Storing diesel fuel for a long time is not as simple as it appears to be. Since diesel is a refined product, it is good to use only for a limited period. Leaving it in a container for too long can cause it to degrade in quality and finally lose its ability to properly combust in a vehicle’s engine. Continue reading
While filling up your vehicle at a service station, there are certain safety rules that you need to follow. A silly mistake could cost you. It is always best to err on the side of caution and to follow standard safety guidelines. Continue reading
The use of attractive lighting solutions is one of the easiest ways of improving the appearance of a gas station. A well-lit gas station looks more attractive and aesthetically pleasing and could play a crucial part in helping your business grow. Well placed lighting option with can draw more customers toward your business and increasing your sales revenue. Continue reading
Are you overwhelmed by the numerous choices and different types of air compressors available? Do you want to buy an air compressor but are afraid of buying the wrong type?
Don’t worry! You have landed at the right place. Here, we highlight all that you need to know about air compressors to make the right choice. Continue reading
According to a research published in September 2016, the total number of gas stations in the US is roughly about 121,446.
While this is a huge number, it isn’t wrong to say that running a gas station isn’t an easy job. It has its own share of responsibilities. You ought to know new techniques and have all the latest knowledge regarding the equipment to be able to spot any problem immediately.
To ensure that your gas station is fully functional all the time, it is important to provide preventive maintenance to all the equipment and keep a regular check over them in case they need repairs.
The fuel dispensers are made up of different small parts, making it essential to ensure the perfect performance of each part to be able to provide high quality and profitable service.
So, here are a few simple maintenance tips for your gas station to help you avoid repairs.
The flow rate at the dispenser must be approximately 9gpm. A lower than 9gpm flow rate is poor. In that case, you must…
If there is fuel contamination in your tank, fuel filters will inform you by giving away warning signs.
Since water can host a lot of microorganisms, it is best to keep water out of your fuel tank to avoid fuel contamination. Also check for water at the end of your fuel tank and try keeping it out of the fill pipe sump. Water often ends up in the tank when left in the sump.
Using a soluble biocide regularly is important to eradicate microbial contamination in your fuel tank.
A few other important tips include checking oil for consistency and proper level, checking the pump for both oil and water leaks, checking for change of valves, checking the clutch and belts for proper alignment and tension, checking the micro-switch and tightening all the lose fasteners, nuts and bolts.
Since it is extremely important to maintain your gas pump, you can form a checklist as a reminder to perform maintenance of your gas station regularly.
The John W. Kennedy Company is a leading petroleum equipment company since the 1930s. We take pride in offering a wide range of items to fill your needs. So, if you are looking for the best petroleum equipment solutions in town, click here to contact now!
If you have ever wondered how all those fuel nozzles at your gas station actually work…
…then you have come to the right place.
It’s a simple, yet complex, arrangement of mechanical components—linkages, valves, springs, diaphragms, seals—that work together to make these fascinating contraptions function.
Please explain…
Let’s have a quick review of couple of concepts that we established in our physics classes, the understanding of which would be required to fully grasp the mechanics behind the functioning of a gas station nozzle.
Now that we have reviewed the essential concepts, we can press the lever on the fuel nozzle to see how the whole thing works.
As you press the lever, it opens the main poppet valve
This poppet valve allows the gasoline to flow through the body of the fuel nozzle. However, this flow only lasts for a short term. To continue to draw more gasoline through the nozzle, the contraption has to pull-in additional force to assist the gasoline flow. That is where the design of the device helps itself.
The initial flow of gasoline causes an anti-drain valve to move downwards
The downward movement of the valve, creates a low-pressure area within the fuel nozzle. This low-pressure area is connected to the spout of the gas pump nozzle via a tube—the point of insertion being a small hole present at the bottom of spout. This hole is exposed to the external environment, allowing air to enter.
When the vacuum is created, the resulting pressure drop causes air to flow from the small hole, all the way through the tube and into the vacuum space. There it mixes with gasoline, and the flow of air causes gasoline to maintain its own flow.
This flow continues until the gasoline level in the fuel tank reaches a certain point
At this point, the filled gasoline covers the small hole through which the air has been entering. When the hole is covered, instead of air, gasoline starts flowing through it and all the way up to the vacuum space.
Since gasoline is denser than air, the pressure changes in the vacuum space. This pressure change causes a diaphragm to be sucked, which then shuts off the main poppet valve. Consequently, the gasoline supply from the mains is cut off.
And this is how the fuel nozzles at your gas station works.
We stock high quality branded fuel nozzles. All our products come with manufacturer’s warranty and along with fuel nozzles, we also provide other petroleum equipment supplies for your gas station. Check out our expansive inventory of products.
Looking from the side mirror…
Who is that…
…Chasing the car?
That’s the owner of the gas station, chasing the car that just had its tank refueled.
And no, it’s not because the car owner forgot to pay for the refuel. It’s because the car owner just drove away with the pump nozzle stuck in the car’s fuel tank. Continue reading
Industry compliance is probably the biggest challenge that you face as a gas station owner, when running a service station business.
However, it’s not hard to understand why the industry is highly regularized and monitored, since gasoline and other petroleum products have environmental and fire safety risks. As such, it’s the responsibility of every gas station owner to take every possible step to mitigate the risk of accidental spills and leaks at their facility. Continue reading
Air compressors are an important part of your fuel station equipment arsenal. Their use is as extensive as any of your service equipment. You run them daily, throughout the operating hours, inflating the tires of deflated long queues of vehicles—rolling in, one after the another.
And so, amidst this heavy traffic of customers, it becomes easy to neglect the all too important—that is, the upkeep of your air compressor. Continue reading
Often times, gas stations are faced with inventory shrinkage. Much to their dismay, it is nearly impossible to avert the cause, or causes rather, leading to fuel loss. However, if the fuel distribution operations are properly scrutinized and fuel storage facilities are adequately ventilated, the inevitable product loss can be managed and controlled to a great deal. Continue reading
