Gas pumps and fire hazards

[NWFatboy]

The other day I stopped at a Shell station I had never been to before. As soon as I started filling the gas tank I noticed the nozzle pressure seemed to be about the same as those high pressure nozzles you see on the top of a ladder fire truck.

I tried to slow it down by letting off the lever a little. But this thing was all stop or full speed only. When the tank was about 3/4 full, gas come blastin out the filler hole like a friggin guyser. All over the fukin tank, me, and now guess where its goin. Yep, right down on the engine and hot pipes.

I'm standin there thinkin I'm about to lose my bike and set the whole stupid gas station on fire. At this point I could really give a shite about the gas station, but my bike!

I've heard alot of talk about gas drippin on the pipes and catchin fire but don't know anybody that has had it happen!

Anyone know of this happenin? I know it can and does happen. Just don't know of anyone personally.

BTW, I wont be back at that place again. Had to go home and actually wash my bike!

[jtpnu93]

I haven't experienced anything that bad, but the gas stations around my house all seem to have pretty robust nozzle pressures. I always keep my hand on the "trigger" when I am filling it up to avoid what you went through.

Not sure if the fuel on the pipes would cause a fire, but I know it won't cause a fire if it never gets on them!!!

[Trekker]

I had to come to an abrupt stop just after filling up & I had gas come out of the gas cap, down the center of the tank onto my hot rocker boxes.
The gas smoked up but no flame (smelled like crap too).
So I could guess that without a spark, no flame. Contact with a hot surface will just rapidly evaporate the gas causing it to smoke a lot.
But that didn't stop my heart from jumping into my throat thinking I was going to have to bail off a burning bike in the middle of the intersection.
Best bet is to find another station like you said.
Ride safe,

[mdatthebay]

Gas ignites at is flash point, (the degrees escapes me at this time) which apparently is below the temperature of your engine at that time. Also only the vapors ignite. When I was a kid I would throw matches into gas cans and it would put the match out and no explosion, much to my dismay. Now if you put a quart of gas in a burn barrel, wait and then look into the barrel as you lite it off....then you end up with no hair, no eyebrows, no eye lashes and a nice glow about the face.

All in all, I would watch the runovers. We used to call the runovers a "Gas and Wash".

[Crash69]

Since I ride a V-Rod and need every drop of gas that I can squeeze into the tank, I pack a few paper towels around the nozzle when I fill it up. It keeps the backspray to a minimum and soaks it up in the towels.
Then, if you want, you can wring the last few drops out of the paper towel back into the gas tank....it's like frickin' $2.55 per gallon out here!!!!

[breeliz]

Yep...

I saw it happen to a fellow member on a ride we took out to SW Wisconsin. She was filling her Sporty at a Citgo and the thing would not shut down and sprayed a jet of gas out over the bike and onto the pavement. Maybe a half gallon before it stopped. Needless to say she was a very unhappy camper.

I think the best thing is to jam it into the tank and let the pressure shut-off stop it. But it didn;t happen to me so I am not sure if that would work. She pulled the nozzle from the tank and that clearly didn't work.

[Crazy Larry]

"I've heard alot of talk about gas drippin on the pipes and catchin fire but don't know anybody that has had it happen!"
NWFatboy

That got my curiosity up, because I've see the same thing. Only on a hot engine, or lawnmower muffler..

Found this on the web..City of Pheonix Flammable Substances
http://phoenix.gov/FIRE/flammabl.html

"Gasoline will ignite when a heat source or electrical spark of at least 853 degrees comes in contact with it. Natural gas (methane) needs an ignition temperature of around 1000 degrees and paint thinner 453 degrees."

So I guess the engine would have to be very hot..
However 1 little spark changes everything..
It go BOOM

[1999 RoadKing]

Originally Posted by Crash69

Since I ride a V-Rod and need every drop of gas that I can squeeze into the tank, I pack a few paper towels around the nozzle when I fill it up. It keeps the backspray to a minimum and soaks it up in the towels.
Then, if you want, you can wring the last few drops out of the paper towel back into the gas tank....it's like frickin' $2.55 per gallon out here!!!!

Great idea. I too have had my fair share of gas baths. Not funny at all.

[Chilly]

I don't see how it could be possible. If the outside of your engine is hot enough to ignite gas your engine would never turn off! You'd have a runaway engine, as the air/fuel charge would ignite as soon as it hit the combustion chamber. And even at this point the pipes and outside of the engine would be somewhat cooler than the combustion chamber. If it has ever happened there would have to have been a spark or cig ash to help things along.

Chilly

[tomv]

Originally Posted by Chilly

I don't see how it could be possible. If the outside of your engine is hot enough to ignite gas your engine would never turn off! You'd have a runaway engine, as the air/fuel charge would ignite as soon as it hit the combustion chamber. And even at this point the pipes and outside of the engine would be somewhat cooler than the combustion chamber. If it has ever happened there would have to have been a spark or cig ash to help things along.

Chilly

unless you have fuel injection which cuts the fuel to the engine. i was looking for an opportunity to turn this into a carb vs efi thread. thanks.