5 Things You Should Never Do While Pumping Gas These tips, provided by familyhandyman.com, could save your life at the pump: Though the chances of causing an electrical spark are slim, it's still possible. It's best to stay alert at busy gas stations. Getting back into your vehicle while fueling can cause a spark from static electricity build up. Doing so can cause a fire or impair the sensors that gauge when the tank is full. Though rare, power sources such as phone chargers or cigarette lighters can potentially ignite fuel. Topping off can result in gasoline spills, which are dangerous to everyone.