Using a cell phone can ignite gasoline at the pump
| Using a cell phone can ignite gasoline at the pump | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Using a mobile phone while pumping gas can create a spark that ignites fuel vapors and causes a fire." | |
| Domain | Consumer Products & Everyday Life |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1990s |
| Origin | Warning stickers at gas stations and chain emails in the late 1990s |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Consumer Products & Everyday Life | |
The belief that using a cell phone can ignite gasoline at the pump prompted warning signs at gas stations around the world. Investigations of real refueling fires have not linked them to phones. The main culprit is static electricity, usually built up when a person gets back into the car while fueling and then touches the nozzle.
The claim
Warnings described explosions caused by phones ringing or being answered near the pump.
What the evidence shows
- Static electricity. The Petroleum Equipment Institute studied refueling fires and found they were typically caused by static discharge, not phones.
- Tests. The television program MythBusters tried repeatedly to ignite vapors with a phone and failed.
- Precaution. Some manufacturers advise caution in explosive atmospheres in general, which fed the myth.
Lessons for readers
- Don't get back into the car while fueling; touch metal to discharge static if you do.
Sources
- Petroleum Equipment Institute, "Stop Static" refueling fire research.
- MythBusters, episode on cell phones and gas stations (Discovery Channel, 2003).