Even though cars are designed for safety, the unique mix of factors at gas pumps can create hazardous conditions. In rare cases, the heat and electricity produced by your vehicle can be enough to ignite liquid gas that splashes out of the pump or gas vapors in the air. Though it doesn't happen often, this has occurred in the past, according to the Petroleum Equipment Institute [ PDF ].
In the colder months, it may be tempting to leave your heat on at the gas pump, or wait in the car while you wait for the tank to fill up, but the safest thing to do any time of year is to stand by the pump until you screw the gas cap back on. Even when your engine is off, normal static electricity caused by movement can be enough to ignite gas station fumes. Fuel tank caps shall be replaced before starting the engine.
Arguably, a more important step to take when pumping gas — one that a lot of people forget about — is remembering to ground yourself before filling up. Speaking of bottoms, the bottom line is, why take an unnecessary risk that could result in thousands of dollars in damages and, possibly, loss of life, when filling up just to save a few seconds? Personally, I think the choice is clear. While fueling, have you ever considered starting your engine back up to see exactly what the fuel gauge shows?
Before you even think about leaving the engine running while pumping gas, continue reading. When you arrive at a gas station, make sure to read the signs that are provided for your safety. A few warnings include turning off the engine while refueling, no smoking allowed, and how to ground yourself from static electricity. Not quite as this could be a life or death situation. In order for an engine to operate, it must constantly ignite an explosive mixture of air and gasoline through its spark plugs.
All it takes is one spark from static electricity to light the gasoline.
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