There has always been a vibrant conversation surrounding the use of pumps at gas stations to fill up. One of the most significant talking points has been whether it’s a myth that drivers should turn off their cars while doing so. Recently, one of the mechanics from John Hiester Automotive Group took to TikTok to share why drivers should turn off their vehicles while pumping gas, and it’s not the reason you’re thinking. 

Using gas station pumps is more of a nuanced action than most believe 

It has long been said that using gas station pumps while the car is on is dangerous. This is the case because it can be a fire hazard. The danger is due to both static electricity and fuel vapors. Despite this, there are many drivers who refuse to turn their cars off while filling them up. In some cases, this is to keep the AC running. In others, they simply keep it on out of habit or perhaps because they think the dangers are merely a myth. 

As mentioned, this isn’t the only reason to turn your car off while using the pumps at gas stations. Auto mechanics know that this can cause damage to your vehicle. The professional from John Hiester says, “It’s actually not a myth. What happens is when you don’t turn the vehicle off, it’s actually still building pressure inside that system.” He then says that this causes an EVAP leak, which can then lead to the check engine light coming on. 

Of course, a check engine light can illuminate for various reasons. The problem is that this often results in visits to local auto mechanics, which can be costly. However, drivers can avoid some of this by simply turning off their vehicles while using the pumps at gas stations.