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RVer mistakes gas station fuel tank for dump station

By Russ and Tiña De Maris

[Editor: See below for more information about this incident.]

Add this to your “Sadder, but wiser RVer” file. An unnamed RVer pulled into a North Atlantic fuel station in Grand-Falls Windsor, Newfoundland, last Tuesday. His RV’s black tank needing to be emptied, he pulled up to the RV dump station, opened the lid, hooked up, and “bombs away!” Another service station customer noticed the earnest dumper, and mentioned it to the station attendant.

Here’s the problem: It appears the station didn’t have a dump station for RVers. Rather, the RVer had actually pulled the lid up on the regular gas fuel dump, set up for fuel delivery drivers to drop a load of GASOLINE, not black water.

The attendant immediately cut off the regular fuel pumps, and posted signs indicating that while diesel and a small amount of Supreme would be available, regular was out of stock. There would be that necessary delay for a pump truck to come and pump out the contaminated fuel and refill with clean gas.

This writing team recalls an incident on a downtown Idaho street some years ago. Pulling up to the city-provided dump station, the “nameless” dumper hooked up the sewer hose to their black water dump port, located underneath the floor. Having failed to check the security of the fitting, that same nameless one pulled the black water tank lever – and was instantly doused with some unspeakably foul liquid. We won’t go into that same individual having to strip down in public, while the other partner liberally hosed the unfortunate one down with a hose.

Had an embarrassing incident with your holding tanks? We’d love to hear about it for a future article. Drop us a line at Russ atsign rvtravel.com .


UPDATE July 19: For those of you who are claiming we are posting fake news, here’s a copy of the message the Grand Falls-Windsor North Atlantic gas station posted on their FB page after the incident on July 14:

“We had an unfortunate incident at our Lincoln Road location this morning. An RV driver mistook one of our fuel tank for a dumping station and dumped his black water in the tank. Thankfully an alert customer noticed what was happening and advised our staff. We immediately shut down our regular gas as a result. Unfortunately we are currently unable to serve regular gas, however we do have diesel. We are also trying to maintain a supply of supreme gas but due to the small size of that tank, supply will be limited. The good news is that on Tuesday morning crews will be on site to empty and clean the tank and we hope to have new gas in the tank by the end of day tomorrow. Thank you to all our customers for your support and we really appreciate your patience as we work to rectify this situation.”

Here’s their update on July 15:

**************UPDATE**************
“Letting our customers know that crews have completed their work as of 1PM on July 15th and we are now serving regular gas again. All gasoline in the tank was removed, the tank was thoroughly cleaned and new gas was put in the tank. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you soon!”

Here’s a link to their FB page if you still don’t believe us: https://www.facebook.com/Grand-Falls-Windsor-North-Atlantic-653875481389598/

##RVT957b

Russ and Tiña De Maris
Russ and Tiña De Maris
Russ and Tiña went from childhood tent camping to RVing in the 1980s when the ground got too hard. They've been tutored in the ways of RVing (and RV repair) by a series of rigs, from truck campers, to a fifth-wheel, and several travel trailers. In addition to writing scores of articles on RVing topics, they've also taught college classes for folks new to RVing. They authored the book, RV Boondocking Basics.


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Neil Schmidt (@guest_104221)
3 years ago

Another example of the old phrase, “You can’t fix STUPID!”

BILLY Bob Thronton (@guest_87916)
3 years ago

Please, someone enter this in the Guiness book of world records, for the most expensive RV dump ever.

Brian Holmes (@guest_87850)
3 years ago

Hard to believe there are people that stupid out there. This is not a boo-boo or entertaining or education it`s raw stupidity with money. Wonder why there are so many Law suits? This guy is the reason, no doubt wants to blame the station for having gas fill area that looked like an RV dump station.

Really (@guest_117051)
2 years ago
Reply to  Brian Holmes

It’s not hard to believe there are that many STUPID people out there! It used to be a occasional thing, “NOW ITS THE NORM”!

Bob P (@guest_117068)
2 years ago
Reply to  Really

This goes to my theory of colleges spending the freshman year removing common sense so they can install college education in its place. Similar to military boot camp spending the first 4 weeks removing all that civilian junk and replacing it with a military mind. Lol

Vanessa Simmons (@guest_87796)
3 years ago

No comment on the first part except more RV education needed there. On the second story…That is one of the reasons I always pull the grey tank first to let a little out to check for leaks. Easier to clean up than a black tank blow out.

Thom (@guest_87776)
3 years ago

And we wonder why the public talks abiut us behind our backs

t hartman (@guest_87623)
3 years ago

I thought that here in the states, you needed a special spanner wrench to unscrew the cap on the fuel dump.

Rob Sorensen (@guest_87656)
3 years ago
Reply to  t hartman

Actually, NO.
The cAp has snap lock handles, similar to the cam locks on fuel hose fittings, fuel,tankers etc.
No tools are needed to remove the tank fill caps.
Spent many a year servicing Gulf and Arco tankers in Chicago.
Did the RVr have to pay the costs for pumping and cleaning?
Rob

mzmo (@guest_90033)
3 years ago
Reply to  t hartman

I dont know but it was in Newfoundland.

Alvin (@guest_87597)
3 years ago

Probably like the evening news we’d be better consider this entertained than informed.

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  Alvin

Alvin, please see my reply to Ken, below. Or look at the post again. It’s been updated. —Diane at RVtravel.com

Thomas (@guest_87586)
3 years ago

I’ve never seen a fuel dump locked
During the gas crisis in the 70’s it was not unusual to hear of someone parking over a tank and pumping it into barrels in a van.

Rob Sorensen (@guest_87660)
3 years ago
Reply to  Thomas

Yep
Research Almarc Manufacturing in Chicago, actulally Bensenville Illinois.
He got his start in the petroleum industry by parking a six wheel tanker over fuel fills in stations that had received fuel. Pumped it out and sold it back the next day.
Name?
Alvin Reuben

Demise?
Sold the bank of Delaware that he had 100,000 gallons of ethylene glycol for manufacturing of automotive antifreeze, by dropping 3 inch pvc pipes, capped on the bottom, into the tank farm fill openings.
Simply filled the pipes with virgin glycol, and when tank levels were checked with a stick, 5hey showed full, when in fact , dead empty….one of his drivers ratted this out to the bank, and Almarc Manufacturing became a Chicago embarrassment.
Had the misfortune of being a class 8 truck mechanic for Almarc back then….
Rob

agesilaus (@guest_87583)
3 years ago

Every fuel fill connector in a gas station that I’ve seen is locked. Otherwise someone could pull up and drop a hose down and pump free gas. I don’t believe this story.

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  agesilaus

agesilaus, please see my reply to Ken, below. Or look at the post again. It’s been updated. —Diane at RVtravel.com

Lily W (@guest_90034)
3 years ago
Reply to  agesilaus

If you read the story, it was in Newfoundland. Who knows what they have there?

Louie (@guest_87566)
3 years ago

My compositing toilet idea is looking better and better!

J.P.M. (@guest_87554)
3 years ago

No, this is a fake story.

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  J.P.M.

J.P.M., please see my reply to Ken, below. Or look at the post again. It’s been updated. —Diane at RVtravel.com

Edstep (@guest_87548)
3 years ago

My question would be. Alzheimer or Nubie???

Ken (@guest_87536)
3 years ago

Sorry. I cannot believe this story. Fake News

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  Ken

Hey, Ken. Here’s a copy of the message the Grand Falls-Windsor North Atlantic gas station posted on their FB page after the incident on July 14:

“We had an unfortunate incident at our Lincoln Road location this morning. An RV driver mistook one of our fuel tank for a dumping station and dumped his black water in the tank. Thankfully an alert customer noticed what was happening and advised our staff. We immediately shut down our regular gas as a result. Unfortunately we are currently unable to serve regular gas, however we do have diesel. We are also trying to maintain a supply of supreme gas but due to the small size of that tank, supply will be limited. The good news is that on Tuesday morning crews will be on site to empty and clean the tank and we hope to have new gas in the tank by the end of day tomorrow. Thank you to all our customers for your support and we really appreciate your patience as we work to rectify this situation.”

Here’s their update on July 15:
**************UPDATE**************
“Letting our customers know that crews have completed their work as of 1PM on July 15th and we are now serving regular gas again. All gasoline in the tank was removed, the tank was thoroughly cleaned and new gas was put in the tank. Thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you soon!”

Here’s a link to their FB page if you still don’t believe us: https://www.facebook.com/Grand-Falls-Windsor-North-Atlantic-653875481389598/
Diane at RVtravel.com

Kurt Shoemaker Sr (@guest_87523)
3 years ago

So the guy didn’t notice there wasn’t a water supply line available to wash down the area ?
There is something stinky with this story.

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago

Kurt, please see my reply to Ken, above. Or look at the post again. It’s been updated. —Diane at RVtravel.com

Linda B (@guest_87522)
3 years ago

What about the fuel tank itself? Was pumping out the bad fuel enough, or was it still “contaminated?” How would you know you weren’t still getting fouled fuel once “new” fuel was delivered?

Jim Foreman (@guest_87567)
3 years ago
Reply to  Linda B

There should be a water separator between the underground tanks and the pump that would catch any non-fuel liquid. It’s called a Gas-collator (stacks the fuel and water in separate layers).

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  Linda B

The story was updated this morning (go back to the article) with the gas station’s post from their FB page, which explains what happened and how they fixed it. —Diane at RVtravel.com

Terry (@guest_87520)
3 years ago

Also in Twin Falls Idaho once the owner of a chain of gas stations delivered a load of gas to one of his stations when the regular drive was unavailable. He opened the sewer lid and dumped a tanker load of gas down the sewer.

Captn John (@guest_87504)
3 years ago

Not only are they among us in greater numbers but they vote and reproduce

Michael Roach (@guest_87519)
3 years ago
Reply to  Captn John

and they reproduce much more frequently than the rest of us. Sad.

Ray Leissner (@guest_87525)
3 years ago
Reply to  Captn John

Not only that, they drive too!

LiVan_Life (@guest_87727)
3 years ago
Reply to  Captn John

Not called for. Not so bright folks where all hats.

Doug (@guest_88186)
3 years ago
Reply to  Captn John

I saw this sign on a recent trip upstate NY:

“We all know that you can’t fix stupid.
But now we know you can quarantine it.”

Claudio (@guest_87503)
3 years ago

Well, he is a newfie …

littleleftie (@guest_87509)
3 years ago
Reply to  Claudio

Nope. The guy in question was “from away”.

Camping Dude (@guest_87530)
3 years ago
Reply to  littleleftie

Far, Far Away

Notfunny (@guest_87499)
3 years ago

For those who Listened to Paul Harvey on the Radio: “And now, the Rest of the Story”???

So what happened to the CLOWN who dumped his waste in the FUEL TANK? Was he required to pay to have the Fuel Tank pumped out?? That was contaminated Fuel and could never be used again in vehicles or any other Gasoline powered device. Very costly venture!

Would be nice to here all the facts here and “The Rest of the Story”!

Rob (@guest_87506)
3 years ago
Reply to  Notfunny

Wouldn’t the fuel holding tank be locked??

Vanha Pieru (@guest_87514)
3 years ago
Reply to  Rob

Locked? Not likely, altho likely will be in the future!!
Amazing how someone so STOOPID can function, bet they can’t even tell front from back of their pants.

Louie (@guest_87565)
3 years ago
Reply to  Rob

No, just lift the lid, however there are two lids! The one above ground and a watertight cap below ground so water and snow (and sewage) cannot get into the fuel tanks! 🤷‍♂️

Rob Sorensen (@guest_87661)
3 years ago
Reply to  Louie

Yes sir, and that cap / lid, has cam locks only and no wrench is needed to remove it.
When working for. Almarc, I had the displeasure of taking the pumper trailer out to,his company Stations that had been contaminated with “Barge Bottoms”
Of water saturated Methanol that he had his drivers introduce into the tanks to create his own version of Gasahol “ and already being saturated with water, it all sank to,the bottom of the tanks, and was then introduced into unsuspecting motorists, whose cars never made more than several hundred feet away from the station.
Unbelievable what the criminal mind can come up with rather than just plain honest days work…
Rob

Admin
RV Staff
3 years ago
Reply to  Notfunny

Notfunny, please see my reply to Ken, above, for a little more to the story. Or look at the post again. It’s been updated, but we don’t know what happened to the RVer. —Diane at RVtravel.com

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