Wisconsin Pumps Inaccurate
MILWAUKEE -- An analysis of nearly 60,000 gas pump inspections during the past two years reveal that more than 2,000 pumps delivered an inaccurate amount of fuel than what the meter displayed, reported the Journal Sentinel.
In about 600 cases, it was a benefit to motorists -- on average, faulty pumps dispensed approximately half a teaspoon more per gallon, the report stated.
In one case -- at Weber's of Brillion in Calumet County -- the station dispensed about four gallons extra for every 15 gallons of gas pumped in October, according to the paper.
"If it was that significant of an amount, I probably reacted immediately to get it corrected," Dennis Weber, owner of the station, told the paper. Weber added that he doesn't remember this problem.
On the other hand, there's Kettle Citgo in Waukesha County, which was cited as the station that shorted customers more than any other in southeastern Wisconsin, the report stated. In May, customers paid for a little more than a half-gallon for every 15 gallons bought -- close to $2 worth of gas -- that they never received.
The station owner, Bruce Hanke, told the paper the shortage was a result of a broken part in the pump.
"I don't do anything to rip off any customers," he said. "(The pumps are) tested yearly, and any problems are taken care of immediately."
While the majority of pumps in the state are correct, inspection records show that approximately 3.5 percent of stations inspected didn't pump the same amount of gas that registered on the meter, the report stated.
Racine County had the largest percentage of problem pumps -- 7 percent -- followed by Milwaukee, which reported 5 percent of its pumps were failing.
Consumers were surprised by the findings.
"I didn't know that some gas stations undercut you. That stinks," Barb Schulte of Shorewood, told the paper while filling up her tank at Appleby's station in Glendale, Wis. "I think it should be what they advertise."
"I thought it was a very precise process," said Kimberly Urbain, while filling up her car at a Sendik's in Bayside, Wis. "An honest day's work for an honest day's pay. An honest gallon of gas for what you pay for it."
In about 600 cases, it was a benefit to motorists -- on average, faulty pumps dispensed approximately half a teaspoon more per gallon, the report stated.
In one case -- at Weber's of Brillion in Calumet County -- the station dispensed about four gallons extra for every 15 gallons of gas pumped in October, according to the paper.
"If it was that significant of an amount, I probably reacted immediately to get it corrected," Dennis Weber, owner of the station, told the paper. Weber added that he doesn't remember this problem.
On the other hand, there's Kettle Citgo in Waukesha County, which was cited as the station that shorted customers more than any other in southeastern Wisconsin, the report stated. In May, customers paid for a little more than a half-gallon for every 15 gallons bought -- close to $2 worth of gas -- that they never received.
The station owner, Bruce Hanke, told the paper the shortage was a result of a broken part in the pump.
"I don't do anything to rip off any customers," he said. "(The pumps are) tested yearly, and any problems are taken care of immediately."
While the majority of pumps in the state are correct, inspection records show that approximately 3.5 percent of stations inspected didn't pump the same amount of gas that registered on the meter, the report stated.
Racine County had the largest percentage of problem pumps -- 7 percent -- followed by Milwaukee, which reported 5 percent of its pumps were failing.
Consumers were surprised by the findings.
"I didn't know that some gas stations undercut you. That stinks," Barb Schulte of Shorewood, told the paper while filling up her tank at Appleby's station in Glendale, Wis. "I think it should be what they advertise."
"I thought it was a very precise process," said Kimberly Urbain, while filling up her car at a Sendik's in Bayside, Wis. "An honest day's work for an honest day's pay. An honest gallon of gas for what you pay for it."