Refueling With the Engine Running
 

I am at a hotel about 200 miles from home and based on yesterday’s experience I expect that the valet will have to jump start my 2014 ES350 to get it out of the hotel garage. I will need to refuel before my trip home but if I shut down the engine at the gas station it will not restart.

So, what can I expect if I refuel with the engine running? I’m sure the emission system will not be happy, but will I be doing any damage to the car?

As an aside, I had to replace the battery in my garaged ES after 3.5 years. The dealer determined that my gateway computer was not defective. I put in an Interstate battery. About a year later the car just barely started after not being used for 3 weeks. I’d never had starting issues like these in my past 20 years of Lexus ownership. My current problem is that the car started fine 2 days ago, but yesterday it failed to start in the hotel’s garage. Obviously I will visit the dealer ASAP.

You may throw a check engine code but people leave their gas cap open all the time. It should not damage anything. I have seen people fill up with the engine running but this is absolutely not recommended because of safety considerations. Your car did not start because the battery got depleted when it was parked in the hotel for a day or so. You likely have a parasitic electrical leak. If you drive for a couple of hours the battery should gain enough charge to start up after a few mins of engine-off to fill up the gas tank. MAKE SURE THE AUTO HEADLIGHTS, HEATED SEATS, AND STEERING WHEEL HEAT ARE OFF. As insurance go to autozone and pick up a $10 jumper cable. Then go fill up the gas. If it does not start you can get a jump from somebody at the gas station. The only thing bruised will be your pride. But your car, its occupants and everybody at the gas station will be safe.

If I could remember correctly, there was a TSB regarding battery drain on certain ES models (2013 - 2015). I will check....

Here it is: L-SB-0035-16
http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/...dPdf?id=195332

I will advice for safety reasons that refuelling when engine is running is not proper; in fact some gas stations will require that you switched off your engine. Though I have seen people refuelling while the engine was still running - they are lucky. Just for safety reasons; better to be safe than sorry.
I totally agree with Zes advice up there - get a jumper. People would be generous enough to give you a jump.
Thanks

:Yes, I was told from about the time I was 13 years old to always turn the car off and keep the doors closed when refueling but I do occasionally see people refueling with their car running. And I am not comfortable when I see someone jump starting a car near gas pumps - it is the fumes that are always present that cause the problems not the gas itself.

Dave Mac

Your Lexus will not throw an emission system code if you refuel it while the engine is running. It does an emission system leak test 5 hours after the car is shut off, so no damage will be done (unless it goes up in flames :))

Some valid information regarding refueling with the engine running and dispelling certain myths...

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational...unning/7699834

Agreed.. I think one of the dumbest things I have ever witnessed was sometime last year... I had just pulled into a gas station to fill up... there was a guy on the other side of the pump getting to gas up his car.. when I walked around to open the gas cap door, I glanced over and saw this guy lighting a cigar while he was fueling his car..... I just closed the gas cap door and got the hell out of dodge... stupid stupid stupid.

Roland

That's really an unsafe act - lighting a cigar while fuelling his car!!! :nono:
I would be more scared too.