Putting gas in the car:Shut off or leave running?

[denn454]

i always shut my car off, but then again i shut it off anytime i'm setting still for any legnth of time putting fuel in and burning fuel at the save time doesn't make a ton os sence to me. just my oppinions.

i didnt' read all the posts before me but theroitacally (thats spelled wrong isnt' it) it is possible for a spark to light the gas fumes from the pump. posible from the fuel pump or the chance of a electrical short, 1 in a million chance but COULD happen. but that could happen anywhere. i don't see any big probem with leaving a car running while filling it up, somethign could happen from leavign the car running, but its just as likely that you will have some static electricity built up in your clothes and that will spark some fumes and cause an explosion.

 

[gn85]

I admit there are times I'll leave the car (or truck) running.

I watched a documentary a while back about static starting gas pump fires and I that made me more aware of what to do to reduce the chances of a fire occuring. However, I think about how many instances of sparks, static or 'freak' accidents that are possible and I can't honestly say that I feel more or less cautious by leaving the engine running.

I will however, make sure whenever I step out of the car that I touch something to ground myself and eliminate static electricity. True, the vapors of gasoline is what is truly flamable.

Oh BTW, my other reason for letting the car run while I fill up gas. So I can have people say to me "Hey, nice Monte Carlo... that sound like a 350!"

 

[BLACK6PACK]

I always turn the car off and take the keys out, but thats kina automatic down here. People tend to jump in your car at a gas station and take off, and leaving your kids in there doesn't detour them.

 

[GNSCOTT]

How about I don't want to breathe in exhaust fumes from 6 people leaving their cars running in a relativly small space. If ya want, you can stand next to my dodge diesel while I fill er up and see how enjoyable it is, and then remember that some people have asthma on top of it.

 

[scottyb]

In the blistering heat of summer, I leave it running so the already weak AC can attempt to continue cooling.

You can't leave OBDII cars running because the loss of tank pressure will trigger a code ans the SES light.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I never shut off the diesels when i fill em up
99 stroke and 02 H.O. dodge

diesel fumes dont seem to have a high flash point, or so ive heard-

1 gas station has caught fire 3 times last year do to static electricity, college and antioch just 6 miles from me-

2 people have died in my company nation wide from static electricity while filling up gasoline tanks in the back of a pickup truck-

not saying it happens locally everyday, but nationwide i think it happens more than you think-

when i purchased my 02 dodge april 02 there was a sticker saying not to fill gas tanks in the back of a truck with a bedliner, my work has safety meetings telling us this for over 7 years due to people starting fires this way-

for everyone filling up with gas every week, look at the safety stickers right next to where you see the gas prices, it lists a few things you should do when filling up with gas...
also lists the numbers if you think their pump counters are off a little-

 

[RoseyT]

I usually turn off the car. Here in Jersey we dont have 'self-serve' so i figure why should i subject the gas attendant to my exhaust fumes, the poor guy inhales gas fumes all day long. Been there done that, my father years ago owned a gas station and i used to work there also pumping gas in the mid/late 80's, back when there were still a lot of carbed cars running around. Try spending all day pumping gas into big ole gas guzzlers with carburators that were probably way out of tune, not the good way to get a little dizzy My dad had owned gas stations from way back in the early 60's, i can't even imagine the poisionous stuff he was stuck inhaling and not even realizing it, especially in the days before unleaded fuel