Onboard vapor recovery detection

A method for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

• delivering fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle from a fuel dispenser having a vapor recovery system with a vapor recovery path operatively associated with the fuel dispenser for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation;
• sensing a presence of hydrocarbon in the vapor recovery path;
• and
• determining whether the vehicle has an onboard vapor recovery system from the hydrocarbon level sensed in the sensing step.

An apparatus for adding to a fuel dispenser for detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system wherein

• the fuel dispenser is configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle, said fuel dispenser including a vapor recovery system operatively associated with said fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation and a vapor recovery controller, said apparatus comprising:
• a hydrocarbon sensor module configured to operatively associate with said vapor path for sensing the fuel vapors in said vapor path,
• a signal path operatively associated with said module and the controller to provide a vapor signal indicative of a presence of hydrocarbons in said vapor path to the vapor recovery controller;
• and
• a software update for the controller to adapt the controller to determine whether or not the vehicle has a vapor recovery system and to shut off or adjust said vapor recovery system during the fueling operation upon the sensing of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.