[Bigdog9586]

Lots of states it's against the law to fuel up while engine running, using cell or getting in and out as static electricity make things go �� boom.

[m666etal]

Originally Posted by craigss50

It does get a lot of attention when I fire it up.

Yeah! Love that feeling when you know everyone's noticed your car start but you act all cool like it's just another normal day for me

[BrianL]

Can't do that where I live either, against the law. But then again, we can't even pump our own gas (it's against the law to do that also).

Why would you leave it running though?

[CAM-FIFTY]

Some states (like MA) also have anti-idling laws.

[00 Trans Ram]

Guys - you may want to actually check the real laws in your state. Gas stations are the ones that put up those warning labels at the pump, and they usually make 1 for all 50 states.

As for why to leave it running, there are a number of reasons.
- I want the car to remain cool/warm.
- I want to avoid the wear/tear from startup (negligible, in this case).
- I don't feel like taking that extra step to start it when I get in.
- I want to hear the exhaust.
- I want to check the lights.
- Kids are in the car watching TV (wife's car; resets DVD when car starts).
- Kids/wife want to stay cool/warm.

And, it's really no more or less dangerous than shutting the car off. In fact, I'd venture a guess that if could be less dangerous! Think about it. The only danger of a fire is if fuel spills. And then, you'd have to have an ignition source. Regular exhaust gases won't do it. You'd need a backfire of some kind. And, when do backfires happen most often? Not when idling, but at startup.

However, according to the NACS, Americans refuel between 16 and 18 BILLION times per year. And 48 people, on average, are injured because of gas station fires per year. That's a 1:375,000,000 chance. Here are the chances of some other things happening:

- Being hit by meteorite - 1:700,000
- Dying in plane crash - 1:5,300,000
- Becoming a saint - 1:20,000,000
- Winning the lottery - 1:259,000,000

I mean, do what you want - but realize that, statistically speaking, there is no greater danger from leaving a car running.

[ljc]

I've also fueled up while the car is on for close to 20 years. I do have my reasons for doing so and no check engine light has turned on as a result nor any other issues.

[geaux_tigerss]

Yeah, i thought there was a danger associated with it when I first saw this thread. When I actually looked into it the ignition danger seems a bit overstated. There's also the fact that even if you shut your engine off, there may be a car idling or driving by right next to you.

Fueling with the engine running still seems kind of odd to me, but there doesn't seem to be a good argument against it other than giving someone a slightly easier opportunity to steal it.


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[SuperSound]

Originally Posted by Co2SS

For at least the last 20 years I have refueled my vehicles with the engine running. All vehicles with fuel injection. It has never resulted in any of the vehicles giving a "check engine" light which I understand can be common if the gas cap is left off when the engine is on. My question is.....am I doing any harm to this direct-injection engine by refueling with the engine on? I haven't had a warning light yet(11,000 miles). And does the SS come without a fuelcap so that it can be quickly refueled in competition situations? And if that's not why.....why is there no fuelcap? Thank you for your responses to the questions.

There's some good answers here. Like some others have said it boils down to risk mitigation at an industry level.

"You are looking at a million to one odds ie 0.0001% (hypothetical).

This places us in the intermediate risk category. (or low if the potential is for "few" fatalities).

Intermediate risk requires active management.
Low risk would require a management plan.

Now a million to one odds is a long shot. Not as long odds as the lottery but still unlikely.

An average service station near a decently populated area with 10 pumps running constantly 18 hours a day is not unreasonable.
Say on average 5 minutes to fill and leave.

216 fuel customers a day.

78840 customers a year.

There are 121000 service stations in the US alone.

9539640000 fuel customers nationwide per year.

9540 potentially catastrophic situations per year at a million to one odds.

In short, from an individual perspective, the engine on or off is no big deal.

The fuel industry on the other hand sees the opposite. A significant number of potential catastrophic events based on the volume of customers.

And when the cost of minimising that risk is so small, there is no harm to the business in implementing it."

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-actually...illing-the-gas

But to your last question, there is no fuel cap because that is a trend in the industry. People lose, forget to tighten their caps all the time. So capless is viewed as a convenience. And no it would not be good enough for rapid refuels like in a professional event.

[sdmcss]

It is illegal in KC to let the car idle when sitting... Driveway, Gas Station and Parking lots (Air Pollution Act/Idle Reduction Rule in Kansas City).

Reason behind this is that people will let them idle, fill gas and go inside for something. Then someone jumps in a steals the car. In Kansas City (Kansas or Missouri) 1 in 5 cars are stolen during idle time in Kansas City (2015 data).

Right now they are issuing $120 tickets (In Johnson and Wyandotte counties) for cars that are idling without anyone inside them. Does not matter if the doors are locked or unlocked.

People are fighting this right now because more and more cars have Autostart from the factory... We shall see what they decide to do for 2017/2018.

[00 Trans Ram]

Originally Posted by sdmcss

It is illegal in KC to let the car idle when sitting... Driveway, Gas Station and Parking lots (Air Pollution Act/Idle Reduction Rule in Kansas City).

Reason behind this is that people will let them idle, fill gas and go inside for something. Then someone jumps in a steals the car. In Kansas City (Kansas or Missouri) 1 in 5 cars are stolen during idle time in Kansas City (2015 data).

Right now they are issuing $120 tickets (In Johnson and Wyandotte counties) for cars that are idling without anyone inside them. Does not matter if the doors are locked or unlocked.

People are fighting this right now because more and more cars have Autostart from the factory... We shall see what they decide to do for 2017/2018.

I love someone that does their homework! Thanks for the info.

Now I'm curious, though - do they allow police to idle their cars while not in it? Because, as a former officer, we used to do that all the time. Traffic stops, getting out to secure a building, grabbing a coffee and the 7/11 - we just left the car running, and used the key fob to lock the doors.

[SS 1LE]

Every gas station I have ever been at also has a sign that says to some effect "turn off engine"...

[KyBoy]

Originally Posted by 00 Trans Ram

I love someone that does their homework! Thanks for the info.

Now I'm curious, though - do they allow police to idle their cars while not in it? Because, as a former officer, we used to do that all the time. Traffic stops, getting out to secure a building, grabbing a coffee and the 7/11 - we just left the car running, and used the key fob to lock the doors.

From what I see, most...not all, but most police officers are exempt to the laws. And it's a shame because it reflects on the good officers.

Heath

[nfboy]

Originally Posted by Dubchitts

No benefit but illigal. At least here it is

Illegal in Canada too at least here in NL.

[sdmcss]

Originally Posted by 00 Trans Ram

I love someone that does their homework! Thanks for the info.

Now I'm curious, though - do they allow police to idle their cars while not in it? Because, as a former officer, we used to do that all the time. Traffic stops, getting out to secure a building, grabbing a coffee and the 7/11 - we just left the car running, and used the key fob to lock the doors.

Yes, the police are required to leave their cars running in case of an emergency. I have friends that are officers and they are find with leaving it off, but the rule in their department is to leave them on. No one in KC is dumb enough to steal one...They won't get too far.