Unreliable fuel dispensers are a real drain on operations.
Unplanned downtime, frequent service calls, fuel losses, and disrupted operational continuity lead to mounting costs and reduced return on investment. In many cases, replacing the dispenser becomes a more cost-effective solution than continuous repairs and financial losses.
The AtlasX Fuel Dispenser Reliability Advantage
The AtlasX next-generation commercial and retail fueling dispensers from Gasboy are designed to enhance reliability.
Here are 5 common reliability challenges AtlasX dispensers solve:
Challenge 1: Meter Drift Causes Fuel Variances and Losses
Meter drift directly impacts fueling operations in several ways. The gradual deviation in fuel measurement accuracy — whether you are dispensing slightly more or less fuel than what is displayed on the dispenser — will, at minimum, result in inventory discrepancies, accounting challenges, and compliance lapses.
Meter drift is particularly consequential in cardlock and retail fuel operations, where even minor inaccuracies in billing can have significant revenue implications. If a dispenser consistently over-dispenses by even a small fraction of a gallon, the discrepancies can quickly add up to thousands of dollars in monthly fuel losses.
But the financial impact of meter drift doesn't end at lost fuel. Although meter calibration is a necessary part of dispenser maintenance, additional technician visits to correct meter drift will increase service costs and total cost of ownership.
AtlasX Solution: The AtlasX HD meter is precision-engineered to maintain tighter meter accuracy than other dispenser brands, which helps reduce calibration frequency, fuel variance, and associated revenue loss. HD meters are designed for longer life, resulting in less frequent replacement than standard meters.
Challenge 2: Meter Calibration Is Inaccurate and Time-Consuming
Mechanical calibration is a time-intensive, hands-on, repetitive process. It requires technicians to test-dispense a known volume of fuel into a 5-gallon prover, compare the volume displayed on the dispenser with the known volume, adjust the meter in small increments, and repeat the process until the dispenser’s display matches the known volume.
AtlasX Solution: AtlasX fuel dispensers with electronic meter calibration offer faster and more precise calibration than dispensers requiring mechanical calibration. Technicians can quickly and accurately adjust meter settings through user-friendly software interfaces, eliminating the need for repetitive fills. Operations utilizing electronic fuel dispenser meters have fewer and quicker service calls and are more likely to avoid non-compliance with strict industry accuracy standards.
Although electronic meter calibration is quicker and more precise, dispensers with mechanical meters also offer unique advantages. Mechanical systems often have fewer complex components, which contributes to fewer points of failure. Robust mechanical components can also withstand harsh environments better than sensitive electronic parts. Mechanical meters are also less sensitive to power fluctuations and are easy to repair.
Challenge 3: The Dispenser Pump Struggles to Lift the Fuel
Pumps that need to lift liquids from a lower level are prone to cavitation and vapor lock.
Cavitation directly impairs the pump's ability to move fluid effectively, resulting in decreased performance and efficiency. It also damages pump components and shortens the equipment’s service life. Furthermore, a pump struggling against the effects of cavitation consumes more power, which results in higher energy costs.
For the end-user, pump cavitation creates a noisy, unpleasant refueling experience. A dispenser pump suffering from vapor lock disrupts the flow of fuel, producing an unsatisfactory fueling experience.
AtlasX Solution: The AtlasX utilizes a gear pump. Compared to fuel dispensers with vane pumps, the AtlasX has better lift, is quieter, and has less risk of cavitation or vapor lock. This engineering approach increases dispenser reliability, prevents premature wear to integral pump components, reduces downtime, and helps ensure a seamless fueling experience for the end-user.
Challenge 4: Dispenser Pump Motor Is Susceptible to Voltage Issues
Adverse voltage conditions — voltage fluctuations, unstable currents, and power surges — can cause dispenser pump motors to overheat. Left unchecked, overheating dispenser motors will lead to a catastrophic failure, resulting in unplanned downtime, costly repairs, and parts replacements.
AtlasX Solution: AtlasX motors are engineered to be resilient to site voltage issues.
Safeguards designed into AtlasX dispensers prevent the motor from continuing to operate if the motor overheats or draws excessive current. Operation automatically resumes when thermal conditions are restored to safe operating parameters. This feature helps prevent unplanned downtime, the need to manually reset the pump, and protects the motor’s longevity.
Challenge 5: Fuel Dispenser Doesn’t Meet Regulatory Compliance Requirements
Fuel dispensers must comply with numerous regulations from various regulatory organizations to ensure they are accessible, safe, and accurate. Failure to meet these standards can result in shutdowns and costly fines.
Atlas X Solution: Atlas X dispensers meet compliance requirements established by the following standards, organizations, and laws:
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
• National Council on Weights and Measures
• Federal Communications Commission
• MET Labs
• Measurement Canada
Achieve Dispenser Reliability from Day One
AtlasX Next-Generation Commercial and Retail Fueling | Gasboy leverages the strengths of Gasboy’s legacy Atlas and Encore brands to deliver a comprehensive selection of models and configurations that are helping fleets optimize dispenser reliability while meeting decarbonization goals. They are robustly engineered to provide resilient, accurate, and user-friendly refueling.
Connect with a Gasboy AtlasX expert. Contact | Gasboy to learn more.