Filling up while running
 

My '02 SE throws the evap system SES everytime I gas up while the car is running. It's done it twice now. I reset with the scanner and all is well until I stop at the gas station. Is this somethin I just have to live with and change my fill up routine or do I have a problem? Thanks.

You should turn off the car when pumping gas. In most states that is the law. Probably what is happening is the computer is seeing the gas cap off while the car is running.



At the next fill up turn the car off and see if the SES light comes back on.

yes it will trip an SES light if you leave it running. and you can just reset it.


But...... why ? Why do you leave it running?
in fact most stations should tell you to turn it off.

It's a bit illegal in nearly every state to my knowledge. Warmer though.

why in the hell would u leave it running when pumping gas?

I fill my cars while they are running, because is cold or hot, and usually if someone is sitting in the car. I've never had a problem.
But now I know what to expect... Thanks for that.

I wonder why it's recommended or required by law to turn off the car?
It could be an emissions issue, but the "rule" has been around forever.

For the simple reason your car is creating static electricity from all of the moving parts in the engine but also the electronics that are turned on can cause electric charges which with one spark can blow up the gas station.

my dad has done it for years and i have allways told him not to. But i dont think its that bad i mean hes been doing it now for ohh lets say 30 years now still NOT a good idea just because some thing never has happend does not mean some thing wont happen

I couldn't resist and decided to waste a significant portion of my life to do some web searching. This is the best website I could find (after a couple hours);
http://www.pei.org/static/#links
You have to check it out. There's a video link to a car fire starting from a static charge. And guess what! The fire went out! I'm pretty sure I saw this on a investigative TV show; the best thing to do with a gas fire is shut the gas flow off at the nozzle or the pump.

This website also talks about the cell phone myth and recommends shutting off your car (but I think they're a little lame with the reasons why).

I've heard of too many people getting their cars stolen while getting ready to/and pumping gas because they left it running for me to ever do that.

True. I never leave mine running or leave the keys in a car when I go inside the building. My regular gas station had a car stolen that way a couple years ago. And it's a "good" neighborhood.

Re: Filling up while running
 

PCM detects a large leak in the EVAP system, then generates a DTC. It is highly recommended to turn the engine off while re-fueling though.

Myth, not a myth. There are simply too many accidents and problems cause by mistakes where any of us need to test a big bang theory. ;)

I've filled up a number of OBDII cars while running (the '98 and '00 Bonnevilles included), and never have thrown an evap code.

The fuel system is pressurized. When a leak condition is encountered the code is set. The check is not run everytime or every start (which is why it takes a while for the code to clear itself after you fix it, usually the gas cap not tight). If I recall its about every 30 starts or so.

As for filling the car while running, I know many ppl who do it, I choose not too for simplr common sense reasons. Gas does not ignite easily (ever try throwing a cigarette into a pool of gas?) however gas vapor is extremely flammable and pumping gas into the tank lets fumes push out of the tank while you displace with fuel (mmmm that gasoline smell). Doesn't make much sense to take a chance on igniting those fumes however rare the chance may be.

I don't care how cold it is outside, I shut my car off while fueling up. IT's not like it's going to get that cold inside the car in the time it takes to gas up, and it won't take long for it to heat back up either.


one time though I had a gas station attendant wig out on me because after I was done fueling I ducked back into my car to check a text message, the attendant came out yelling at me because I was on the cell phone while people were fueling up and I was going to blow up the whole station :roll: .

She got very irate with me when I told her it was more likely I would start a fire by starting my car up then by checking a text message on my phone INSIDE my car. Should have seen the look on her face when I was driving away while she was still going on about what a danger I am and if she ever saw my doing that while at her station she would call the police :roll: :lol:

The reason I do it is mainly because of the temps. Living in North Dakota about 25 miles south of the Canadian border, a lot of times I start the pump and get back into the car and wait until it's done. Also due to my location, a stolen car would make regional news, so it doesn't happen too often. I guess I'll just have to adjust my fillup procedure on the bonneville, but there is no way I'm turning off my '97 F250 Powerstroke while I'm filling up.

In the winter I leave my car running while gassing it up. I always have. Is it smart? No. But who said I'm a super genious anyway lol. I know the dangers, and I know the odds of it happening. But it's so fargin cold outside and I'm a woosy, I get back in and stay warm while it fills up.

Seems the general consensus here is that fueling with the vehicle running isn't a really great idea.

Regardless of whether individually we understand the risks, there is potential. The person fueling next to you may not want that golden opportunity to spend months on end in a burn unit.

um MOST people leave their cars/trucks running around here once you leave the city.

Let's keep this thread to the mechanical question raised.

Start a new thread in the Lounge to discuss whether or not you leave your car running while pumping gas.