hello all,

pretty simple question.....is it safe to keep the engine running during refill at the gas station????
all big rigs keep their trucks running.....any thoughts???

 

Yes, because diesel oil doesn't produce the flammable fumes that gas does. You could actually take a light match and drop it in diesel and it wouldn't ignite although I RECOMMEND YOU NOT DO THAT. I usually leave my truck running when I refuel simply because it only takes 2 minutes or so and I don't have additional wear on the starter or battery drain. 2 minutes isn't long enough to worry about idleing anyway.

 

I might add that your fuel gauge won't come up right away when you fuel up with the engine running.

 

Good question. If I'm highballing down the interstate or pulling a trailer then yes, I leave it idling. If I'm running around town then usually no, I kill it. I have noticed that most diesels I fuel beside are running.

 

Well, here is the "Beachbum's" advice...

If I am driving on a trip and running hard, I leave the engine running while I fill up so it cools the turbo & oil down (saves wear & tear on bearings). If I plan on getting a snak or eating, I then idle to parking area and shut down while eating.

Upon re-starting, overhead gauge resets and off I go. My fuel gauge always goes to FULL after refilling... even if I leave engne on, but overhead "miles to empty" does not reset until key is removed.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

That's weird. I guess Ford didn't plan on people refueling with the engine on.

 

They did not, it is a pain............I think they did not plan for a few other things also

 

Leave them engines running...............won't hurt but help you not to melt your turbo and extra wear and tear on your starter..............just don't ground yourself to your truck while fueling.......!

 

Diesel won't ignite from a spark so don't worry about it.

 

hmm...most gas engine owners don't know that...sure would be funny to pull the nozzle out and play with your cigarette lighter as they watch and probably run

 

I leave mine running all the time when re-fueling. The fuel guage in my 6.0 although slow - it isn't near as slow as the one in my old 2001 7.3L.
That being said, in some states it is illegal to leave your vehicle running while refueling. In addition, I have experienced on several occassions where fuel attendents have come out and told me I had to turn my vehicle off to use their pumps. Most people don't realize that diesel is not near as votile as gas.....

On the other hand.... you might want to be careful not to forget which vehicle your fueling - i.e. gas or diesel. I've seen numeous safety videos where as gas has been ignited while fueling even when the vehicle isn't running. Wonder how many of us know that it is unsafe to start fueling a gas vehice and to get back into the car and stay warm while waiting for your car to fuel.... If you don't ground yourself after getting out of the car, static electricity alone can set the gas on fire. The same thing applies to filling plastic fuel containers in the back of your truck with gas - Bad idea. I work for an oil company hence we get to see a lot of the results of such actions.

 

I question the comment about being able to put a lighted match in my tank!

Many, many years ago, I worked in the oil field while going to school. We used salamander heaters fueled with #2 diesel to keep warm at night. The diesel lit very easily with just a match. It may be way less volatile than gasoline, but it is still volatile.

Relaying this, just so someone dosn't take you seriously and drops a lit match into there tank.

 

I leave mine running all the TIme while refueling, nothing to worry about,, here in NJ it is illegal to pump your own fuel or gas but at the stations I go to the guys are cool to us diesel owners and don't say anything about leaving our trucks running or even pumping our own fuel, I think their just glad they don't have to get up out of their chair plus I don't want some idiot to spill diesel down the side of my white truck,, I've seen it happen to many times,, . I will usually even leave my gas vehicles running as well unless told to shut it off.... just my thoughts,,

 

Left my Diesel running yesterday to fuel up and the gauge came right on up with no delay. I would never leave a gas engine running though because it is more volitile and more importantly people get ticked off when someone doesn't shut off their engine around here. I don't see them get mad about diesel's doing it though. I guess they know for the most part that it is safer for the Diesel.

 

I thought it was the other way around. You are supposed to ground yourself to the vehicle before touching the nozzle so that you don't get a spark from static. I think the idea is that any static in you will be taken from the vehicle rather than touch the nozzle and get a spark.