Frozen pumps???

[exrm193]

I phoned a garage yesterday to see if they had LPG. The guy said yes, but not until about 10am because of a frozen pump??
Is this common??? Am I better off filling up at night??

Thanks

[Gilbertd]

Only in the middle of winter where rain or snow has frozen on the pump. Where are you?

[exrm193]

Luton!!

[SimonHobson]

Can't say I've heard of it myself, and I can't see any mechanism for it either with many pumps. The only situation I can think of would be if the pump has an exposed drive (ie separate pump and motor with exposed shaft between). In that case, it's possible that water could freeze on the shaft - but I still find it a tad hard to believe that it would freeze it solid.

[Clifford Pope]

In my experience it's the operator who freezes!

[SimonHobson]

Indeed. Is it just my local ones, or is it common to find the LPG pump either at the most exposed corner, or out across the yard on it's own and not under the canopy ?

[mat_fenwick]

That sounds about right! Although Shell seem to often have the pumps actually on the forecourt - but then you have the problem of someone blocking it while they fill with diseasel, despite all the other pumps being free...

[SimonHobson]

Yes, I have that one at the local Morrisons - although the pump is only LPG and petrol so at least we don't get to wait for diesel users.
It's also the only pump that doesn't do "Pay at pump" - but it's also only one (the other is the petrol/diesel on in the same aisle) of two that still allows "Pay at kiosk", the other two aisles having gone Pay at pump only.

[Dualtechuk]

Pay at pump only, whats that all about Everyone queeing up at the kiosk pumps and no bugger using the pay at pump only!! Cant they just be both Spose it will catch on in the end, but not for me.

[SimonHobson]

Plenty of people are using the pay at pump only ones - and our local ASDA doesn't even have a kiosk now ! They also didn't put LPG in when they completely rebuilt the petrol station bit

[Gilbertd]

There is probably some safety legislation that says an LPG pump must be manned so can't be pay at pump. I know some of the French filling stations have no staff on and are pay at pump only at night so the LPG pump is locked as the station must be manned while LPG is dispensed. As most H&S legislation is Europe wide, I suspect it's the same over here.

[mat_fenwick]

…and try filling up with LPG over there after supermarket closing time! Especially when the buggers close up 15 minutes early On the upside nearly every motorway service station sells it though.

[antimony]

There is probably some safety legislation that says an LPG pump must be manned so can't be pay at pump. I know some of the French filling stations have no staff on and are pay at pump only at night so the LPG pump is locked as the station must be manned while LPG is dispensed. As most H&S legislation is Europe wide, I suspect it's the same over here.

I sometimes use the Asda in Liverpool (just off Queens Drive) and that is an unmanned station including LPG.

[demonicwillow]

Most of my lpg fills are in Morrissons, there are 3 rows or lanes of pumps and like most can be used both sides of the pumps, the lpg pump is in lane 1, there is a petrol/diesel pump first then the lpg pump then a huge space and then another petrol/diesel pump, a few times this has happened to me now when I pull into the lane and stop by the pump, some gobby type person gets out their car and starts shouting "pull up to the other pump you selfish b**tard" so I calmly ask why would I want to do that ?? I need the lpg pump and its not my fault if Morrissons put it in a ridiculous place usually get an apology but one guy did go into the kiosk and rant at the staff about it, its not their fault either