VW Diesel Heaters and petrol stations

no more dangerous than every vehicle being driven into the fuel station. Any vehicle can drop red hot bits off the engine/exhaust or eject lumps of burning coke out of the end, header pipes glow red during and immediately after a run. Catalytic converters sit there almost glowing, starters and alternators spark, even hot brake pads/discs could start a fire, drpping your keys could give a spark. It is rare a fuel station fire is, and usually caused by a crash or deliberate ignition.

Contrary to popular belief, even petrol is not all that inflammable. Chucking it on a barbecue or bonfire not such a good idea because there may be a lot of heat there, so it rapidly converts to vapour.

I used to know a guy who did those "exploding car crashes" for the TV. Apparently the recipe was an ounce of gelignite inside an old style metal gallon motor oil can, filled up with petrol. Triggered by a standard detonator of course.

The issue with mobile radios is the chance that when transmitting there is enough RF energy coupled into a something that looks electrically like a coil with a spark gap - and the spark then occurs in an explosive vapour. Not very likely in the open air, but a potential problem on oil rigs, see:

USA allows people to fill a vehicle with the engine running and they have latches on the pump nozzle so they can wander off while pumping 20 gallons / 100L (F150 has 26 US gallon tank).

While they are not touching the earthed pump nozzle or the vehicle they are building up a static charge. They return to remove the nozzle and pull a spark from the nozzle when they discharge the static. There are a number of petrol station fires in the USA every year due to this, sufficient that petrol station fires can't be considered uncommon. Very very rare and unheard of in UK as we are not allowed latches on the pump nozzle so can't wander off.

Well you *can* stub a cigarette out in a bowl of it. All those films showing petrol being ignited by a cigarette end, total bollocks.

Tim

There are many Youtube videos also showing the results of latching petrol pump dispensers where the driver leaves the nozzle in the in the filler tube and wanders off, presumably to pay. On returning they forget about it and drives off. In most cases the pump hose separates from the pump but in rarer cases the car topples the pump which sometimes results in a fire.

In around 40 years of driving I usually filled my tank each time I purchased petrol. In that time and on at least 2 occasions I've had the pump automatic fill detection fail and the pump has continued to deliver petrol to a full tank rather than cutting off.

Thank you. If it is cool, and you are quick enough, it can put out a match.

I 99% agree, but if the cigarrete end is just that bit hotter, then it can be hot enough to ignite. As in blowing on the tip.