Self-Serve Fueling - how do you not know how to do this?

So, I've heard in the news how an entire State (Oregon?) of drivers are now going to have to pump their own gas. I am incredulous as to how this is causing a controversy. How the heck can this be so difficult to learn to do? I am shocked by the backlash over this. This isn't rocket science. I am serious here; shouldn't such things be a condition of driving in the first place?

I remember when I was a child and self-serve gas became the thing in California. Many drivers were outraged; they were used to a gas station attendant pumping their gas.

Oregonians will adapt. For now...meh...let them vent.

I didn't even know that places existed that you still have an attendant. Haven't had that around here since I was a very little kid (I'm 48)

Yeah, I'm shocked they still have people who pump gas, and have they never gone out of state? It's not exactly a new concept.

I can't remember the last time I saw a place with an attendant to pump the gas. Self-serve first started not long after I started driving. Personally I like the self-serve pumps that let you pay at the pump. Swipe my card, pump my gas and away I go. I always felt weird sitting in the car while an attendant waited on me.

I remember attendants fondly. They washed the windshield, checked the oil and gas cost less than a buck a gallon. Of course cars back then ate both oil and gas. Newer cars are easier on both, still I loved pulling in and not having to get out in cold weather to get gas. Oregon gets pretty cold in parts I bet they don't like the idea of having to self serve in cold weather. It's an adjustment.

I remember when the attendant (always a young man) would run (in uniform) out of the gas station lobby, jog over to the car as soon as it pulled up. He'd raise the hood and check the oil. Then check tire pressure, then pump gas. My dad (being a New Yorker) always tipped the attendant. This would have been in the mid-late 60's. In the early 70's most people were pumping their own gas, but an attendant was available. Then the attendant totally disappeared by the mid-70's and I remember older folks complaining mightily.

We still have self serve and full serve pumps here. I love full serve when its cold out and I'm at a station that offers it. The majority of the time though I use self serve. I hate getting gas, but its kind of necessary for driving. Lol

Oregon? I clearly recall pumping our own gas in Oregon (by California border), so not sure what they are talking about.

Full service is fewer and further between here. I remember true full service when I was younger. My mom would go out of her way for full service, to be quite honest. I doubt she pumped a gallon in her life. I was the hey, let me, how cool is this regarding self serve.
I'm rather amazed at seeing some of the reactions about the switch, but I can appreciate the resistance to such a drastic demand by the government. Say what?!

I remember full-service, too, but I haven't seen it in a long time either. It just takes someone showing a person how to do it. Of course, it's so much easier to stay in the car and let someone else do the work. I can understand the anger, but it really isn't that hard to do, as you suggest.

Here in N.J. there is no self serve gas stations, all stations have attendants.
Honestly I hope it never changes but I am sure at some point it will.
Gas stations that are not self serve create more jobs for people and also if you are going out somewhere and happen to be all dressed up, it is nice not to have to deal with dirty gas pumps. In the end having no attendants is just another way these companies save money.

its still mandatory in New Jersey

Here is my take. If full serve so desired and popular in the state of Oregon, then it seems to me that businesses would be happy to continue to offer it as there would be sufficient want on the part of people to sustain the business model, and those few brave souls who chose to pump there own can save money. I do not see why then force has to be brought to bear here or the heavy hand of Oregon state government to get stations to offer full serve, seems to me the market would solve this problem easily.

As for dirty petrol, one can either wear work gloves, or keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer with them in the car, its not that hard folks.

As for keeping these people employed, again if its market driven then so be it, everyone wins, but if its only due to a law, sorry every "protectionist" has this wrong, its not the government's responsibility to protect obsolescence. I am all for choice, I am against legislation that removes those choices.

For those Oregonians who are having issues Road and Track put out a step by step guide on its site for self pumping fuel.

1. Put out your cigarette/cigar/pipe/joint/blunt/other thing you may be smoking before you get to the station. Fire and gas are bad together!

2. Park with your fuel filler cap facing the pump. You can determine which side your filler is on from the little arrow on your fuel gauge.

3. Pop the fuel filler door, either by unlocking your doors or with a release switch or button in your car. You know how to do this, as you've done it for an attendant for years. Now you're doing it for yourself.

4. Exit your car. To do this, you open the door and step out, just like you would any other time you get out of the car, be it at home or the store.

5. If you're paying with a credit card, just walk on up to the pump and stick that sucker in. You'll likely need to enter your zip code too. If you're paying with cash, walk inside and talk to the cashier, tell them you want $XX on Pump #XX (the number is usually on the top of the pump), and they'll activate that for you.

6. Remove the nozzle and put it in the fuel filler. If you have a cap on your filler (some cars don't!), turn it left to loosen (lefty loosey) and remove it. Most cars have a spot on the fuel filler door to put your cap.

7. Choose your fuel grade. You've been telling the attendant what you want for years, so if it helps, say something to yourself like "fill it with regular" and then push the button that says 87 on it.

8. Pull the lever on the nozzle to start the flow of fuel. On some older pumps, you may need to flip up the nozzle's holder to tell the pump you're ready for the sweet, sweet flow of gas to start.

9. Hold the lever fully on. It'll stop when full and pop. If it doesn't stay on at the start, try less pressure. You can feel the resistance in the lever to tell you when the tank is full. Some stations have a clip that will keep the pump on until the tank is full, which is convenient when it's freezing, but it's not everywhere and doesn't always work. Don't try to top off your tank after it stops, as this is how you spill fuel on yourself, the ground, and the car.

10. Carefully remove the nozzle and put it back in its spot at the pump. If you rotate it as you remove it so the open end faces up, you avoid getting any gas on your car which may damage the paint.

11. Put your gas cap back on. Twist it to the right (righty tighty).

12. Take your receipt, if you want a receipt.

13. Enjoy your car until it needs a fill up

I like self-serve even in freezing cold weather. Have always been a DIY'er. I'm old enough to remember attendents but dont remember the transition very clearly. I alwaus keep a gallon of gas in my truck as I have been known to run on fumes hoping just to make it to the gas station. Luving on the farm in the country, gas stations are NOT conveniently located & are only in town. I aksi dont think ahead & am usually pumping gas when I'm dressed up to go somewhere. Such is life....no big deal.

Completely disagree.

I use both and in my observation there are as many employees at the self serve bar as the full serve.

They will still come out and help you. There are handi-capped drivers, elderly, and (sigh) those that don't know how. There are those inside the retail section of the station and those about cleaning the interior and exterior of it. I visit the self serve down the street and don't think I've seen any less than five staff on shift.

But, even if the argument about jobs does hold water, how the heck does one still not know how? Isn't this taught during driving lessons? How can you spend a life time driving and never leave a state? How do you not know the most basic information about your car?

This is ludicrous and mind boggling.

I grew up in Oregon and my dad used to manage a gas station. It was easy for college kids to make some money that way.

However, I've pumped my own gas when I had my own vehicle and in below zero temps in Nebraska.

I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

I used to love having an attendant pump the gas for me. Now I'm used to doing it myself and I don't mind.

I read that one of the main reasons behind the change is concern over the health of the attendants. (And maybe fear of getting sued.) It seems that attendants pumping gas all day were breathing in a lot of gasoline fumes. All that ends up in the bloodstream and getting filtered by the liver. Not good.

When I'm pumping gas, I walk away, upwind of the pump, to where I can't smell it. I figure that's healthier.

I agree that if you can't pump your own gas you have been living a very sheltered life. I know you are from Canada so I am not sure if you realize
just how busy a N.J. gas station can be and how many pumps some stations
have. Some station here have 5 or 6 or more attendants pumping gas almost
non stop. So the jobs thing does hold water in a time when jobs are getting
harder to come by.