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holstein13's avatar
holstein13
Explorer
Nov 24, 2014

Do you turn off your engine at the gas station?

Yesterday was my first time ever filling up my new diesel pusher at the truck lanes at the Pilot in Marianna, FL. It was raining heavily when I arrived. What seemed odd to me was that not a single big rig tractor trailer turned off their engine despite the fact that the pumps indicate that you must turn off your engine.

I turned mine off, but was wondering, what exactly are the pros and cons of turning off the engine? Why do so many truckers leave the engine running and should I also leave mine running?

And while this post is about diesel engines, I welcome comments about gas engines as well because I've often been curious as to why they have to shut off their engines. I've heard it's a fire risk, but I have some difficulty seeing how. Maybe if someone pours fuel on the engine?

93 Replies

  • Old habits? or are they worried that they might not get started again?
    Did a Google search and found the following:
    The better question is, why are gasoline engines shut off when refueling. The reason you shut off a gasoline engine while refueling is because the vapour that is released from gasoline is highly combustible (hence, how the engine works) and even a small spark (like that from a spark plug) can cause an explosion. Diesel fuel does not "ignite" like gasoline, but rather an explosion is caused by the fuel being compressed to a point that it explodes. This means that it is safe to run a diesel engine while the fuel tank is open. As with all engines, the majority of wear and tear on a diesel engine happens upon starting the engine, so avoiding that step can actually conserve fuel and preserve engine life.

    Diesel engines can be difficult to restart, especially in extremely cold weather, and the diesel fuel will not perform properly if the engine and/or fuel cool down. In extremely cold climates, truck drivers leave their trucks at a low idle all night to prevent freezing.
  • I'm not sure why either, except to say before vapor capture systems were developed for both car and gas station hoses the smell of fumes always filled the air. With these improved safety devices the signs remain but I'm not sure the reason does. I do know the safety reasons behind grounding yourself before fueling to avoid static discharge as with the infamous "sweater lady" static discharge incident. I do turn my engine off, but I usually leave the generator running.
  • Why wouldn't you turn it off? Too many things could happen, none of them good, if you leave your engine running while refueling. I turn off my car, RV, motorcycle, anything when putting something like combustible fuel into the vehicle! I agree - don't understand why the commercial vehicles don't do so.