Plastic Gas containers and Plastic liners in Pickups?

[Industrial Toys]

Nor I. And no one realizes or ever talks about the (metering) descrepency between stations and pumps. I seem to have a waaaay larger fuel tank at some stations than others. EASILY negates a penny or two a litre savings.

Anyway, the fuller my tanks are, the less chance of condensation.

 

[yomax4]

Not real sure about any of this but I had a nylon bed liner and I filled Hundreds of plastic cans ( on the ground near the pump ) and placed them in the bed and drove them all over the country. Not sure when the explosion was supposed to happen but maybe I was just lucky?

 

[Fallon]

Not real sure about any of this but I had a nylon bed liner and I filled Hundreds of plastic cans ( on the ground near the pump ) and placed them in the bed and drove them all over the country. Not sure when the explosion was supposed to happen but maybe I was just lucky?

The issues can be as often as the need for a seatbelt. When was the last time you actually needed a seatbelt? I haven't needed one in 41 years but I still put it on every time I drive for good reason. Gas is pretty volatile so even a very rare issue can get ugly when it occurs.

 

[fried1765]

The issues can be as often as the need for a seatbelt. When was the last time you actually needed a seatbelt? I haven't needed one in 41 years but I still put it on every time I drive for good reason. Gas is pretty volatile so even a very rare issue can get ugly when it occurs.

I have needed a seat belt twice in the past 28 years.
Once when an 18 wheeler jackknifed in front of me at 70 mph.
The other, just 3 weeks ago when a woman plowed her car into the front of my car.
Seat belt was on, and air bags went off both times.
Zero injury both times!

 

[Threepoint]

I have needed a seat belt twice in the past 28 years.
Once when an 18 wheeler jackknifed in front of me at 70 mph.
The other, just 3 weeks ago when a woman plowed her car into the front of my car.
Seat belt was on, and air bags went off both times.
Zero injury both times!

Holy Smokes! Glad you were o.k. to post another day!

 

[Howling]

I am trying to understand this and it is not making much sense.

When you fill the fuel tank in a vehicle, why is there no risk of static discharge. Where is the static electricity discharged to? The car is insulated from ground by the tires.

I assume the static is created by fuel flowing through the hose/nozzle...so the nozzle becomes charged...it that correct. Or is the charge created by the fuel splashing into the tank? Or both?

The spark is created between the tank/vehicle and the nozzle. If there is a ground line between the tank/vehicle and the nozzle there is no discharge. But there is no ground line between the tank/vehicle and nozzle when normally fueling, so where is the charge dissipated?

The static charge is build up by the fuel flow through the hose and nozzle. The issue is how much that charge builds up and dissipates to ground and the resulting spark size (ignition source size).

Every material has ability to conduct and/or block electric flow. Materials normally considered electrical insulators at a certain charge level will start conducting the electricity. Lighting is an example of this. The static charge builds up in clouds and reaches a point where it overcomes the air's ability to be an insulator and the charge flows to the ground. Boom we have lighting strike.

When the gas can is on the ground the electrical path to ground is short and large charge can't build up. Specially with small amounts of conductive materials included in the plastic mix.

Filling the gas can in the metal truck bed increases the insulation to ground and amount of charge that can build up. Tire manufactures do put carbon in the rubber mix that helps cut down the maximum charge level that can build up.

Add a plastic bed liner and insulation level is raised higher. This allows a larger charge to build up. When this charge is discharged the resulting spark potentially is large enough to ignite the fuel vapors. Look at the original video posted. The triggering event happened when the guy leaned to move/adjust the nozzle.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not real sure about any of this but I had a nylon bed liner and I filled Hundreds of plastic cans ( on the ground near the pump ) and placed them in the bed and drove them all over the country. Not sure when the explosion was supposed to happen but maybe I was just lucky?

The entire point of this thread was to do exactly as you have... fill the cans on the ground rather than on a plastic bedliner.

 

[Grumpycat]

This truly is the first place I have ever heard of this Carbon in the tires creating a ground. As a kid, I remember seeing many vehicles having the aftermarket strap dragging on the pavement to disipate static.

Your resistor spark plug wires are carbon.

Is high resistance, but very little current needs to flow to dissipate static electricity.

 

[PILOON]

LOL, penny wise, pound foolish!

 

[drizler]

Not real sure about any of this but I had a nylon bed liner and I filled Hundreds of plastic cans ( on the ground near the pump ) and placed them in the bed and drove them all over the country. Not sure when the explosion was supposed to happen but maybe I was just lucky?

I’ve been doing it for that long as well. Always filled on ground. Fill and cap each as I went then stuck then up against the back of the cab so they don’t slide around. I put one of those load bars behind usually go lock them in place.
I did read once that part of the problem especially with your cars tank is pulling the nozzle out then reinserting it. Not a good idea anyways as topping off just ruins your evap cannister. The crux of it is is In fill it then take it out and be done with it all, on the ground if it’s a can. Simple, sensible