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FIREJKP22 All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:588 Points:243,700 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 2, 2011 6:27:46 AM Ignore FIREJKP22 Report Abuse At the Sheetz here in Monroeville, Pa., which is the closest and only E85 pumps in the area (2 pumps back to back in 1 unit) I've noticed some issues with the pump lately. When someone else is on the other side using the other pump, it doesn't pump on my side. When the other person is done, and my side starts pumping, it still goes incredibly slow. Almost a gallon a minute basically. I've told management about this and they say it's being fixed, but this has been going on for weeks. Anyone else see this happen elsewhere?

FIREJKP22

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Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: May 2, 2011 6:27:46 AM

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At the Sheetz here in Monroeville, Pa., which is the closest and only E85 pumps in the area (2 pumps back to back in 1 unit) I've noticed some issues with the pump lately. When someone else is on the other side using the other pump, it doesn't pump on my side. When the other person is done, and my side starts pumping, it still goes incredibly slow. Almost a gallon a minute basically. I've told management about this and they say it's being fixed, but this has been going on for weeks. Anyone else see this happen elsewhere?

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1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:160,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 11, 2011 1:37:35 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse Let me know if I was right. Just curious.
FIREJKP22 All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:588 Points:243,700 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 9, 2011 4:28:38 PM Ignore FIREJKP22 Report Abuse This problem seemed to be fixed, as last time it ran at a faster speed. I might ask what was wrong just for my own curiosity.
gc9323 Rookie Author Georgia Posts:21 Points:86,340 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 6, 2011 9:49:46 AM Ignore gc9323 Report Abuse tjey r slow in ga. too
FIREJKP22 All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:588 Points:243,700 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 5, 2011 7:35:08 AM Ignore FIREJKP22 Report Abuse Lmao @ PhilT08
GBMAX Champion Author Phoenix Posts:4,664 Points:1,903,555 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 5, 2011 12:12:31 AM Ignore GBMAX Report Abuse Not really.
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,107 Points:121,715 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2011 7:20:32 PM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse maybe they programmed it to run like shocky.............DOH!!!!! DID I SAT THAT ?
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:160,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2011 2:20:39 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse That is the problem with chain c-stores. There is no owner who knows how everything works. Somebody needs to check it out ASAP because if it is leaking the pipe is spewing fuel every time the pump is turned on. Trust me, been there-done that. Changing the filter takes 5 minutes start to finish. Anybody can do it. Remove pump skirt, trip shear valve, remove filter, install new filter, activate shear valve (generally a 7/16th wrench), turn pump on and check for leaks and flow rate. If that does not work I ASSUME being a large chain store, they have electronic line leak detectors (one for each product). Probably mounted in a back room near the electrical panel. They are about 5" square and have a digital number on the face plate. If the number is flashing, you have a problem. Should be flashing a 1, 2, or 3 if it is a leak. 99 means you have lost communication. Other than that the only other thing I can think of at this moment is the sub pump is going out and cannot lift the product. Remove the big manhole cover (3' diameter) over the product sub-pump at the tank, put your foot on top of it and have someone turn on the pump. If working you will feel a nice smooth vibration. Fixing it is a different story. Well that should get you going and maybe make a good impression. Good luck.
FIREJKP22 All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:588 Points:243,700 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 3, 2011 8:51:50 AM Ignore FIREJKP22 Report Abuse I put in a complaint with the manager on duty. He said they'd have it looked into. Again...
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:160,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2011 11:10:53 PM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse Pumping that slow indicates the line leak detector has been tripped. Release the trigger and when it resets you should feel the hose surge as full flow is returned (generally less than 10 seconds). If it doesn't, they may have a faulty detector or it may indeed be leaking. Could be a loose filter, a leaking gasket, a faulty shear valve, a pin hole in the filter or several other things. Generally very easy to track down and repair if one knows what to look for.
James48843 Veteran Author Michigan Posts:258 Points:156,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 2, 2011 9:29:46 PM Ignore James48843 Report Abuse Another station owner told me this: Slow pump-- The recommended filter for retailers of E85 has been 1 or 2 micron in the past. Lately the 5 micron E85 filter has become available. One filter maker now has an e85 10 micron but I doubt it is much in use at this time. The 1 and 5 micron will last about 2 months on a high volume E85 dispenser. This will catch a retailer by surprise because the common filter on the gas products is 10 or 30 micron- some even use blanks (no element on gas). A 30 micron on gas will last 6 months to a year-thus the retailer forgets that his E85 dispenser needs to be looked at more frequently. BTW- I tried a 1 micron on gas and it lasted about 2 weeks ;D because gas is unfiltered all the way to the retail pump. E85 filters are rarely (i have never seen one) a "water detection" type because it is unneeded- many kinds of gas filters for E10 are "water detection" slow down/plug types. THE RETAILER SHOULD DEFINITELY BE TOLD- REMEMBER HE LIKELY DOES NOT OWN AN FFV AND WITHOUT USING A STOPWATCH WHILE YOU PUMP WILL NOT KNOW THE FLOW RATE. Law limits max flow to 10 gpm-- If you pump 1/10 gal per second this is 6 gpm. If it drops below this rate then the filter will go down fast because the few open remaining pores will fill fast with particulates. If flow reaches 3 gpm ( 0.05 gal/sec )-- you will definitely notice and be very annoyed-especially if you are filling a 30 gallon Yukon. They can drop from 5 gpm to 3 gpm in one day! We have 36 E85 filters out there and it is hard to catch one that for some reason dropped flow before the scheduled change day- this can happen due to filter makers change in filter media.
James48843 Veteran Author Michigan Posts:258 Points:156,495 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 2, 2011 9:23:49 PM Ignore James48843 Report Abuse Possible problems: #1- low fuel level in the tank. This might be why it's acting as you describe. #2- If it is significantly slow (as you describe) then it is very possible it has a clogged filter. Ask them if they have changed the filter lately. #3 There is also a type of filter used that includes a gel that slows it to a crawl if exposed to water. That type of filter is designed to go slow so that it triggers the station to check for water in the E85. Tell them it's a serious problem and ask who is their fuel supplier. If it's not a problem with the supply, it could be that there tank is leaking water from outside INTO the tank (#4). That's even worse. Tell them either they change the filter and fix the problem, or you're going to tell everyone on the internet about the problem (which you are). [Edited by: James48843 at 5/2/2011 10:25:15 PM EST]
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,107 Points:121,715 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 2, 2011 3:11:29 PM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse there is only 1 E85 pump around here and it does seem to pump slower than a regular gasoline pump but when someone is on the other side filling their tank it does not affect it any.