Full Service Gas Stops

[Bruce Nunnally]

Once upon a time there were full service gas stations. For those of you who don't remember those, or have only seen them in old movies or TV shows, at a full service station the car owner would stay in their car. A gas attendant who was an employee of the station would come and inquire as to what type of gas was desired, how many gallons, and pump the gas. The attendant would also check the tire pressure, radiator coolant level, oil level, wind shield washer fluid, and general condition of the vehicle. The attendant would also clean the windows. The gas station sold maps as well, and often had a small rack of crackers or chips and a cold box with soft drinks.

Often gas stations also offered repair services, so checking the vehicle was a sales opportunity for service as well as concern for the safety of the vehicle. Also, the first fuel pumps were not tied to a remote reset mechanism as is the norm today. The attendant was expected to handle the 'dirty' job of pumping the fuel, but also to keep up with how much gas went in each vehicle.

Now there are very few full service gas stations, and when you stop for gas, you are the attendant. Did you know however that in addition to pumping the gas you are supposed to be checking all those other things that the traditional attendant did? The following paragraphs come out of the owner maintenance section of my 2005 CTS owner's manual:

Owner Checks and Services

These owner checks and services should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety, dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench dealer can assist you with these checks and services. Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once. Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.

At Each Fuel Fill

It is important to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.

Engine Oil Level Check

Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-16 for further details.

Notice: It is important to check your oil regularly and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your engine oil at the proper level can cause damage to your engine not covered by your warranty.

Engine Coolant Level Check

Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL® coolant mixture if necessary. See Engine Coolant on page 5-26 for further details.

Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check

Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if necessary.

Additionally, the owner's manual helpfully shows these monthly and annual checks that are recommended:

At Least Once a Month

Tire Inflation Check

Visually inspect your tires and make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. Do not forget to check your spare tire. See Tires on page 5-54 for further details. Check to make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull and then try to turn the spare tire. If it moves, tighten it. See Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-76.

At Least Once a Year

Starter Switch Check

{CAUTION:When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or others could be injured}

1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room around the vehicle.

2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular brake. See Parking Brake on page 2-34 if necessary. Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts.

3. On automatic transmission vehicles, try to start the engine in each gear. The starter should work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the starter works in any other position, contact your GM Goodwrench dealer for service.

On manual transmission vehicles, put the shift lever in NEUTRAL (N), push the clutch pedal down halfway and try to start the engine. The starter should work only when the clutch pedal is pushed

down all the way to the floor. If the starter works when the clutch is not pushed all the way down, contact your GM Goodwrench dealer for service.

Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control System Check

{CAUTION:When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or others could be injured.

1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level surface.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 2-34 if necessary. Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if the vehicle begins to move.

3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON, but do not start the engine. Without applying the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever moves out

of PARK (P), contact your GM Goodwrench dealer for service.

Ignition Transmission Lock Check

While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the ignition to OFF in each shift lever position.

• With an automatic transmission, the ignition should turn to OFF only when the shift lever is in PARK (P). The key should come out only in OFF.

• With a manual transmission, the ignition should turn to OFF only when the key release button is pressed. The key should come out only in OFF.

Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service is required.

Parking Brake and Automatic Transmission

Park (P) Mechanism Check

{CAUTION: When you are doing this check, your vehicle could begin to move. You or others could be injured and property could be damaged.

Make sure there is room in front of your vehicle in case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the regular brake at once should the vehicle begin to move.

Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the parking brake.

• To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the parking brake only.

• To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability: With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then release the parking brake followed by the regular brake.

Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service is required.

Underbody Flushing Service

At least every spring, use plain water to flush any corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris can collect.

[95SevilleSLS]

The only full service one we have in town just fills you up with gas. They don't even ask how much you want, they just start filling. I've always felt akward letting somebody else do stuff for me.

[jackc]

Once upon a time there were full service gas stations.

Those were the days!

My first job was at Don's Tire and Service Center (Texaco) at Abrams and LBJ in Dallas.

We had it down to a science. I could wait on 3 cars at once by myself, giving full service to each - windshields included.

It was a great gig for a high school kid, plus I had the full run of the shop - lifts, air tools, tire changers, balancers, brake lathe, etc. Sure wish I had access to all of that now......

[BodybyFisher]

Yep those where the days! I hate checking the oil with my dinner jacket on...

[Ranger]

I remember those days well.

[jackc]

Nowadays, my cars only see full-service when I change the oil. I may pull the stick and give it a once over if I'm about to go on the road.

I like to do my own oil changes so I can see and verify for myself. Places skip steps if I have it done. On my 00 blazer, the lower ball joint went bad at 56k miles. Dealer said they were dry. Interesting since they had done at least 2 oil changes themselves.

So I do it myself. It also enhances the owner/vehicle bonding.......

[PAUL T]

I saw a kid the other day with a newer Monte Carlo checking his oil with the engine running. I could tell right away he did not know what he was doing. He first pulled out the dipstick and wipes it on his "pajama" pants and puts it back in, then pulls it out and checks it and wipes it on his pants again and checks it again. I finally told him in order to check the oil he has to shut the engine off. He looked dumbfounded for a second then said "Oh". He then shut the engine off and wiped the dipstick on his pants again. Thats when I left. I should have ask if he checked the Headlight fluid also.

[lothos]

It's "blinker fluid" where I come from

[navion]

Back in 1970, I was driving from Southern Illinois to Upstate New York. I was driving a 1968 Chevy 2 door Caprice. I had just put a detuned 425 HP 396 in the car. It had all new belts and hoses. There were less than 300 miles on the installation.

I pulled into a Shell station in Sunbury Ohio to fill up. An attendant came running out & asked me what I needed. I replied to "fill her up with premium".

He started the pump & then went around to the front & started opening the hood. I told him to leave it alone that everything was OK. He went ahead and threw the hood up. and reached in by the alternator as I was coming around the drivers fender. I was yelling at him to leave it alone.

He immediately replied "It's a good thing that I checked, your alternator belt is about to fail." He was turning the belt over with his left hand to display a neat cut from the bottom side of the belt.

I noticed him hiding something in his right hand. So I grabbed his hand and twisted it around his back & forced him to drop what he was trying to hide.

I shoved him away & picked up what he had dropped. It was a razor knife blade inside a piece of heater hose with a wood dowel sticking out one end. It was made so the blade was concealed by the heater hose. The sharp edge would emerge through the slit when pressed up against something, like a "V" belt.

Needless to say, I expressed my displeasure with him and his parentage very loudly.

The station's owner came out to see what the problem was. Of course he denied that his helper had cut my belt. He still denied it when I showed him the razor knife. At that point I went to the pay phone to call the Sheriff. The owner then said "Wait, we'll put a new belt on for free."

I replied "Like Hell you will! I don't want either of you touching MY CAR!" I told them to get the belt & I would put it on myself.

I checked the part number & threw the belt in the car. In the meantime the helper had finished filling the car and had replaced the gas cap. (I checked).

At that point I got in the car & left. I pulled off the Interstate Near the intersection of I 271 & replaced the damaged belt.

I was still so angry that I got all the way past Cleveland before I realized that I hadn't paid for the gas!!

As a result of that incident, I NEVER let an attendant TOUCH anything under the hood. I am thankful for inside hood releases that are standard now.

BTW, I still have that razor knife somewhere!

[lothos]

Wow.

[Ranger]

I've heard many sties like that. I think 20/20 once did s segment on that type of shenanigans. They'd squirt oil on your shock and tell you that they where leaking. They where pretty embarrassed when shown the proof on tape.

[TDK]

If you want full service for "free", then drive to Oregon or New Jersey. I believe Oregon State law still requires all full service, but New Jersey may be going the other way.

"Self Service" has been around so long that it just seems weird when someone comes out to fuel your car.

Following is a link with some interesting tidbits; like its OK for Motorcyclists to pump gas and truckers to pump diesel.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/122013_virgin15.html

My wife still gets full service in her car, but the only time I'm allowed to drive it, is when it needs gas. That has only been a half-dozen times anyway, so we forget which side the fuel door is on. Its a 2008 Rabbit that is almost a year old, but still has less than 2,400-miles on it.

We usually drive my 2006 Chevy company truck around town on the expense account, (with some company purpose in mind of course). I had 3-flat tires because of one round trip to a customer about 2-weeks ago. 45-miles of rocky, gravel at speed will kill any tire of less the 6-10 plies.

The 1999 Caddy only sees the highway for trips.

Later,

[BodybyFisher]

Remember Atlantic Red Ball Service? I think Atlantic had those pumps that had a sightglass where you could see the gas spinning around, while it was pumping. I liked Atlantic, that later became ARCO.

When I was in high school, I worked 12 to 8 AM in an ARCO station, pumping gas and checking oil. I was required to check the oil on every car, and was given a hard time if I did not sell oil. I was once robbed at gun point, called the police and they were caught within sight of the station. I learned how to drive a stick on a Jag XJ12 and listened to the Allman Brothers Eat a Peach album in a RED 69 Eldorado with the top down, and drove my first HEMI with a three speed on the column in that station. We also worked on a Pantera. Pantera History (Interesting note in 89, the Pantera used a Getrag 6-speed transmission.) I quit because, my boss charged the client for a blower motor when all that was bad was a blown fuse.

Anyone remember Imperial gas? Sinclair? Cities Service? For you older gents out there, if you want to dust off some cob web memories, browse through the vintage gas pump album... wow where did they all go, I remember them like they were yesterday. I still like seeing the old style Texaco signs.

This is an interesting site full of lots of service station memorbilia, the old style gas pumps are interesting.

Gas Station Memorbilia

[BodybyFisher]

I hope I am not driving this thread off topic, but it just dawned on me that ARCO is Atlantic Richfield and I just found out that Richfield was the first company to discover oil in Alaska in 1957, yea baby... In 1966 Atlantic and Richman merged to become ARCO, I recall being upset by that.

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-his...ny-History.html

[WarrenJ]

The gas station sold maps as well, and often had a small rack of crackers or chips and a cold box with soft drinks.

Bruce, I'm apparently older than you. I remember when they gave the maps away for free! Oh boy!

Regards,

Warren

[Bruce Nunnally]

I remember when a "gas war" meant that gas stations lowered their prices heavily in competition with each other. I remember during one such extravaganza gas was $0.33 per gallon or so.

[jasper60103]

My mom hated it when self service became the norm.

My parents were recently divorced so she was forced to do

a lot of things she didn't have to deal with before.

She always said "Some things a lady shouldn't have to do".

During the transition, she would go out of her way and pay extra for full service,

then buy premium on top of that.

She eventually learned how to operate the pump, but

she always dreaded it.

[Texas Jim]

Warren,

I also remember when the maps were free.

It really irritated me when the transition started, and you had to ACTUALLY PAY for them.

When I was traveling... I would look for a station that still gave them away for free. Some stations had a sign out front.... FREE MAPS.

I would buy my gas and snacks THERE... not at a station that charged you for a map.

Remember when it only cost FIVE BUCKS to fill up with ETHYL?

I filled up last night...... SIXTY FIVE BUCKS..... not five.

Oh well...... life goes on...... just sometimes not the way we want it to.

[Texas Jim]

I remember when a "gas war" meant that gas stations lowered their prices heavily in competition with each other. I remember during one such extravaganza gas was $0.33 per gallon or so.

In 1964 (while in the Air Force) I was stationed in the Florida Panhandle. Eglin AF base.

I managed a full service GULF station.... later to become Chevron, in my spare time.

The owner paid me a small salary and a commission on how much gas was sold.

I tried the gas war thing, and found out (the hard way) that the price was set by GULF.

I hired nice looking young ladies to pump the gas.

Short shorts and halter tops were the preferred dress code.

Especially right after payday....the GI's would be lined up for a block sometimes.... just to get gas and have the windshield cleaned by the girls and try to talk to them.

It helped sales a lot.

[BodybyFisher]

Jim, in the same vein 'sex sells', a couple of years ago while I was in Virginia Beach with my 20 yo son and his two friends, I took them to a bikini car wash. It was worth the long wait, THEY, had a great time.

As a kid, I remember many of the gas jockeys having a hard time finding the Cadillac's gas cap which was usually nicely hidden in the rear light or behind the licence plate.

[navion]

Anyone remember Imperial gas? Sinclair? Cities Service? For you older gents out there, if you want to dust off some cob web memories, browse through the vintage gas pump album... wow where did they all go, I remember them like they were yesterday. I still like seeing the old style Texaco signs.

Sinclair's green "DINO" is still alive & selling gas in Missouri! Three weeks ago, I went to St. Louis and filled up the '03 SLS with Dino regular.

Gulf, Texaco, Sinclair, Standard, Humble, ESSO (Every Sucker Stops Once, really stands for Eastern Seaboard Standard Oil), and Sunoco are all extinct in the Illinois market.

We still have BP & Shell. A new Marathon station just opened in Marion, Illinois. I hadn't seen a Marathon station in years. There are lots of independents and local brands here.

I remember Ashland stations in Upstate New York.

If I am traveling & in a hurry, I usually try to stop in a Flying J truck stop. They usually have decent food, clean restrooms and good quality gas and diesel. Unfortunately, New York only has one. It is on the Thruway between Rochester and Buffalo.

Anyone remember Sunoco 260 gas? it was the highest octane pump gas that was available. They had a pump that blended a low octane cheap grade of fuel with a high octane, near aviation grade fuel. I think that there were six or eight blends available. We thought that the 80 cents a gallon for the Sunoco 260 was outrageous!

Britt

[BodybyFisher]

We have Sunoco here and they still have a high octane gas called Sunoco 94. I do remember 260 however and used it when I had a challenge against my Dad's 429's....

We also have Texaco here