Fuel pumps at these QuikTrips and other Wichita gas stations have problems

Drivers filling up their vehicles at Kansas gas stations should receive the gas they selected at the price that was advertised. They should also get all the fuel they paid for.

But sometimes fuel pumps fail.

That’s why the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s seven gas pump inspectors test fuel pumps every 18 months — totaling more than 20,000 gas pump inspections every year.

During these inspections, the inspectors check to ensure the dispensers and meters meet state regulations. This includes checking fuel quality, pricing accuracy and correct labeling.

About 95 to 97% of the time, the fuel pumps meet compliance standards. If a pump doesn’t meet state requirements, the pump is rejected.

“Common reasons a pump might fail is user requirement rejections which include but are not limited to maintenance of equipment, product storage identification, price posting/advertised pricing, product labeling, or dispenser fails to print receipt,” the fuel pump program manager told The Wichita Eagle.

If a fuel pump fails, or is rejected, the gas station must repair it within 30 days or request an extension. Following the 30-day period, a Weights and Measures inspector will reinspect it, the program manager said.

Rejected fuel pumps in Wichita

From April 1 through May 20, the KDA Division of Weights and Measures inspected 20 gas stations in Wichita. These are the gas stations that had rejected fuel pumps:

• QuikTrip, 4051 N. Ridge Road. On April 22, pump 3 diesel was rejected because it was out of tolerance and would not shut off, pump 8 was unable to be tested because the hose was laying on the ground and pump 14’s 91 grade was marked unusable for an unknown reason.
• Maize Food Mart, 10723 W. Kellogg. On April 23, the station was rejected “due to length of time with no repairs done.” The inspector said the pumps were disabled because of water present in the underground storage tanks. A water issue was also present in diesel pumps 5 and 6.
• QuikTrip, 7120 W. 21st St. North. On May 1, pump 3 mid-grade was rejected due to tolerance specifications.
• QuikTrip, 2510 W. Pawnee. On May 3, pump 7 premium was rejected due to tolerance specifications during a follow-up inspection. Pumps 15 and 16 were marked out of service by QuikTrip.
• QuikTrip, 6011 W. Central. On May 4, pump 8 mid-grade was rejected for tolerance.
• Erie’s Corner, 2828 E. 21st St. North. On May 4, pump 1 was taken out of service by the facility operator and pump 2 was rejected because it was missing the hose and nozzle.
• Super Express, 2849 W. 13th St. North. On May 8, pump 2 was rejected because of a smashed screen and pump 3 had multiple issues, including a leak at the hose nozzle, an inoperable card reader and an error message on the screen.
• Circle K, 3311 N. Rock Road. On May 8, during a follow-up inspection, pumps 7 and 8 were taken out of service by Circle K, pending repairs.
• QuikTrip, 1620 S. Oliver. On May 13, pump 7 was taken out of service by QuikTrip, pending repair. The gas station had its follow-up inspection May 15 and had no rejections.

Pumps that were rejected for tolerance did not meet the legally allowed amount of error when measuring and dispensing fuel.

“For example, when a pump says it dispensed 10 gallons, the actual amount delivered may be allowed to vary slightly within a specific limit set by regulation,” the program manager said. “Those limits are called tolerance.”

Customer complaint inspections

Customers who notice there may be something wrong with a Kansas fuel pump may file a complaint and request an inspector check it out. Inspectors responded to three complaints in Wichita from April 1 through May 20 and noted the following:

• Valero, 2011 E. 21st St. North. After a customer complaint, inspectors checked pump 11 for ethanol and all storage tanks for water. No issues were reported.
• TT Station Gas & Groceries, 1102 W. Maple. A customer said their vehicle started sputtering after fueling up with pump 6. Inspectors checked for water from the pump and all underground storage tanks; none was found.
• Discount Cigarettes, 2160 S. Broadway. A customer said they didn’t receive the full gallon they purchased from pump 2. Inspectors tested the pump and reported no rejections.

If you think you didn’t receive the fuel you paid for, or if you notice a quality issue, you should report it immediately to the KDA Division of Weights and Measures. You may submit an online complaint form or call 785-564-6681.

Wichita gas stations with no pump rejections

Inspectors found no issues with the pumps at these Wichita gas stations from April 1 through May 20:

• Kwik Shop, 4802 E. 21st North
• Jump Start, 895 S. Woodlawn
• Costco, 9700 E. Kellogg
• QuikTrip, 242 S. Tyler
• Short Stop, 5400 N. Meridian
• QuikTrip, 1620 S. Oliver
• Express Mart, 565 S. Market
• QuikTrip, 1021 W. 31st St. South