Is it possible to refuel without turning off the engine?
2 Answers
Refueling without turning off the engine is not allowed. The flash point of gasoline is only 50 degrees Celsius, and when the temperature reaches this point, gasoline can flash and explode, which is extremely dangerous. The reasons are as follows: 1. Risk of short circuits or electrical leaks: When refueling, if the vehicle is not turned off, the engine continues to run at high speed. The engine's operation inevitably involves electrical current flow, and any short circuit or electrical leak can be highly hazardous. 2. Exhaust may contain sparks: While the engine is running, the vehicle's exhaust pipe continuously emits exhaust gases, which may sometimes contain sparks, posing a threat to the safety of the gas station. Therefore, it is strictly prohibited to let the fuel nozzle come into contact with the vehicle's exhaust pipe during refueling at a gas station. 3. Vehicle generates significant heat: The engine produces a large amount of heat, which further increases the rate of fuel evaporation. During refueling, the concentration of fuel vapor and air mixture around the fuel tank increases accordingly. Since this mixture is denser than air and does not disperse easily, when the concentration of fuel vapor reaches a certain level, any spark generated by the running engine could ignite and cause an explosion.
I've been driving on the road for over 20 years and have witnessed all kinds of accident lessons, so I strongly recommend turning off the engine before refueling. When the engine is still running, the oil vapor near the fuel tank opening may be ignited by hot components, such as the exhaust pipe which can reach several hundred degrees—just a splash of gasoline can cause a fire or explosion. Once at a rural gas station, I saw someone who didn't bother to turn off the engine, and sparks almost caused a fire under the hood. It was later found out to be caused by an electrical short circuit. Since then, I've made it a habit to turn off the engine and wait a few dozen seconds before opening the fuel tank cap after parking. I also remind myself to pat my clothes to remove static electricity when getting out of the car. Don't underestimate this little time—safety is the most important thing, and it also protects the battery and electronic systems from interference.
