Since I'm not always able to drive to Richmond to fill up at their wonderful full-serve gas stations and I'm not willing to be extorted at the full service bay, I usually fill up my gas tank myself.
In Canada, unlike in the United States, we need to apply continuous pressure on the trigger of the gas nozzle to maintain the flow of gas. The amount of pressure required to squeeze the trigger is not only hard to do, but tends to accentuate ulnar drift - the swelling in the MCP joints (big knuckles of the hand) that causes the fingers to drift towards the baby finger.
I've found that when I turn my back to the car and face the pump, it is easier on my hand. Then when I squeeze the lever, it appears to counteract the tendency to push my fingers into an ulnar drift.
If you do try this, please let me know if it makes fueling up a little easier for you.
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I’ve been playing the princess for so long Marianna, and now that we both retired I sold my car. Wen I say the princess, I mean that my husband almost always bought the gas. There’s a need for more self serve but I bet that turning like you do would help. There are other things I do where I turn my back to get the right grip. Just not sure what right now.
Hi Annette,
Everyone deserves to be a princess at some point in their lifetime. 🙂 Glad that you were able to work out the fueling schedule.
I hope you remember what you “shunned”. 🙂
That is a great tip. Here in Florida most stations require to hold the handle while pumping and it is quickly becoming a source of frustration for me. I have greatly enjoyed sharing rides with my boyfriend recently so he is in charge of the pumping. Next time I have to “fill ‘er up” I will try turning around.
Any tricks to getting the cap off?
Hi Christine,
Now, that’s a sore spot – the cap! I do have a trick for the cap. Stay tuned! 🙂