I've never read so many posts without a clearer understanding of the situation (just kidding) . To add to the confusion, I have filled up the car with a few gallons of gas and the gauge did not move (and car was not running). I don't know if running the car makes a difference or not, but it's my experience that you need to fill up past a certain point for the gauge to register properly again. At some point, when the tank is low enough, I understand that the gauge is estimating the amount of gas in the tank.

Besides, this isn't your high school / college days anymore -- shouldn't need to fill in a few bucks each time ! Recently, I've only done that when I realize the price at a particular station is way over the average.

 

This is normal. Gauge position makes no difference whether the car is running or not, it has to do with how the car calculates fuel level. I believe it does it with a float from "full" and when it gets to a certain point, it actually starts doing it electronically. I have pulled in with the light on, put in $10 and drove away...needle never moved. I stopped again somewhere else and put in another $10, drove away and needle never moved...stopped again and put in another $10 and the needle went to 3/4 to almost full...very disappointing system, especially when you like to drive around on fumes because it's lighter...again..this is normal...nothing wrong...I use my gas mileage to determine how much fuel I had...

 

The float is above both "halves" of the tank. You need to move the float in order to reset the gauge (around 11/16 of a tank). The fuel tank is so small that if I am going somewhere I just top it off.. Same with my motorcycles...

 

I think its that a previous member said it is common to leave the car running because it is so hot. (Dubai) In Wisconsin it is common to leave it running in the winter because it is soo cold.

 

So why in God's name live there?

 

I'm with Sam ... we leave our car running while filling up with a half and half mixture of Uranium and Unobtanium.

 

hahaha! Nice! +1!

We "hot refuel" aircraft all the time; running helicopters or jets. With aircraft there is always a grounding wire clipped on to ground out any static electricity. Believe it or not, modern jet fuel (Jet A or JP8) is much less volatile than gasoline. Still, I sometimes take my chances and leave the car running when there is a reason to. The fact that it may be against the law has no bearing on my decision making process at all. Laws shmaws. So is driving 100 mph, but I bet every Porsche owner here has done it, or does it.

 

Two words: tax free

But i guess you're right. We should also ask all canadians to move south because it's too cold up there.

 

HEY, That float thing just happened to me....I was in Arkansas by Protomotive for tuning and I was on empty when I drove into town at midnight,,,just drove straight threw from Chicago,650 miles..lol.......There were NO gas stations with 93 octane there because of the slight elevation,,only 91 octane....So,I put 5 gallons in of 91 because I decided now to drive 50 miles back into another town to find 93 octane for the tuning>>>>>>Moral of story,,if you see mountains and big hills coming your way ,,better get to the closest gas station for 93.......The elevation was only around 1100 ft there....

 

Nice...

 

at $7.99 A GAL I SHUT MINE OFF!!!!

 

Filling the car with it running is a great way to break your sending unit. Trust me I broke one in my first 996 that way. The replacement broke because these things aren't the most reliable parts in these cars either.

Always shut off your car when filling up unless you like expensive and unnecessary repair bills.

 

Fueling whilst car is running is idiotic and illegal. If I would be next to you I would either call police or punch your lights out. Sure it works, until another element is added to your behaviour which could blow up the entire petrol station. Which elements? Why don't you use your brain and think of some...