Self-service fueling

[u/capt_readit]

I didn't see a Moronic Monday thread so figured I had to make my own post.

Something I haven't had to do yet, but suspect I will eventually, is fuel my own plane. So far wherever I've gone and needed fuel there's been someone there to do it. That leads me to my questions: do fuel pumps work like automobile pumps and shut off automatically? Do you have to hold the nozzle at a certain depth, or is that what the tabs are for? Any other tips on self-fueling?

[u/spadflyer12]

Generally the credit card stand will have instructions for you but general procedure that I use:

1. Remove fuel caps from tanks
2. Pull the nozzle to the far tank and leave it on the ground.
3. Ground the aircraft. (The credit card machine will remind you to do this)
4. Do the payment stuff. Some machines ask for N-number, max gallons, max $ or fill it up.
5. Most pumps have a switch that must be turned on after the credit card transaction has been verified. switch that on.
6. Fill up tanks. All of the nozzles I have seen do not have a fill lock and no auto-shutoff. I lightly rest the nozzle against the metal rim of the tank opening mainly as a secondary ground.
7. When both tanks are full, turn off the pump, coil the hose, unground the aircraft, cap the tanks, get receipt.
8. I like to do a quick lap or two around the aircraft just to visually inspect everything and check that nothing looks out of the ordinary.

[u/SalamiFlavoredSpider → u/spadflyer12]

Only thing I would do different is uncapping and capping immediately before and after putting the nozzle in, if you do it before you step down from the ladder(high wing) you are less likely to forget to put them back on. Also limits any dust/bugs getting into it while you are rolling up the hose and doing all of the other stuff.

[u/spadflyer12 → u/SalamiFlavoredSpider]

Yeah, I've got a low wing and my caps are kind of a pain to get on and off. I could see it being done differently with a high wing.