[BC] Static Myth Busted...

[Kevin Tekel]

Alan Alsobrook wrote:
> {side note Diesel is far more likely to ignite (in the
> tank) than gasoline}

While all fuels are flammable to some degree (or they wouldn't be fuels),
all the data I've seen over the years indicates that gasoline is more
flammable than diesel fuel.  Or, rather, gasoline _vapor_ is more
flammable, since that's what actually ignites, not the liquid gasoline
itself -- that's why an empty tanker truck is more dangerous on the road
than one that's full to the brim of gasoline (you can empty out the liquid
gasoline, but you still leave behind a tank full of smelly and flammable
gasoline vapor).

Diesel fuel gives off much less vapor than gasoline, so most diesel
vehicles don't have an evaporative emissions control system on their fuel
tank(s).  On my Mercedes Diesel you can fill up the tank all the way to
the point where the fuel is visible in the filler neck if you take a peek
through the cap.  I wouldn't use a lighter to peer down into its fuel
tank, but from what I've heard, you can drop a lit match into a puddle of
diesel fuel, and the match will extinguish, leaving the fuel unignited.

This web site's data concurs:

http://www.rsimpson.id.au/books/tomorrow/explore/bang.html

As it says, "The importance of the 'Flash Point' is that you can't get a
liquid to burn at less than its 'Flash Point'.  Diesel has a Flash Point
of 49C (120F), Petrol -40C (-40F).  If you throw a lit match into a bucket
of diesel at room temperature you get a wet match but if you throw a lit
match into a bucket of petrol at room temperature you would get a major
fire."

p.s. After driving diesel cars for years, I found myself filling up a
"gasser" yesterday.  The nauseating aroma of gasoline vapor is NOT
something I miss.  Diesel fuel does have its own kind of smell, but it's
not as strong and not as sickening, at least to my nose.



	
		
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