Date: 9 Sep 2001 02:08:54 -0700 From: johsnopsamanytime.co.uk (Johannes H Andersen) Subject: Re: Fuel pump - disturbing discovery....what now?
"VIKINGMAN" <saabnopsamlixnet._nospam_dk> wrote in message news:<C0zm7.8519$sk1.264175nopsam010.worldonline.dk>... > "Jason Stefanovich" <stefanjnopsamnet> skrev i en meddelelse > news:3B9A95AF.B49E03C8nopsamnet... > > > http://home1.gte.net/stefanj/pump1.jpg > > http://home1.gte.net/stefanj/pump2.jpg > > http://home1.gte.net/stefanj/pump3.jpg > > > > The pump had not just up and died. It had actually shorted out inside > > the gas tank, melting through part of the upper receiver and burning > > completely through the > > wire's insullation. I can only say I'm very thankful that a spark or > > heat from this didn't ignite the fumes in the gas tank. Especially > > because when I was testing to see > > Hi Jason. > > You don't really need to worry about fire/explosion. To start a fire you'll > need all of these three things: > > 1. Something flamable - Is present = Gasoline. > 2. Heat - Is present = short. > 3. Oxygen - Is missing. > > The fumes in the tank is so thick, it doesn't leave room for oxygen. It > simply cannot ignite. I know about this, as I am a semi-driver for an > oil-corporation. Sometimes if we have a bas "earthing" in one of the tanks, > the gas will actually boil inside the tank, filling it. As there isn't any > oxygen, it isn't a problem. > > Cheers! > > P.S. I But think of a car on fire from an electrical short. The heat builds up near the tank and the pressure increases, petrol starts leaking out from gaps opened up by the pressure. Once in this situation, vapours apears which may ignite and further increase the pressures and leakages. Once the petrol splashes out, a chain reaction occurs. Your tanker tank may be much more solid and will dissipate the heat. Johannes