Re-fuelling with engine on?

Wayne_M

Whilst abroad recently, our driver stopped for diesel on the way to the airport - and left the engine running as he did so.

This got me thinking - Given the engine is at the front of the car, and we're fuelling it at the other end - there would seem to be no extra risk of having the engine on? Car theft aside obviously :-)

corkgsxr

Alot of gauges wont show the rise untill next time you turn off the car for half hour or so

visual

Wayne_M wrote: »

Whilst abroad recently, our driver stopped for diesel on the way to the airport - and left the engine running as he did so.

This got me thinking - Given the engine is at the front of the car, and we're fuelling it at the other end - there would seem to be no extra risk of having the engine on? Car theft aside obviously :-)

Diesel fumes won't ignite but petrol could.

Its not just the engine in front there is hot exhaust vibrating the lenght of vehicle and electrical circuits only takes a small spark to ignite petrol fumes.
Electrical circuits can be at fuel filler cap. Central locking solenoid for fuel flap.

I use to know a guy who welded fuel trucks.
He would weld a diesel tank with fuel inside but wouldn't touch a petrol tank unless it was filled with water.

crosstownk

If I'm getting diesel first thing in the morning I'll leave the donkey running with the recirc on to heat up the cabin. I use one of those card pumps at my local Topaz so I don't have to walk away from the car. If I do have to pay in the shop then I'll turn off the engine and lock the car for fear of theft.

Wayne_M

crosstownk wrote: »

If I'm getting diesel first thing in the morning I'll leave the donkey running with the recirc on to heat up the cabin. I use one of those card pumps at my local Topaz so I don't have to walk away from the car. If I do have to pay in the shop then I'll turn off the engine and lock the car for fear of theft.

Agreed - nice to get back into a warm car in these winter mornings :-)

If there's no safety concerns then I'm happy to try this in future. I'd simply never considered it before given all the "switch off your engine" signs around the place.

The Backwards Man

I save on average 15ml (slightly over 2c at current prices) of diesel by leaving the engine running while filling up. All adds up.

Bpmull

Wayne_M wrote: »

Agreed - nice to get back into a warm car in these winter mornings :-)

If there's no safety concerns then I'm happy to try this in future. I'd simply never considered it before given all the "switch off your engine" signs around the place.

Is your car diesel ? I don't think I'd do it with a petrol car although I wouldn't be bothered to do it either way. But then I rarely buy diesel in the mornings.

MadYaker

I wouldn't do it with my car because it's petrol, id say diesel is safe enough though.

sean1141

corkgsxr wrote: »

Alot of gauges wont show the rise untill next time you turn off the car for half hour or so

Mine goes up as you fill it

Often filled petrol cars with the engine running for various reasons, same for diesels especially tractors. Wouldn't feel anyway unsafe doing it.

moc moc a moc

sean1141 wrote: »

Mine goes up as you fill it

That's what she said

whippet

I did fill a petrol car up with the engine running once ... when I had to pick my car up off my brother who had it for a couple of weeks while I was away. at 1 in the morning .. the battery was flat as a pancake, managed to get it jumped by a nice passerby .. but when I got in to it the needle for the fuel gauge was stuck to the empty side, onboard computer showing Zero range. Managed to get it to a 24h petrol station, but then realised that if I shut the engine off the battery wouldn't have enough juice to start up again!!

dar83

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I save on average 15ml (slightly over 2c at current prices) of diesel by leaving the engine running while filling up. All adds up.

I really hope this is a joke post and it's just too early for my sarcasm meter to detect it properly. :P

The Backwards Man

dar83 wrote: »

I really hope this is a joke post and it's just too early for my sarcasm meter to detect it properly. :P

Yeah I was er . . joking.

Ha Ha!

*whistles

joujoujou

Refuelled many times with engine on. Both diesel and petrol cars.

dgt

joujoujou wrote: »

Refuelled many times with engine on. Both diesel and petrol cars.

Same here, just depends where I fill though

JBokeh

Imagine the shame standing at the filling station next to your car at a pump with the engine running,because the doors locked behind you :eek:

Thats what would put me off doing it. And I wonder do newer cars let you open the fuel door without taking the key out the ignition?

goz83

considering how many times people accidentally put petrol into a diesel engine and vice versa, I would say it's safer to just turn the engine off. Might put people into a dangerous habit and one day they happen to be driving a petrol engine and habitually leave on the engine and boom. Not good. Be safe, turn it off.

giant_midget

I have a diesel car, i do this in the mornings when i fill up - petrol station is only down from my house + keep the heaters on, it's bloody cold out there and every min helps to heat the car up!

djimi

Id say the primary reason I turn off my engine when refuelling is because it would almost never set foot outside of the car without taking the keys out of the ignition.

giant_midget

djimi wrote: »

Id say the primary reason I turn off my engine when refuelling is because it would almost never set foot outside of the car without taking the keys out of the ignition.

I get what you are saying...i only do this in the one place that i go to nowhere else, the counter is right beside the pumps..i've probably cursed myself now :pac:

advertsfox

I can't with the C5 - need a key to access the tank.

crosstownk

advertsfox wrote: »

I can't with the C5 - need a key to access the tank.

Uncoded spare key just cut. Problem solved.

dgt

crosstownk wrote: »

Uncoded spare key just cut. Problem solved.

With my van I could just take the key out from the ignition when it was running :pac:

MugMugs

JBokeh wrote: »

Imagine the shame standing at the filling station next to your car at a pump with the engine running,because the doors locked behind you :eek:

Thats what would put me off doing it. And I wonder do newer cars let you open the fuel door without taking the key out the ignition?

At least you'd never run out of fuel while waiting to get back in.

jumbone

When I worked in a petrol station if never turn the pump on if y thought the engine was still running. Too big a risk of drive offs

crosstownk

jumbone wrote: »

When I worked in a petrol station if never turn the pump on if y thought the engine was still running. Too big a risk of drive offs

How can you tell from behind the counter if an engine is running?

Carrig1

If you think it is safe pumping fuel with an engine running look at this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3h39q-7-IY