Reno Towing - Emergency Gas Service

Here's the second part of our informative post about fuel for your vehicle (Dare To Repair.... by Julie Sussman). The basics of the different kinds as well as safety tips that everyone should know. When you are not close to a gas stations and cannot get there safely by foot, give us a call here.

Static Electricity

Did you know that you should never get back into your car during refueling? Getting in and out of your car can create static electricity, which, when combined with the vapors emitted from gasoline at the fill site, can create a flash fire. This rarely happens, but there's an easy way to prevent it from occurring. If you absolutely must get back into the car; use your bare hand to touch a metal spot on the car (not near the pump) to discharge any static electricity before getting inside.
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If you have a cell phone, turn it off. Even though there is no empirical data that supports the theory that cell phones can produce static electricity, it's best to assume that they can. So cut the cord with your cell phone for the few minutes you're at the pump.
And don't even think about smoking at a gas station or anywhere near gasoline. You can't smoke in your car, either; because you're not supposed to be in it while refueling, remember?

Staying at the Pump

Not only should you not get back inside the car while refueling, you should also never leave the pump unattended. This means no running to the restroom or going inside the convenience mart to buy a Krispy Kreme while filling the tank. Why? Because sometimes the pump may not click off when the tank is full or the nozzle may fall out of the gas tank while filling, spilling fuel on the ground.
Never let your child under driving age pump the gas for you.

Fire at the Pump

Gas stations are required to have an emergency shutoff button for the pumps, either outside the station or mart for motorists and/or inside for the attendant to operate. The exterior shutoff button is typically located underneath a sign that says "Emergency" or "Emergency shutoff."

If a fire occurs at the pump while refueling, there a few things you should and should not do. Do not remove the nozzle from the car. If you do, you'll spill gasoline, which will only increase the size of the fire. Instead, leave the pump, go to the other side of the car to remove any passengers, and run to the service area to notify the attendant. If you know where the emergency shutoff button is, push it.

Every gas station is required by law to have fire extinguishers located at the fuel pumps, but it's up to each gas station to maintain them; therefore, you can't be guaranteed that they will work. The safest thing to do is to get away from the fire."