What happens if you fill the car up with petrol while the engine is turned on or running, will you explode?!?

John T

Very doubtful that anything untoward would happen.
However, it is not a good idea as sparks from the engine could ignite the fumes.

F1 have rather a lot of safety equipment around in case of fire.

shebs

Racing cars are grounded before they refuel, and that is why it is safer to fuel them but accidents do happen there too, and the filling system is a completely different high flow system

Static dischage igniting fumes is the risk, and cars usually build up one as they move, and this is the main risk. Odds of a fire are big enough to make it dangerous to fill a car with the engine running too, usually because of sparks from the exhaust in older cars. Much lower risk in modern cars, but the need to do it is still there. Turning off the engine also decreases the real risk of driving off with the hose still attached to the car. Seen this happen too many times. Idiots are everywhere.

Sal*UK

Naw - they fill racing cars whilst they are practically still moving!!

UCANTCME

It could start a fire if the fumes from the gas being pumped get close enough to a source of ignition, though that is not really a concern today with the new vapor recovery nozzles that almost every gas station uses these days.

Some of the other risky things that leaving your vehicle running while you are pumping your fuel are if the shifter is not completely in park it could move and your vehicle could move on it's own running you over or hitting the car behind or in front of you.

If a child or a pet is in the vehicle they could hit the shifter by accident and the same problems as described above could happen.

Another thing to be concerned about is static electricity between your body and the fuel pump that is why the tell you to touch a metal object like your cars body to discharge any static electricity before you pick up the fuel nozzle because if a spark from static electricity finds any fuel on or in the nozzle a fire will start on you faster than you can react,and THAT WILL DEFINITELY RUIN YOUR DAY QUICKLY

can you help

my starter motor is f***ed so i have to bump start so when filling up my car is running never had a problem.
all the best dave

The Tank

It's not likely to catch fire unless you have a fault somewhere. There is also a slight risk of backfire combined with a petrol spillage (quite common because of overfilling). That would not be a risk worth taking, even if it is only one in a million.

The main reason that garages order you stop your engine is for Motion Safety, Health & Safety and compliance with the law.

It is actually illegal for a driver to leave an unattended car with the engine running in a public place (which a garage forecourt is for any practical purpose). A car with it's engine running is at risk of moving off.
This risk may be slight but garages can't take chances of children (or adult idiots) messing around whilst the driver is at the pump; or an automatic that's been left in D; or even of the driver going to the pay kiosk and leaving the car running.

Also, hundreds of cars idling all day in a forecourt will lead to a nasty local build up of exhaust fumes. Despite what makers tell you, these are not all poison-free. The staff would have a legal claim under Health & Safety legislation and lead to closure of the forecourt.

the lock man

no- watch mythbusters

Michael H

not likely.

the reason for turning your engine off is about managing risk and probability

i put petrol in my large mower and tractor and the filler is on the bonnet right above the engine. petrol practically runs down the block when i spill it !

wvparanormal

NO, but your car might.

pancho

Mines got a turbo timer, and have to admit ive got impatient and started filling up when its running down. Didnt explode.

arlanymor

You will only explode if you have eaten to much food,As for the car nothing, unless there is a spark from some electrical malfunction or if petrol came onto a red hot exhaust and even then unlike the films it is very rare that they explode but they burn well

rustupd

possible 1 time in 1,000,000 it may catch fire

agooddub

Nothing should happen.. The petrol filler is at the back and the engine is usually at the front.

LoneWolf

If so...there would be a lot more burn victims, just dont pump it onto ur exaust..

The original Peter G

Probably not. It's only if you spill petrol on the ground that the risk really rises. Of course on a bike or vintage car with the tank over the engine it would be another (short) story

david c

no i don't think so i used to fill generator's and they were still ruining just don't spill petrol on to hot bits cos you would have trouble then

popa

Both have been known to have happened, electrical sparks can ignite the fumes.Popa

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