(SIOUX CITY, IA) - Filling up your gas tank isn't fun on a bitter cold day like Thursday. While the warmth of a running car can make the job more tolerable, It's not a smart thing to do.
At a couple gas stations in Sioux City, several cars were running on Thursday while their owners were filling up. It's not just a safety problem, but a problem for your pocket as well.
When asked how often Jami Johnsen, owner of East End gas station in Morningside, sees people filling-up with the engine running, she said all the time.
"We'd spend all day trying to tell people, going out there to tell them can you turn your car off?" said Johnsen.
It is easy to sympathize with those people.
"During the cold weather, I can understand why they're doing it, but it's really not safe to do it," said Johnsen.
On days when the temperatures are below zero, it's tempting to leave our car running when we want to fill up, but the safe thing to do is to turn it off.
"Because your cap is off and your car's running, it'll throw that code on or that check engine light," said Francisco Huerta at Square Tire.
With your engine light on, that could drain your wallet.
"It costs money to come take it off or figure out what that check engine light is," explained Huerta.
Johnsen has a solution.
"Put your hand on the car when you get out. Get rid of the static," she said.
It's that static electricity that could ignite gas fumes. You have to be aware that refueling can be dangerous no matter what the weather is like.
