The pump at Chevron was apparently very anxious to fill Clara up today...I removed the pump from the holder and turned around to put it in the tank and gas sprayyyyyyyyyyyyyed everywhere on the rear panel.

I drove home and was washing the car within 5 minutes.

I assume the gas takes the wax off, yes? So I probably need to rewax the panel. Do I need to do anything other than wash to ensure the gas is gone?

 

I've had issues before with gasoline on trim leaving a stain ... well more like a dried out area. I'm betting OG's BW would restore it right back to new, but I didn't have that tool back then. As for your paint, no worries. It should have had no other affect than stripping your wax.

 

Yep - no worries on the paint. Back in the day of single-stage lacquer paints, gas spills had the potential to be catastrophic, especially if the paint was relatively fresh.

With modern polyurethane clear-coated paint, gasoline won't do anything more than take off the wax and dry out the trim. Cleaning and waxing the paint, and applying dressing to the trim will get you back in shape.

 

Sweet, I re-dressed the trim...I'll have to wax the panel this weekend.

I was freaking out, that was the craziest thing ever. The pump wasn't even ON yet!

 

My first thought would have been: "FREE GAS!!!"

 

Yeah, except it wasn't in the tank!

I must say, $49 to fill up a MINI (granted, I had 8 miles left on the range ) is highway robbery...literally!

 

Wow - how much is gas where you live?

 

I've honestly stopped looking. It was Chevron, so I'm going to guess $3.59 or so for premium...that's what the ticker reads for that station right now online. Bleh.

 

Well if gasoline cost the same as a Starbucks, then you could complain and I might feel sympathy. Now however, with gas still cheaper than bottled water, quit your whining!
... of course I am a petroleum engineer so I might be a bit biased.

 

Yuck - 93 premium here in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area is only about $3/gallon, or even a little less.

Unfortunately, I just found out that the Navy is sending me to Monterey, California for two years, and I'm afraid to even look up what the gas prices are there...

 

Yep that's about 30 minutes southwest of me...so probably about the same.

I drove to Phoenix a few weeks ago and when I crossed the CA/AZ state line gas dropped to under $3. I almost cried. I filled up both on the way in and the way out!

 

If it were me I'd apply your favorite paint cleaner, then polish and top it with your wax/sealant, just to be on the safe side

 

I first read the original post as the gas sprayed when taking the nozzle out of the filler after filling up, not before. Now I will be paranoid before and after fueling up.

On a previous car the pump decided I needed more gas and stayed on after the tank was full, pouring gas all down the side of the car.

Maybe it would be a good idea to keep a cheap MF towel in the boot just incase to wipe up any drips or sprayyyyyyys, I'm sure those "Swirl Brand" brown paper towels they provide aren't the best thing to use. Unless gas eats MF, anybody know?

ScottRiqui the gas may cost a little more but I bet you'll like Monterey, it's a nice place. Sorry no 93 octane only 91 now out here.

 

The Mini paint from the factory is not polyurethane based. It is an acrylic, but it is not polyurethane. It is far too soft to be polyurethane based.

The additives to gasoline is the problem. And if you leave it on the paint too long, it can stain or damage the paint. If you doubt this, then take a small bit of gasoline and drop it on sheet acrylic and watch what happens.

The bigger issue is the black plastic on the Mini. It has an affinity for petroleum based product and can absorb the chemicals in the gasoline causing it to look swelled in areas where it is absorbed. Ever allowed cosmoline to sit on the black plastic? It does the same thing, only it takes a little longer.

Again, get it off of there as quickly as possible.

Reapplying a sealant and wax should be done as a matter of course when you get fuel on the paint.

 

too lazy to read the above posts so here's my take on gas and also
how i pump gas.

gas does remove wax, so it is good that you went home either washed it
or QD'ed and Hydro'ed.

when i pump gas, i hit the "start" button on the pump, then point the
gas nozzle tip down to drip out the remains from the previous user.

then i point the tip upwards until i am well within the 'zone' of where
the car's gas filler can catch any drips.

then insert nozzle into the filler.

After the tank is full, pull out the nozzle while pointing the tip upwards
and pull straight towards you (and away from the car) and place back
onto the pump's holder.

no drips, no mess.

 

wish I could do this more often....

they don't allow us to pump our own gas here in NJ.

 

oh yah, some states are like that, huh? that really sucks.

best thing to do is get one of these fuel guards...

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....2520&SKU=45533

 

Yes, that's right. I'll sit right here while some guy who cares nothing about anything shoves a fuel nozzle into the tank of my BMW motorcycle. (which I happen to be sitting on ). NOT!

You're not supposed to pump your own in NJ, but having had the pleasure of being a pump jockey in my more formidible years , I feel quite comfortable pumping my own, thank you.

I can only ever remember once having an attendant tell me I couldn't. I left and spent my money elsewhere and pumped my own.


Ain't NJ great? :impatient

 

$3.46 at Chevron in Sunnyvale off Lawrence Exp/101

 

i think i paid only $3.44 at Shell V-Power last weekend when i filled up
my G. had about 1/3 left with $50 or something. cheap vs wat i was
paying about amonth ago a like $3.89 or something ($70 with 18gals).

 

Yeah, I dont like when people tell me I cant pump my own. But if you can fallow what ken said.

I got v power monday for 3.20 a gallon. The Shell right by me sells v power on monday for the same price as plus. Just try and top her off once a week.

 

I've never seen it happen before filling, but after filling there is always some amount of gas still dripping out of the handle, and often down your paint and staining your trim. As a result, I pull the handle out as quickly as possible to get some momentum on the drops so they go away from the car. I figure anyone seeing me do it must think I'm crazy.

 

i remove the nozzle very slow and gently point the tip upwards.

i can almost see that fast movement spark something and blowing up
your car.

 

Haha, better hope not! If I am worried, i also take a paper towel and fallow the nozel with it when its close to the paint...

 

On the road, I just use a paper towel and toss it when done.