I leave my work vehicles running while refueling at our private pump. Tahoe, F-150, Silverado 2500, Charger; none of them have thrown a code yet. I don't see an issue, and I definitely leave them running and sit inside on the coldest (-30F) mornings.
Fueling up with car running?
- Thread starter lawman1909
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Usually Illegal for safety reasons. Vehicle accidentely drops into gear and moves or gasoline fumes can cause a fire. Just seems follish to take a chance. Ec
Originally Posted By: Garak
Or, what's the law in your jurisdiction? Following the law one is paid to enforce (particularly without a lawful excuse to break it, such as would normally cover speeding or running a red light to catch a violator) isn't kosher in my view. Up here, there are plenty of stations that will simply shut the pump down if they see a vehicle running during refueling.
Lawful excuse? Not kosher? Did someone have a run in with the local popo and get his feelings hurt? I will be sure to tell everyone I know that even though they are single-handedly responsible for covering 58 miles of interstate, they should not speed to cover that area unless they have a lawful excuse. I mean it has always been my experience that all Canadian drivers strictly follow all of the posted speed limits when driving through the States.
Just kidding.....
Or, what's the law in your jurisdiction? Following the law one is paid to enforce (particularly without a lawful excuse to break it, such as would normally cover speeding or running a red light to catch a violator) isn't kosher in my view. Up here, there are plenty of stations that will simply shut the pump down if they see a vehicle running during refueling.
Lawful excuse? Not kosher? Did someone have a run in with the local popo and get his feelings hurt? I will be sure to tell everyone I know that even though they are single-handedly responsible for covering 58 miles of interstate, they should not speed to cover that area unless they have a lawful excuse. I mean it has always been my experience that all Canadian drivers strictly follow all of the posted speed limits when driving through the States.
Just kidding.....
I always fuel up with car running in the winter, and so do half people I see. No codes in any of dozen cars I've done it with. It's more of a legal disclaimer to pass on liability. Smoking a cigarette is a whole different story.
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Put your cell phones and radios either off or in the car.
Turn off motor, but leave in "accessory" position.
Electronics stay hot...
Shut the door, leave window down enough to hear a call.
Fuel car...
Keep hand on pump handle (grounding yourself)
I usually run a second battery in the trunk, which is on "charge" only, using a Zener diode. (one way circuit).
Battery switch in trunk bypasses diode, allowing current to flow...
Battery switch in car shuts off electronics, otherwise they stay hot all the time...
If the under hood battery is drained, turn switch in car off, and trunk to "bypass".
Start car, reverse switches...
Turn off motor, but leave in "accessory" position.
Electronics stay hot...
Shut the door, leave window down enough to hear a call.
Fuel car...
Keep hand on pump handle (grounding yourself)
I usually run a second battery in the trunk, which is on "charge" only, using a Zener diode. (one way circuit).
Battery switch in trunk bypasses diode, allowing current to flow...
Battery switch in car shuts off electronics, otherwise they stay hot all the time...
If the under hood battery is drained, turn switch in car off, and trunk to "bypass".
Start car, reverse switches...
No. Our department doesn't tolerate idiots thinking they are better then the next guy. Our pumps use special pumps that have fume mitigation technology, since the fire department does the same thing there.
Yeah. Our pumps also use fume mitigation vents so we don't have to even worry about fumes. This is because the FD also fuels up there. We have 3 gas pumps and 1 diesel per station. 10 throughout the jurisdiction.
Nope. Hate it when people say "above the law" so let me put it like this. Our pump stations use fume mitigation vents so fumes are not a worry. The FD also fuels up with the engine running. Are they too "above the law"?
Can't see doing all that when having to fuel up mid-shift and in between calls.
Why can't you get constant power for stuff you need to keep going with the engine off? Or its own battery?
Originally Posted By: lawman1909
So at work we leave our cars running when we fuel up basically so we don't have to wait for the computer to re-boot after the car has been turned off. Everyone always says that is bad but nothing has every happened. What do y'all think?
While you are fueling up your vehicle, why not smoke a cigarette and talk on cell phone??
So at work we leave our cars running when we fuel up basically so we don't have to wait for the computer to re-boot after the car has been turned off. Everyone always says that is bad but nothing has every happened. What do y'all think?
While you are fueling up your vehicle, why not smoke a cigarette and talk on cell phone??
Good stuff here. Not arguing whether or not it is unsafe or not to leave your car running while fueling. Or whether its ok to talk or your phone, smoke, get in your car and then back out creating static electricity, etc. First of all those warnings are there for a reason, because someone has gotten hurt at some point doing all of the above while fueling. But really all I have the ask is why the insistance on fueling while your car is running? What good purpose could that possibly serve? And please don't say start up wear or reboot.
Originally Posted By: phenix78_99
Lawful excuse? Not kosher? Did someone have a run in with the local popo and get his feelings hurt? I will be sure to tell everyone I know that even though they are single-handedly responsible for covering 58 miles of interstate, they should not speed to cover that area unless they have a lawful excuse.
You may not be aware but I do have a background in enforcement, and 58 miles of highway is nothing.
I never once in my life ran a vehicle while refueling it, and I did it in -40 many, many times.
Lawful excuse? Not kosher? Did someone have a run in with the local popo and get his feelings hurt? I will be sure to tell everyone I know that even though they are single-handedly responsible for covering 58 miles of interstate, they should not speed to cover that area unless they have a lawful excuse.
You may not be aware but I do have a background in enforcement, and 58 miles of highway is nothing.
I never once in my life ran a vehicle while refueling it, and I did it in -40 many, many times.
Running a computer, printer, cameras, and emergency lights would literally drain a battery in 30 seconds. Plus we have to be able to just go. Not start a car up and lose those precious seconds.
No, its simply because our equipment would drain a battery in 30 seconds. The computer, cameras, and printer all are electric "guzzlers" per say.
Were you a LEO? Or security? And when were you? Depends on what equipment you have running too.
Originally Posted By: lawman1909
No, its simply because our equipment would drain a battery in 30 seconds. The computer, cameras, and printer all are electric "guzzlers" per say.
Typical car battery is about 50amp-hours. to discharge to zero in 30 seconds requires a 6,000 amp load. if we're just pulling the top 20% off the battery in 30 seconds, it's still a 1200 amp load.
A laptop pulls 4A at 12V. Cameras an amp or two tops. Printer --- I actually don't have a clue there but let's call it 4A assuming it's an inkjet. 2 laptops, a printer, 2 cameras = 14Amps. no need for lights while refueling. Battery can sustain that load to 3 hours to zero. Lights WILL drop a battery quickly, so if they are on that's a whole different story.
I think the big argument is (in)convenience vs real world risk. I am a fan and supporter of LEO. I'm glad we have them (y'all) so I'm not gonna harp or complain. But I'll credit LEO and FD and any other real-world job being comprised of human beings who have on days and off days just like anyone else. Anyone can be a victim of a mistake.
Real-world statistics? I don't think the flash-fires are common. And less so in areas that stay humid. It's pretty rare bit obviously it happens. We can debate "real world" vs "I'm more careful" vs "incident rates" all day long, but in the end it's just a risk with a set of factors. Heck, LIFE is a risk with a set of factors.
The chances are low that it's going to happen to you. Adopt a risk factor and the chances go up, though still remain statistically low. So in the end, it's all about how many factors has someone stacked up, AND does the dice go unlucky in one particular moment.
Makes it very difficult to establish "rules" about what one should and should not do.
If it takes 3 minutes to boot the car, I would consider that a PITA. having to refuel daily with a 3 minute boot period would probably get on my nerves. There are times when I was younger that I'd leave it running, and I was just a normal Joe gassing up 1-2x per week.
Then I experienced personally how quickly gas vapors ignite doing something stupid while trying to clear brush. It happens so quickly and with such force that you don't stand much of a chance if you are near.
I shut my car off now. Happier to reduce my risks
No, its simply because our equipment would drain a battery in 30 seconds. The computer, cameras, and printer all are electric "guzzlers" per say.
Typical car battery is about 50amp-hours. to discharge to zero in 30 seconds requires a 6,000 amp load. if we're just pulling the top 20% off the battery in 30 seconds, it's still a 1200 amp load.
A laptop pulls 4A at 12V. Cameras an amp or two tops. Printer --- I actually don't have a clue there but let's call it 4A assuming it's an inkjet. 2 laptops, a printer, 2 cameras = 14Amps. no need for lights while refueling. Battery can sustain that load to 3 hours to zero. Lights WILL drop a battery quickly, so if they are on that's a whole different story.
I think the big argument is (in)convenience vs real world risk. I am a fan and supporter of LEO. I'm glad we have them (y'all) so I'm not gonna harp or complain. But I'll credit LEO and FD and any other real-world job being comprised of human beings who have on days and off days just like anyone else. Anyone can be a victim of a mistake.
Real-world statistics? I don't think the flash-fires are common. And less so in areas that stay humid. It's pretty rare bit obviously it happens. We can debate "real world" vs "I'm more careful" vs "incident rates" all day long, but in the end it's just a risk with a set of factors. Heck, LIFE is a risk with a set of factors.
The chances are low that it's going to happen to you. Adopt a risk factor and the chances go up, though still remain statistically low. So in the end, it's all about how many factors has someone stacked up, AND does the dice go unlucky in one particular moment.
Makes it very difficult to establish "rules" about what one should and should not do.
If it takes 3 minutes to boot the car, I would consider that a PITA. having to refuel daily with a 3 minute boot period would probably get on my nerves. There are times when I was younger that I'd leave it running, and I was just a normal Joe gassing up 1-2x per week.
Then I experienced personally how quickly gas vapors ignite doing something stupid while trying to clear brush. It happens so quickly and with such force that you don't stand much of a chance if you are near.
I shut my car off now. Happier to reduce my risks
Everyone around here leaves their car running when fueling up in the winter. It it unnecessary wear on the starter and battery. I fail to see how a car running is going to be any more dangerous than off.
The exhaust manifold, exhaust pipe are still going to be hot when I shut the car off ...
The exhaust manifold, exhaust pipe are still going to be hot when I shut the car off ...
2 threads on here about this very same subject:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/1383612/1
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3020827
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/1383612/1
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3020827
On a side note - one of our wranglers would stall if you tried to fill with it running.
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