All my life I've been told by my mother that you shouldn't fill your car's gas tank while your car is running, being that I could damage the engine of the car and all. Yet I see other people filling up with their car running all the time, is this ok ? Which is the right way ? Does it vary from types of engines ? Certain years of cars ? Does it carry the risk of engine damage ?
Wow, so I guess that all the people in my town really oblivious of how close to death they are every day...
You'd think that it would be part of a drivers test.
In most places, it's illegal to fill the tank with the engine running.
Really, huh, then it cant be good at all.....
huh...
It is dangerous.
Running cars while fueling them is dangerous. The engine is constantly creating sparks to run itself, and the electric fuel pump is on, which is in the fuel tank. The sending unit is also reading the level in the tank via electronics. If something in those systems shorts out, you'll be toast, along with just about everything else at the station.
There's also the risk of an explosion from fumes being vented into the intake via the purge valve if your running car backfires. There are more risks I'm probably overlooking, but these are the main ones.
Turn the car off. It's law for a reason.
@justin-shepherd, great explanation. Any loose ground wire sparking and BYE BYE!
I've seen a few people lately putting gas in their cars while it's still running, or getting back in the car while it's filling up and running because it's hot outside.
I have done that, but never again after reading your answer.
Usually there are signs posted at the station forbidding it
getting back in the car while it's filling up ... because it's hot/cold outside.
Lazy, stupid people.
This is a terrible idea. Sliding over a seat generates a lot of static electricity. I get shocked every time I climb out of my vehicle. There are videos of gas station footage you can find , where people get engulfed in flame doing this.