Not to be argumentative but, I take exception to
the answer and the reasons given.
Safety is my foremost goal, I want to be sure that
everyone still shuts-down their car while refueling
for the utmost in safety.
While I do agree that static discharge is probably the
most common reason for refueling fires, I disagree with
a "mythbuster" type attitude that refueling fires don't
or can't happen because of a running engine.
Gasoline is NOTHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY!
I've personally been in two gasoline fires in
my career and want you to understand that there
is NO WARNING of the ignition and fire and NO TIME
and NO WAY 'undue' the event!
Here is the question and rationale that goes with the answer for those
that may have missed it in the monthly quiz:
***QUOTE***
3)True or false:
A car could catch fire if you don't turn off the engine while refueling.
False: In the old days that was a problem because of the potential of the
engine back firing, with gas fumes present. Today, modern engines do not
backfire. Outside of static electricity problems modern cars could have
a problem with evaporative emissions systems sensing a problem and
turning on a check engine light, which in most cases would reset itself
in time once the gas cap is replaced.
***END-QUOTE***
Now some real world FACTS to consider.
In my decades of servicing automobiles and trucks I have
personally witnessed:
*More than a dozen cars or light trucks that unexpectedly and
spontaneously suffered a wiring fire IN MY BAY.
*AT LEAST ONE CAR A MONTH that is backfiring (dismisses the above
assumption that modern cars don't backfire).
*Many dozens of cars or light trucks that unexpectedly and
spontaneously began leaking or spraying fuel IN MY BAY.
You guessed it, they were all running!
Some reference info...
www.pei.org
http://www.quiktrip.com/gasoline/gasoline_safety.asp
Both of the above sites are authoritative.
You'll find that both of them recommend to turn off the engine
while refueling.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3988/is_200410/ai_n9470573
Here is a quote from the findarticles site:
* As of March 2004, 39 states had reported fires to the Petroleum
Equipment Institute (PEI). The number of fires that have occurred may
not be accurate as some fires are extinguished quickly and never
reported. However, fires continue to occur.
* Wearing rubber soled shoes does not protect the consumer during
refueling. It insulates the wearer, making it more difficult to
discharge static buildup to the ground.
* On the average, it takes only 1 to 3 minutes to refuel an automobile
(a full-size SUV, 3 to 5 minutes).
* Gasoline vapors are heaver than air. As gasoline is dispensed into
the vehicle fill pipe, the vapors fall to the ground. If a vehicle is
running, these vapors can migrate under the vehicle where the engine
fan can circulate the vapor/air mixture over the engine and other
ignition sources. Beyond the issue of static, a running car presents a
number of "ignition sources" for fuel vapor:
* The exhaust components of a modern car literally can glow red hot
during normal operation.
* The typical ignition system creates above 40,000 volts.
* Starting a vehicle during refueling can result in a flash fire if
the gasoline vapors are near the starter and alternator when it is
engaged.
* One gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 20 sticks of dynamite.
* Gasoline can produce vapors than can ignite at all temperatures,
even at -45°F
...*End of quote*...
Also, there are still vehicles that are equipped or sometimes
retrofitted with "spark arrestors" on the tailpipe.
That should tell us something...
Be safe,
Mike.
