Engine Left On....While Refueling?

[stroked88]

the freon doesnt directly keep the bearings cool but they do nonetheless help a lot. when the freon is cool coming in and hot going out (normal) it keeps the bearings way cooler than when the freon is hot coming in and hotter going out (long idle). feel your compressor after driving on the highway with the ac for a while and then feel it after idling for the same amount of time with the ac on. let us know what you find out ok?

 

[JJacobs]

if you leave jeep idling for a long period, not enough air flows through condensor to cool freon charge, which also helps keep compressor cool. compressor gets hot and messes up bearings. idling the engine up to about 1200 rpm will help flow more air to keep this from happening, and if you dont want to do this then you can just turn off the a/c so that the compressor isnt turning. Make sense?

Actually, no, it doesn't. That's part of the fan's job is to keep the air moving across the condenser even on a hot day in heavy traffic. If you have to idle up to prevent nasty noises and keep it cooling then your AC system needs some work.

 

[Wow]

In many places, it is illegal to leave your vehicle idling if you are not there, gas station or not. In my city, it is in fact illegal to leave your doors unlocked and the key in the ignition, even if it is off.

On the other hand, it is illegal EVERYWHERE to refuel while the engine is running. Make all the excuses you want...it's still illegal, and there's a reason.

Way back in 1927, my grandfather was nearly killed in a fire caused by someone smoking while refueling. I still have the newspaper article about it, though, the headline reads "Lindbergh crosses atlantic". He still had horrible scars from it when he died in 1990. Scared the hell out of me when I was a kid...

 

[snail]

I pumped gas for about 5 years as a kid and I would always tell people to turn off their engines. Was I worried about starting fires from the vehicle running? No not so much; the main concern were the dumbazz people who would forget to put their car in park and potentially rip the hose out of the pump. I've seen it happen at other stations in NJ and the attendant yelling hit the brakes you idiot! It happened to my old boss one time at his station years ago when some lady starting rolling and then hit the gas instead of the brake and tore the hose right out. Since then he's made a point that all cars shut down when fueling.

I completely agree with the static spark possibility from fuel containers though. Always fuel those on the ground.