There’s a lot of debate on this topic and no clear consensus. Some people say that it’s perfectly fine to leave your car on while pumping gas while others say that it’s a risky move that could lead to disaster.
So what’s the truth? Is it bad to leave your car on while pumping gas?
According to some experts there’s no clear answer. “There is no definitive answer as the risks involved depend on a variety of factors” says Brian Slesinsky technical editor at Popular Mechanics. “These include the age and condition of your car as well as the quality of the gas you’re using.”
If you’re using low-quality gas or if your car is older or in poor condition there’s a greater risk that something could go wrong. However even if you’re using high-quality gas and have a newer car there’s still a small risk involved.
“If you’re comfortable with the risks and you’re sure that your car is in good condition then there’s no harm in leaving it on while you pump gas” Slesinsky says. “But if you’re not comfortable with the risks or if you’re not sure about the condition of your car it’s best to turn it off.”
Of course even if you do turn your car off while pumping gas there’s still a risk of fire. ” Gasoline is highly flammable and there have been cases of fires starting while people were pumping gas” Slesinsky says. “So it’s always important to be careful when handling gasoline.”
Bottom line: If you’re comfortable with the risks there’s no harm in leaving your car on while you pump gas. But if you’re not comfortable with the risks it’s best to turn your car off.
Is it bad to leave your car on while pumping gas?
No it is not bad to leave your car on while pumping gas.
However you should turn off your engine if you will be pumping gas for more than a minute.
