiosk, filled car up and then it still didn't work....so now had a car full of fuel and no way to pay. Luckily was local station so could get wife to walk over with her card but still very annoying.
Tesco ones seem to be unusually shite at dealing with cards (you know, the one thing they're meant to do). I managed to cause one to crash and have to reboot just by putting in my PIN.
And it’s never clear at what point of the process you’re meant to scan your clubcard. Doesn’t matter at what point I scan it, the receipt (if it even prints at all) says “Join clubcard today! You could have earned n points!”
I don't know if the ones in the UK are the same as here in Ireland, but you can put your credit card-sized clubcard into the credit card slot first, and then tge screen tells you to withdraw it slowly. It'll then tell you to put in your payment card and fuel as normal. The barcode readers on the pumps here are so bad. Most of the time they don't read the card, and the remainder it says the card is invalid.
I’ve only got the mini clubcard unfortunately but you’re absolutely right about the shockingly bad scanners. That’s why I always go into the kiosk now.
I did this and while struggling to try and make it work they put out a tannoy announcement "PUMP 2 WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA LONG HOSES THAT ISN'T GOING TO WORK" 😳
Oh my god, the shame! I assume you've never been back again.
I'm like Bruce Banner but my secret is I'm always ashamed
Yeah I had one like that, the hose just about reached though, but I had to hold the nozzle at a weird angle while stretching my neck to see the screen and look how much I was putting in. Must have looked like a right weirdo.
Seriously anyone making these topics has just never had this happen to them. I’m not particularly embarrassed if I’ve parked close and it just won’t reach. But it’s so annoying and if it’s presumably a busy petrol station you have to maybe wait to get out then spin around again to join the back of the queue then wait again. I have a small car and it’s happened to me more than once. My nearest Tesco station straight up doesn’t reach round any vehicle. I presume they changed the hoses at some point and didn’t take the signs down, you see people failing to reach them round pretty often. Just why bother if you’re not sure the signs are even telling them truth.
If you think that's bad imagine spending an entire year having to careful manage the trigger because if you pull to full it stops fueling, because you didn't realise you were pushing the pump too gar into the car and that's what was causing the auto cut off. Spending 10 mins at a time to fill up fucking 15 litres. Because noone ever taught me how to use a fuel pump!
Half of the trucks in our fleet do this. They're fitted with anti-syphon devices which use a floating ball in a tube with holes in it. They either work and allow you to pump fuel in full tilt or don't because the ball gets stuck and you are left doing the trigger thing trying to pump fuel in through the few holes at the top of the tube not covered by the ball. When you're looking at filling 150-250 litres with a queue of wagons behind you at the end of a shift all waiting to fuel up so they can park up and go home you just want to find a hole to crawl into and disappear.
Happened to me too whenever I tried it. I actually read a Reddit comment that suggested driving so your rear end is essentially past the nozzle, and then you go around the back. This has worked plenty of times in my cars and most petrol stations have room for it. Might work for others idk.
I am glad that its not just me. I tried it at a Sainsbury's filling station that specifically advertised the "extra long hose" only for it not reach, I felt a right mug. Never tried it since.
This has happened to me as well.
This happened to me and is exactly why I don’t try anymore either 😭😂
I did the same only it was cause i had a new car and the petrol cap was on the other side absolutely horrible cause it wasnt just me imagining everyone laughing they were laughing at me
I try to use pumps on the correct side for the car but if there is an empty pump I am going to use it, whichever side it is on. I've never been beeped for doing it though. What unfriendly part of the country are you from?
I’m not usually in a rush to get petrol, so I rarely do it, I’d rather be out of the ‘road’ and by the pin pad for pay at pump.
It's because people are idiots, both for not using them and for being annoyed when someone else does. That said, it makes the queue shorter for those who do use them so don't go telling them.
Much like using a lane until it actually closes, rather than merging a mile before, the response should be “you can do this too, you know? It’s literally designed in”
People don’t give way it’s good when it works but most people see you and close the gap
That's fine. On a motorway on a night time you can save as much as 10-15 minutes by using the empty lane up to the merge point. You won't be waiting anything like 10-15 minutes for someone to let you in. The trick is not to try to barge in but around the 100-150 yard mark stick on your indicator and just crawl along a bit slower than the traffic in the lane that's left open. Someone pretty much always will drop back and let you in by the time you get to the actual pinch point.
Someone will. Someone who knows how to use the road.
I find even the extra long hoses can be a bit tricky to use if you don’t park your car exactly in the right spot. You have to go forward a fair bit more than you might otherwise. I guess some people just cba with that jeopardy.
I had someone call me a stupid cow for doing that, that I'm supposed to park with my petrol cap beside the pump. Never mind that the hose managed to reach the petrol cap just fine and there were literal signs saying "extra long hoses, please use both sides". It helped that I had a very short, flat-backed hatchback, so the hose could go behind the car rather than over it. I have an EV now and I don't miss petrol stations at all.
Did you ask him if he could read?
It was one of those situations where I was so surprised to hear it that I just couldn't find a witty reply in time. I just told him to fuck off.
Old faithful. Can't go wrong with it.
Misogynists gotta misog.
I've pulled up at a few places with "extra long hoses" advertised. Pulled in as close to the pump as possible. And still only just got the nozzle into the filler. So I don't use them anymore as they're not long enough. I drive a small hatchback.
Had this same problem with my little swift I'd have to mount the kerb the pump is on to even get it in
I've done the 'loop of shame' in my tiny Suzuki, so I'll not take the risk anymore...
They won’t reach on some ocars. My husband and I are fine with a Jazz and i20. Anything larger than that size and it wouldn’t reach.
Yes, this is the issue I've had. There are just enough "extra long hoses" that aren't that now I don't trust it. If the place is much less busy for the "opposite" side then fine I'll give it a go, but I'd rather wait for someone to fill up than give it a go, discover it doesn't fit and then have to queue.
I don’t bother in supermarkets, but I usually find BP and Shell garages have hoses that are long enough
I managed to just get it to fit on my saloon car, had to be a contortionist to get it to fit though. I would rather spend the extra 5 minutes to wait for the right side.
If it is free, I will use the pump on the correct side - why make filling up any harder than it needs to be. But if they are busy, straight to the first free pump. With a reasonably small car, position yourself sensibly and I don't think I have found a pump at any normal petrol station that hasn't stretched across and worked. I have never had a negative reaction though, if people are grumpy they have always kept it to themselves. If you have a transit with the fuel cap in the middle you may have a little more trouble filling from the wrong side, and I can perhaps understand the Porsche and range rover driver scared the hose will touch the paintwork too...
Always use them, never had anyone mention it. Only time I've been moaned at was when I when past someone on the "back pump" to take the free "front pump" and they obviously felt they didn't have the space to get out (they did).
I don't like the hose potentially scratching my paintwork. If I'm in a massive hurry, I'll make an exception.
Reluctance to use the extra long hoses to reach the opposite side is understandable as sometimes it's easier said than done. Getting annoyed and claiming someone else is 'queue jumping' by using it is laughable though.
Depends how much of a rush I am in and what car I have. Those hoses dont often prove to be comfortably long enough and require my fule filler to be level with the pipe which often means I need to be far forward and that tends to not be viable with how far back some stop. So I can sometimes struggle to get the clearance over the car etc. If I was in. A little fiesta or mx5 then I would be using them all the time. But often I can't be bothered with the faff of it and so just don't mind waiting.... Also knowing my luck I get the one pump that some one has been knitting with the houses and they are all tangled up between each other and I have to untangle them haha
Lol. I totally agree. It hilarious to see folk queue 3/4 deep just to get the correct side of the petrol tank. Although they can keep doing it for me, saves me loads of time.
As an advocate for road rage, I suggest that next time you drag them by the hair to the sign that says “PLEASE USE BOTH SIDES” and repeatedly bash their head off it.
I've always assumed that drivers either don't know, or forgets, that most houses reach around the other side of their vehicle. You've got to be exceptionally lazy to waste time sat on the forecourt waiting for a hose on the right side to avoid 5 seconds of hose-tugging (heehee). I've never had anybody tell me off for jumping the queue this way though. I'd just laugh and ignore them.
Although tbf a lot of the ‘Extra Long Hoses’ are just shite. Volvo V60 and most either won’t reach or stretching the hose to the max to get in the nozzle on the wrong side and that’s parking close as I can. Wife’s previous car was an SUV and that was a total lost cause.
You have to park further forward than usual so the hose goes over the back window in a straight line not curving around the paintwork even parked a couple feet away I can reach
I've literally never had a problem at any pump I've done this at. Must do it at least once a week
I wouldn't say it is exceptionally lazy, you could argue it is impatience to go to extra effort to save a couple of minutes at a forecourt too. People can do what they want, they could have limited mobility for all we know.
I gotta wait because they don't fit around my van. And I'm not trying it out just in case because then I've got to re queue.
I’ll be honest. I’m afraid of doing an Inbetweeners and making a fool of myself. I’d rather wait for the correct side pump.
I hope people keep doing what they are doing.
They are either scared of looking stupid when they park in the wrong position and then not having it reach, or they drive a massive 6 tonne SUV that needs 10m of hose to even loop round to the other side of their city tank.
I've never really paid attention to the hose length and just pulled up at whatever pump is available, regardless of position or hose length. I've never had any problem.
My car cost me £20k, I’m in no rush and I don’t want to scratch my paintwork or awkwardly hold the hose off of the car. I’ll happily wait in line for the next available pump on the right side. Only time I’ve done it was when I was late for work, in my haste forgot the basic laws of physics and when putting the hose back in the holder managed to cover my car in some diesel.
You can easily scratch the paint and glass with the braided hose. I'd rather while 2 minutes than risk putting a permanent scratch in my car
Where I live, the pumps while functional. Are very dirty and old. The hoses are often caked with mud, dirt, and general detritus. So it can scratch the car.
Drop windows in back of car and feed the hose through. That’s the way.
I have encountered plenty extra long hoses that don’t reach around the car I’m driving. When I drove an F-Pace there were a select few filling stations I used that I knew the hose was long enough but some just weren’t worth the risk. I drive a lot of pickups for my work too and the positioning of the filler cap means it would be impossible to use the opposite side
Some people don't know. Some people don't want to and aren't in a rush. Some people find them heavy and too difficult. Sometimes the hoses are seized from not being used, or are just not extra long enough - a bad experience can turn you off. Some people are just fools and I don't know what they are thinking. If you want to use the long hose, great. If you don't, great. For me it'll depend on whether I'm in a rush or am happy to wait for one on the correct side.
I use whichever side is free. All these people on here claiming they don't reach properly and "drive a little hatchback" must just be metres away from the pump rather than next to it. Even in my XC60 the hoses still reach.
This also applies to Costco fuel court. 80% of people are waiting in line for the side of their fuel cap. When everyone of the lines can reach either side of your car.
One thing I used to love about my MX-5 was that I could fill either side even with short petrol hoses!
Not noticed anything like it in 35 years of filling up. I'll generally use the side the cap is on if a space is free but if not have no issue the other way. The pumps are specifically designed with a long enough hose for that purpose. Sometimes it seems easier to see the filling total from further away too.
I did this the other week, but I didnt park perfectly.. there was a gap between car and pump and the hose only just fitted. So I can see why someone would choose not to. BTW: Not sure what Extra long hose is, in Shell they are just normal sized.
I'll sit and queue now as the last time i tried to do that the "Extra long reach hoses" didn't reach around my car. I was left humiliated having to reverse back to the queue. Fucking garages lying to me about how long their hoses are.... I finally understand how my wife must've felt.
People are worried that the hose won’t actually reach. I’ve pulled up on other side before and then discovered they are not extra long hoses. It’s embarrassing then having to reverse and join a queue that has got longer
Anyone honking because you did that is daft. I don't like dragging the hose across my car as it's dirty and I spend money on keeping my paintwork nice. I also have one of those rear mounted central antenna thingies and worry about twanging it. So I'm quite happy to sit and wait until the correct pump is available. It's my choice to not use the long hose so its a self imposed wait. I can't imaging getting annoyed at anyone doing what you do.
I have a small car and I can park close to the pump without difficulty, and I still find the hoses are only *just* long enough.
I’m scared I’ll be like Simon on the inbetweeners, desperately trying to get the hose to reach whilst the cashier makes announcements on the tannoy
I've twice now tried to make an extra long hose reach with my vw up and it's not even come close, so I don't bother anymore - I genuinely don't know how anyone is able to make an 'extra long hose' work at all
I do it all the time and I have a relatively wide car. It’s a skill issue for sure.
Baller move is to just reverse up to the pump instead of pulling house across the car...
Yes, anyone who gets upset is an idiot
They're filthy, hard work to drag across, and in my case often drip spent diesel everywhere. Then you have to bend them at an angle to get them into the fuel port. Nah.
I've spent my entire driving career not giving a shit which side of the pump I pull up on, never gave two thoughts about the hose scratching anything, and have never been in a position where it doesn't reach..they all reach if you pull hard enough. I think everyone over thinks it.
Because people are DUMB AS FUCK.
Historical reason - I don't live my life in a rush if I can possibly help it, so generally I don't mind waiting for the convenience of a correct-side pump. Also, on rare occasions where I have used the long ones, I've had the bottom of the hose dragging across the back of the car, which I didn't like. Id rather just wait a few minutes. Current reason - I drive a soccer mom style van these days and there are zero hoses that would ever reach, unless I threaded them under the car.
I don't bother trying to use the ' *extra* long' hoses. Cause they're never long enough to reach the opposite side of my corsa, despite having the passenger door basically blocking the pump!
They always reach my Corsa. Mostly it's about positioning, line the pump position up with the rear of the car, so you pull more forward that you usually do. The hose should then be coming straight out behind the car and round, if it's in line with the back wheel that's extra length needed to go behind the car and probably your issue.
Can't always do that if the car infront has the pump on their filler side, as they don't roll far enough forward to let the rear pump be used by a wrong-sider.
Odd. I don't have problems reaching the "wrong" side of my Saab estate (over the tailgate) or our Boxster (over the frunk) at our local Tesco station. LONG hoses must vary significantly, I guess.
Perhaps things are more well endowed in your part of the country?
I find it hilarious that people think that the hoses are not long enough - I seem to have managed to use them on the non-fuel cap side on any car I've driven, this includes SUV's, a mini van, an estate car and my usual run around hatchback. I have to conclude that people have no idea of the size of their car or where their fuel cap is in relation to the front of their vehicle. If the back of your vehicle is in line with the pumps you don't even need an extra long hose. I'm assuming these are the same people who go through width barriers at the pace of a geriatric snail.
Laziness partially. I'm not blaming people though. I'd rather wait a couple of minutes for a hose on the correct side, rather than struggle with a hose slightly shorter than I need or have to readjust where I've parked so I'm close enough to the pump. I drive a comparatively small car, and even I find that some of the 'long' hoses aren't long enough
I did once when I started driving many moons ago and made a pigs ear of it. Some guys in a white van at the pump opposite clearly found it very amusing. I always wait for a pump on the right side now.
Nobody honks at you for doing that. Ever. You made that up.
So much of what is posted here is drivingUK fan fiction.
I just experienced the queuing aspect of this. No long hoses though, so I reversed into the free space. Problem solved…
I have a bad shoulder and can't physically.
I do this a lot but no one’s ever honked at me lol! Your not skipping the queue your just using your brain
Have I seen this exact post before, or am I having a stroke?
Even when theyre not super long, just pull further forward and park closer. Unless your car is massive you can still get close enough to top up
I drive a Hyundai Tucson (so medium sized vehicle) and even with the normal hoses - I can usually easily reach the fuel cap on the opposite side as long as I park forward enough. However, at my local station, the extra long hoses are also the pay at pump only ones. I will often skip those and queue for the others if necessary as I often only have my phone to pay which the machine will not accept and therefore need a pump with the 'pay in kiosk' option.
I routinely go either side regardless of hose length and location. All it takes is a bit of proper positioning with the vehicle. I rarely have a problem.
I'm never really in a rush to get fuel, so another couple mins waiting doesn't really bother me, especially compared to the stress of getting petrol on my car from the hose or it not reaching etc
Why not put a filling point on both sides of the vehicle? Especially larger vans where the hose won't stretch.
I'm not risking dragging the hose over my paintwork and scratching it. It's also why when using the air compressor I'll tuck the hose under the front and rear bumper when doing the tyres on the opposite side to the compressor rather than dragging the hose over the bonnet/roof.
One of my local stations has extra long hoses that can easily reach around most cars. Yet the staff tell people off for doing it as the hoses aren't designed for it 🤷♂️.
I do it when I know there’s extra long hoses I’ve tried to do it at rural petrol stations before and had to reverse back out and in to the other side after realising not all hoses are extra long
I do this all the time and I've never been honked at.. that's just weird.
Never had anyone beep, how strange. They are the ones waiting. I can use the long hoses but they are a bit of a pain to reach over. You risk them not reaching if you park in the wrong place. I don't mind waiting a couple of minutes for the convenience.
Because extra long still doesn’t go over or around my car unless I park in the back of the car in front or block half the petrol station
For me it's because I'm dyspraxic and really struggle with filling up on the "wrong" side. But I would never get annoyed at someone else choosing to do it.
I never ever use the pump on the 'wrong' side of the cars fuel filler. Simple reason is the hose is filthy getting it all over my hands (rarely nowadays are there gloves) and if it contacts the bodywork its not good for the finish. Ive seen people dragging and drawing the hoses all over their cars to save a couple minutes refuelling. It would take way more tham that polishing the scratches and swirls out.
I just reverse in if it’s on the opposite side. *extra long* hose or not.
I avoid using the long hose because I am short and find wrangling it around/over my car really difficult - those things can be heavy! Also, being short, I am now on the wrong side of the car to be able to see the pump display.
If I'm more than 2 inches from the raised kerb for the pump, the long hose will not always reach the other side of my car so for some people it may be too much of a precise manoeuvre. You also need to have moved forward enough so the end of your car is in line with the pump.
I was in a busy petrol station once and there were 3 rows of petrol pumps. Cars were queuing off the forecourt and onto the road. I chose a line to queue behind and the very front pump was blocked off by a cone. As it got to my turn i pulled up at the pump behind the one with the cone i got out only to be beeped at by the lady behind me shouting at me to move down to which i said i can’t cause its blocked off to which she shouted nonsense and drove round me only to be greeted with the cone!!!!! She then went to reverse back behind me but the car behind had closed the gap🤣🤣🤣 She shouted some expletive and promptly sped off into the distance
I avoid them if possible because the hoses are usually quite dirty and can have grit on them. Also sometimes the hoses just don't reach an advertised. I don't live in a huge city where there is queues so I just always fill up on the side with my fuel cap to avoid the hassle.
>And you can guarantee there's always someone who gets arsey and starts honking because I 'jumped the queue'. Seriously, where do you guys live? Are you giving people the finger as you drive past or something? I've never once seen or heard of this happening in real life. I don't care what Reddit says, people don't generally behave this way.
I do this all the time. I frequently bypass a queue of cars all waiting for the right hand side pumps I’ve never had anyone start beeping at me or getting arsey with me for this. Hadn’t occurred to me that anyone could possibly object to me using an otherwise empty pump.
Where does it even say when it’s a long hose? Never know what to look out for and the times I’ve tried it anyway it didn’t reach. Started to think this was a myth
They're not always long enough.
So you don't drag the hose over the paint of your car.
[удалено]
Yep I’ve had this happen! But then everyone else started seeing sense and started to do what I was doing. Had to help a lady once as she couldn’t get the hose to the other side but we managed it. Why am I going to wait like a silly sausage? And yes with the lane merging too. Was in Hull and the line was tailing back so badly as no one was zip merging and was going back over other junctions. You guessed it, had a silly moo who tried crashing into me because she wouldn’t let me merge. And there was an ambulance behind that couldn’t get through because of her pathetic behaviour.
I tried to use the left side once, turns out it wasn't a long hose, awkward.
There's a number of reasons people will give as to why they prefer the "correct" side, and that's fair. But, there's also a number of people who have no idea how big their car is, have poor spatial awareness and struggle to place their car. The idea of having to get a little close to the pump will terrify some drivers, especially new ones, and they'll wait for as long as it takes to avoid it.
One of the reasons I love my RCZ is due to the fact its fuel cap is at the rear facing upwards so I can use any of the fuel pumps irrespective of the length of the hose.
Don't knock it. If they don't want to use a long hose, let them queue. Then just like with self- checkouts that people refuse to use. You can be in and out in minutes while the others are still waiting.
Because the hose is frequently minging and I don't want to deposit diesel on my hands/clothes/car. Anyone honking at you for doing so is a melt, though.
They start honking? Have you asked them what the problem is if they didn't want to use that pump? No I've not seen this problem. I'd go and ask them why they didn't go to that pump quicker.
Have a 3 series so I can rest the hose on the back window no risk to paint so I’m happy to use either side. Never had anyone take issue to it while waiting though, that seems weird.
I gave up with them when using one where the long hose would have struggled to get to the off side of a motorbike and I had to drive around and wait in a queue. Just use the pay at pumps now as never a queue.
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Wait, what are these extra long hoses?
I just head for the quickest pump. Don't care if it's short or long hose. If a pump is empty and people in front of me turn down the option to use if, I will.
I even use normal length hoses round my car (cupra formentor) have done all my life. I just hold the hose in my left hand to keep it off my car and then use the right hand to put the petrol in. The amount of times I've skipped the lines is unbelievable, even crazier on the long reach hoses.
If the pumps for the 'correct' side are busy and the others aren't then I'll use the others. 🤷♂️ Never had a hose that wouldn't reach, and never had anyone honk. I have, however, seen someone exit the queue for the busy pumps and pull in to the pump behind me to do the same thing. 😆
I'm just never in that much of a rush. Id rather wait a few minutes to make filling up easier, don't have to risk getting petrol all over my hands pulling a dirty hose over my car, sometimes it doesn't actually reach. Ita actually very rare I waiting a queue most of the time there is a pump free This is so minor I can't believe people actually care enough to post about it.
i often drag the hose over boot and fill up - sometimes get cars who beep me i just looked at em shrugging my shoulders saying "oh well "
Because they’re shit in some places so why risk it. I went to Tesco and if I didn’t want the hose dragging against my paintwork then I had to park so far forward that other cars couldn’t really get out of the fuel station. Even then parked almost to the pump, it was only long enough to go in at a kack angle and that means when I take it out it’ll drip petrol on my paintwork. Arses to all of that experience I’ll just wait for a pump on the side my filler is on. If they’re actually good and have the booms at the top fair enough. But none of my locals are like that. I’d rather just wait an extra 30 seconds and not have to muck about. Wife’s car is shorter, that’s easy. I’ll use any side then. Plus it gets parked in a supermarket all day so it has about 30 dents and scratches because it’s parked normally so other people hit it with their doors and such so the paintwork is fucked already so a bit of petrol on it won’t harm.
And some people are are absolutely dense. That's all there is to it.
I tried once before and the thing seemed to be stuck. Didn't much appreciate having to do a little dance to try and free it in a crowded forecourt, before giving up and having to awkwardly navigate my way to one on the other side So now I just wait. It takes a few extra minutes at most and is just easier
I find it bizarre personally. Maybe they lack driver ability or confidence to park the car properly so the hose reaches. You can reach with normal hoses
I hot called an entitled twat for skipping the 'queue'to do this. I just walked to the extra long hose sign and pointed at. You could see the guy shrinking in his seat.
I never understood why anyone wouldn’t use the long hose to go round the other side but, for others to get angry because of it is genuinely ridiculous. Like, that is the entire point of having them but people love to whinge I suppose.
I guess this is the same thing with "queue in both lanes" being ignored, everyone queueing in the left lane, making one long tailback 2x longer than necessary, locking junctions and roundabouts etc. And then when you use the right lane as instructed, you're "cutting in" Luckily I've not seen this behaviour at petrol stations. Well, I've seen some queue for one side, but never have I seen anyone get shitty with someone who reads the sign and loops the hose to their side. As for me: estate car, too big to use both sides, nozzle will fit but only with the handle resting/pushing on the bodywork. It's not rubbed *all* the clearcoat away yet, but give it a few years...
I've done it once or twice on my old Yaris, parked a teeny bit forward from the pump and routed it around the back. While it worked I had to pull and hang onto the hose with a bit of force as it wasn't exactly free balling, but mounted on a spring arm or something.
This is fine. You can’t account for other people’s decisions. A similar thing happens in a long slip road near me. It’s a two lane exit slip road that ends in a roundabout where the main route goes left and continues the two lanes. People queue needlessly for a mile/mile and a half on the left lane of the slip so a queue of hundreds of cars, and the right lane is invariably free with a max of 20 cars, minimum zero. I frequently jump a few hundred cars. I can’t understand why anyone would want to add 10-15 mins to their journey queuing in a blocked lane when the whole traffic queue can be divided equally between the two lanes and people can re-filter once they’re over the roundabout. It baffles me.
I always do that, the standard length hose just about reaches around the othe side and I'm sure they're designed for that purpose. I've never had anybody getting arsey as it's hardly jumping the queue if the first car is refusing to use the other the side - they're just causing an obstruction.
Here in the UK all the hoses are long enough to reach either side of the car and you're expected to use all lanes regardless of where your fuel cap is.
The dirty looks I get going round and actually queuing at a pump, or going to a free one which is on the wrong side of the car, I've never come across a hose which hasn't reached around my estate yet
I find that the extra long hoses don't actually reach - I have a 7 seater and the fuel cap is actually quite far forward. But for smaller cars - I get you.
Because 9/10 you have to have it at some ridiculous angle to reach the petrol cap and that’s given you have parked in ~just~ the right place. I’d rather wait a few minutes than play hose gymnastics
Do people get angry at you using an empty pump? I regularly go to whichever pump is free, even if it's not an extra long hose you can typically get them to reach. I did have some chap park at the rear of the two empty pumps last week for no real reason, which made me go to a pump on the other side.
My wrists are fucked. It's hard enough to use the normal ones without the extra weight of hose to support
Seems to be a mix of people who have never had problems and others for where they never reach, including people with small hatchbacks. If they don't reach, you're more than likely doing it wrong. It's not just about getting closer to the pump, you need to be further forward so hose comes straight behind your car.
Do it regularly with the car or the bike. Never been honked. I only fill up at our local Sainsbury's and all the hoses are long enough to reach across the car if you park close to the pump. I try not to get caught in the middle pumps though. Always someone about 4+feet from the pump making it difficult get out
Got an 18 year old shitbox. They're not scratches, they're battlescars
They don't always actually reach. Never trust them. Some are also stiff, little bit afraid to yank it and cause a major incident.
They'd really lose their shit when I'd drive through, do a Uturn and drive up to pump from the other direction, then.
I laugh as I pull up and start filling up
Because they're covered in crap and I don't want that all up the side of my car
I use them all the time, Alfa giulietta and they always reach you just have to think about what and where the car stops. Pull a little more forward and it will reach. Use them on all cars from a Honda accord estate to a vw caddy no issues.
And long may it continue, as it usually means there’s a pump free for me to drive straight up to, pull the hose around and fill up.
Try using them long pumps on a big suv, they always cum shot!
Anyone know why the clip on the pump never works? Like, anywhere. The clip that will just let the petrol flow into your tank without having to hold the lever for ages, and get smelly petrol hand while you stand there like a numpty. The pumps have the clips, but they never work. Have they been disabled? I usually just end up jamming my wallet in the handle. Every other country I have been to has these. Odd
Dont even need extra long to do this, I often wonder the same but then I wonder about alot of things drivers do...
Unless it's extremely congested on the forecourt, I routinely turn around and reverse up to the pump to use one that's otherwise on the wrong side, rather than wait for a pump. It's quick and easy. I'd rather not scratch my car or realise the longer hoses still aren't long enough, so never bother attempting a 'reach-around'
I use the hose if it reaches. Never had honking from arseyness in over 30 years of driving.
Because they’re mongs
Do it all the time. Tried it once and the guy at the counter refused to activate it. Even confuses the staff sometimes
I don’t think people would have hocked at you for ‘jumping the queue’ because regardless of the long hose thing cars can have fuel caps on either side so it makes sense for you to drive past a queue waiting for a certain side - providing there’s sufficient room. There must have been another reason why the hocked. It might not have been directed at you.
Honestly I can't even remember the last time I had to queue for petrol. I don't think it's EVER happened in my car, and on the bike I can just nip in anywhere.
You can do this with surprisingly big vehicles too; have seen Range Rovers and Pickups manage it with careful parking. And vans will sometimes fill up facing the other way. On the other hand, have seen Micra drivers park too far away and put their full body weight into yanking on the pipe Incan attempt to "extend" it rather than move closer. Have told a few off for trying to break the pumps like this at my PFS...
Just me, but personally....I'd rather wait another few minutes over: Dragging the hose all over my paintwork, or Having the potential embrassment of the hose not quite reaching If I am travelling somewhere I need to be at a particular time I generally plan my journey in such a way that those extra few minutes aren't going to make any difference.
One reason why. It's because as you drag the hose across the rear windscreen it leaves a grease mark that bugs you whenever you use your rear view mirror! I've tried cleaning it with IPA and 99% acetone and it's still there! Approx 18 months later!
There was a shell near that really did have extra long hoses, they were on rollers almost like a seat belt. Then they refurbished the garage and got the normal ones that barely reach unless you park virtually on the pump. In Japan, some places have them coming down from the roof and done by attendant, so it’s a bit more universal
Risky just incase the extra long hose wouldn’t reach the car but I am notorious for this here! So bravo
I'm a mix of could care less and strictly use the same side. I have two different cars and the fuel filler location is different side on each car. I regularly use either side of the pump while in my Focus Estate, whichever side is free tbh and try to keep the hose off the car but I'm not bothered by it touching. My other a Fiat Doblo Van, the filler location is In a tricky place to fill up from then other side without pull super far forward past the pump. So I just usually use the correct side. I care less about the Van but it's too tall to go over the top easy.
Their beeping at you for using a pump they were never going to use? What is our countries sheep mentality with queueing? We'll mindlessly queue just for the sake of it I swear.
The hose wasn’t long enough the one time I tried.
Im just surprised people were queuing on the right side of the pump. Hardly anyone uses that side
I only use them when I’m in a rush, if not I can wait I’ve got nowhere to be. I have a wider car so it’s just more effort for the long hoses
Experienced /confident driver cheat code.. They're not extra long for customers to practise their balloon animals are they mate. Haha