BajaNomad

Can you pump your own gas?

yukonron - 12-23-2014 at 04:25 PM

My husband really doesn't like the idea of someone else filling our motorcycle. Is it ok to ask the attendant if you can pump your own gas? How would you ask that? We would gladly tip him for allowing us to do it ourselves.

bajabuddha - 12-23-2014 at 04:32 PM

You can ask; he/she doesn't have to say yes, but at least let them set the pump for you (and watch the dials, although most stations have newer pumps that's becoming a non-issue). Don't assume you can just pull the nozzle and set the pump by yourself.

My Fix Or Repair Daily is a biotch to fill, the 'foma' makes the pressure sensor click off all the time, so I offer to tend the nozzle so they can wait on other customers as the kick-stand on the squeezer won't stay put. I still tip them, and even more if they do my windows too.

bajaguy - 12-23-2014 at 04:50 PM

What do you do in Oregon??....Do they still pump gas for customers there??
Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
My husband really doesn't like the idea of someone else filling our motorcycle. Is it ok to ask the attendant if you can pump your own gas? How would you ask that? We would gladly tip him for allowing us to do it ourselves.

bajabuddha - 12-23-2014 at 04:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
How would you ask that? ....

Once the attendant has set the pump, I say "con permiso, por favor?" You can include "me prefera" (yo prefera? ...a little help, fluent ones...). Also, they like not having to make a lot of little change, so try to hit a round number dinero-wise for them.

aguachico - 12-23-2014 at 05:03 PM

I have never had a problem pumping my gas into my boat. They handle the pump, you handle the gas. Less work for the pemex worker, that's a no brainer.

AKgringo - 12-23-2014 at 05:11 PM

I will tip for windows, especially if they ask before starting on a clean one. I check my own tires, but offering to check them works in their favor. Tipping for pumping, they occasionally do that themselves either in making change or shutting of the pump ten pesos or so short of the next large round number (eg. $290 Pesos) hoping to keep the change.
Unless it is blatant, it is not something I am going to let ruin my day.

KurtG - 12-23-2014 at 06:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
My husband really doesn't like the idea of someone else filling our motorcycle. Is it ok to ask the attendant if you can pump your own gas? How would you ask that? We would gladly tip him for allowing us to do it ourselves.


I always pump my own motorcycle gas and the attendants seem to expect it from motorcyclists. A smile and a friendly "permiso?" has worked for me for 40 years. I have never had an attendant be upset and I always tip.

Marc - 12-23-2014 at 06:40 PM

Wow! just let it go.:D

yukonron - 12-23-2014 at 07:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
What do you do in Oregon??....Do they still pump gas for customers there??

Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
My husband really doesn't like the idea of someone else filling our motorcycle. Is it ok to ask the attendant if you can pump your own gas? How would you ask that? We would gladly tip him for allowing us to do it ourselves.


I don't do anything in Oregon! We live in Alaska. In several places I read that the Pemex attendant pumps the gas.

yukonron - 12-23-2014 at 07:08 PM

Sounds good, Kurt. Thanks to everyone who had such helpful answers. To everyone else...whatever!

mary

[Edited on 12-24-2014 by yukonron]

MulegeAL - 12-23-2014 at 07:43 PM

No problema pumping gas into your own bike at Pemex.

If you buy gas from a local out of a can like at Catavina or Bay of LA junction, you get to hold the funnel and they pour the gas!

Looking forward to hearing about your experiences travelling down south in baja vs. all the reading you have done while way up north.

Reminds me of the bear stories I heard as I roamed north up the Cassiar Hwy and then on into the Yukon and Alaska. Farther north I went the wilder and crazier the bear stories got!

Oregon info

bajaguy - 12-23-2014 at 07:44 PM

I was referring to purchasing gas in Oregon. Wondering if the attendants still pump gas for people
Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
What do you do in Oregon??....Do they still pump gas for customers there??

Quote: Originally posted by yukonron  
My husband really doesn't like the idea of someone else filling our motorcycle. Is it ok to ask the attendant if you can pump your own gas? How would you ask that? We would gladly tip him for allowing us to do it ourselves.


I don't do anything in Oregon! We live in Alaska. In several places I read that the Pemex attendant pumps the gas.

chavycha - 12-23-2014 at 08:19 PM

Yes, they do in Oregon. It's more than a little annoying when you get to a mega-station with 16 pumps, 100 cars waiting, and one guy working the afternoon rush shift.

Also annoying in that you can't just pull up to a gas station after hours and pump your own. I've been stuck waiting overnight a few times in SE Oregon when the local station wasn't open on Sunday (or closed early just because).

RnR - 12-23-2014 at 10:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
I was referring to purchasing gas in Oregon. Wondering if the attendants still pump gas for people



The attendants still pump the gas. It's a state law.

bajabuddha - 12-23-2014 at 11:34 PM

BN STRIKES AGAIN!

I think Jeff Dunham's terrorist Achmed showed up here, and this thread ended up in
Ore-
GONE. :smug:

I KEEL YOU !! Merry chris..... er, happy honuk....... oh, nevermind. bbkkkkk .....:lol:

Jaybo - 12-24-2014 at 02:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
What do you do in Oregon??....Do they still pump gas for customers there??


Yes we get to sit in our car and let someone else stand in the rain and pump our gas ;)

There is an esception in the State law that allows M/C riders to pump their own gas so that is a non-issue. It's the same for truckers who also can pump their own, so when we are traveling with the RV I generally go to the truck lanes and pump my own (Diesel) without complaint.

yukonron - 12-24-2014 at 09:58 AM

I was thinking along the same lines, MulegeAl. So many of the visitors that come to Alaska are worried about bears. I think some of the locals happily play into those fears with embellished bear stories. And most folks, visitor and local alike never see the critters, except in certain areas at certain times of the year!

We will be crossing at Tecate today, so hopefully I will have lots of Baja adventures to share here. Thanks.

AKgringo - 12-24-2014 at 10:05 AM

You folks have a wonderful trip! The only hijacking you will have to worry about happens on this forum.
Sheesh, so many answers that had nothing to do with your question!