They are always telling you that you shouldn't keep your engine running or use your cell phone or get into your car while pumping gas. Haven't studies shown that it's extremely rare that any of these things could really start a fire at the pump from sparks or static electricity?
2006-09-24 22:02:49 · 11 answers · asked by tucsondude 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
they tried it on mythbuster but none of it worked so maybe its a 1 in 9 billion chance
2006-09-24 22:05:36 · answer #1 · answered by ali a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's proven numerous times that it's impossible for a cellphone to cause a fire while refueling a vehicle (other than the rare occasion of the battery exploding).
Even with your engine running there's a very minimal chance of it causing a fire either (other than perhaps a carb'd engine backfiring through the intake). There may be a greater danger with mid engine and rear engine sportscars, if the fuel filler is within the vicinity of any intake vents for the engine.
A better reasons to turn your engine off when you're refueling is to conserve your fuel, reduce pollution from unneccesary idling, and to prevent miscalibrated fuel sensors or check engine lights from occuring. (both are know to happen on some German cars).
One method that can cause a fire is a static electric discharge. Do not reenter the vehicle while it refueling. Always fill gas cans on the ground infront of the gas pump, never inside the vehicle. These cases are rare, but have been known to occur.
2006-09-25 08:23:49 · answer #2 · answered by sparkgap 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While I agree that the probability is not that high for a cell phone or a running engine to start a fire at the fuel pump, I still wouldn't take the chance. Just having that probability is enough to make me shut the engine off when I fill up. Oh, and next time you see me at the pump, please shut off your engine, too. You've probably never seen a gasoline explosion or fire. I have and there's no time to rethink your decision when one happens.
2006-09-25 05:39:48 · answer #3 · answered by 3kewenay3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have safety measures in places to prevent things like that happening, and the advice is just a precautionary measure. I mean lets face it.. if your engine running is enough to set a spark off in the fuel tank or line then there's something seriously wrong with your car!!! As for the mobile, again there would have to be something seriously wrong with it to make a spark.
SMOKING on the other hand....
2006-09-25 05:07:47 · answer #4 · answered by Sarah G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I seen a guy filling his gas tank surf dude next thing I seen was his pants was on fire (jumping around),dont know how, but he couldt put it out so he took off his pants,he had to get his stomach burn as he had no shirt on.goog thing he was a fast thinker or he would have gone up in smokeI was on the road.people were helping him, , gas or fumes in one second puff can be a big fire ,be safe,burns are life time ugly
2006-09-25 05:16:45 · answer #5 · answered by aqua 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yor completly wrong!!
In California, we're still having hot weather. I filled my gas tank!
My neighbor came to tell me the gas was leaking. since tha gas exoands, thta's what it was doing. I remove the gas cop, and everything was ok. I lost about half a gallon of gas!!
2006-09-25 05:39:52 · answer #6 · answered by alfonso 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My vehicle uses Liquid (frozen) natural gas, I'd hate to be too close if that got hit by a spark!
2006-09-25 05:15:40 · answer #7 · answered by Bill(56 yrs old) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think it is as dangerous as they make it out to be. I have never HEARD of anything happening. I am not saying it has not, but you would think I would have heard of it if it had.
I don't remember any details but I think they did definitely disprove the cell phone scare.
2006-09-25 05:14:07 · answer #8 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very dangerous. Cuz, once the fire starts it doesn't wanna stop.
2006-09-25 05:13:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All it takes is one time. I sure wouldn't want to find out how rare it is.
2006-09-25 05:11:34 · answer #10 · answered by JW 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋