Please show this to anyonw you know that drives a gasser.

[gitchesum]

Please show this to anyone you know that drives a gasser.

We got this afety bulletin at work today. My wife drives a Durango and I'm guilty of getting back in the car while the gas is pumping a time or two. I'll post hte pic one of the vehicles involved in a minute.



The Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires that result from "static" (that is, static electricity) at gas pumps. They have researched 150 of these fires. The results were very surprising:



1) Of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.

2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.

3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.

4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.

5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas.

6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, ignited by static charges.

7) There were 29 fires in which the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle was touched during refueling. These involved a variety of makes and models with some fires resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station and to the customer.

8) Seventeen fires occurred before fueling began - before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed.



NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it with gas. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.



As mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with several other companies, are trying to make the public aware of this danger. You can find out more information by going to http://www.pei.org/static/index.htm



Please send this information to ALL your family and friends, especially those who have kids in the car while pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children out in time. Thanks for passing this along.

 

[Motorhead]

THANKS for the info!!! Just read it to my wife and 19 year old daughter. Although both of their cars are MBZ Diesels, they and I for that matter may fuel a gasser. Chris

 

[illflem]

I always thought all gas nozzles and hoses were grounded to prevent this from happening. Guess not.

 

[Jeff H]

I've never seen a car burn yet or hear of anything like that.

I never turn the pump on until the nozle is in the filling hole. I turn the pump off before I pull the nozle out. Remember it takes electricity to run a pump. Doesn't take much for gas to light.

 

[gitchesum]

Here's a pic of the van that was sent out in the company memo.

#ad

 

[Got Smoke?]

What kept it from blowing up?

 

[BV]

Thanks - Maybe there is an advantage of no self service in Oregon.

 

[jwdeeming]

I guess this is for real. Last week I saw a picture in a gas station of a car that looked to be in similar condition to the van above. The caption blamed cellphone usage for that one.



I knew I hated cellphones!

 

[Peter Campbell]

at least it was a minivan-no real loss

 

[danandamy]

Originally posted by Peter Campbell

at least it was a minivan-no real loss

:-laf

 

[Royk]

Quickie lesson on static charge

I always thought all gas nozzles and hoses were grounded to prevent this from happening. Guess not.

They are. Thats precisely why you get a shock. The static charge is on your body. Touching ground (like a fuel nozzle) or anything conductive (the vehicle) that has more or less charge than you causes the spark. When you slide out of your seat, your body gains/loses charge (depends on seat material and type of clothing) compared to the vehicle. Opposite charges attract and want to equalize. So when you touch the vehicle or nozzle, anywhere from about 3,500 to 20,000 volts jumps between your body and nozzle/vehicle.

I've never seen a car burn yet or hear of anything like that. I never turn the pump on until the nozle is in the filling hole. I turn the pump off before I pull the nozle out. Remember it takes electricity to run a pump. Doesn't take much for gas to light.

Thats fine as long as you realize you can still blow yourself up pumping gasoline. Static has nothing to do with the electricity that runs the pump.





Another thing people need to watch out for is filling gas cans on your plastic drop-in bedliner or in your carpeted trunk. Don't do it! Put them on the ground to fill them, then put them in the vehicle. There is a sign at my local station warning about this. I've reached into my bed (with bedliner) and slid out plastic gas cans and the hair on my arms was standing on end.



Realize, this is basically a phenomenon of low humidity. Above 60% humidity, charge dissipates rapidly and sparks are rare. This is why you see these fires mostly in winter: humidity is low and people sit in their vehicles to keep warm while filling.





-Roy

 

[me4osu]

Look on Conoco gas pumps

They list most of these good tips. Conoco is one of our clients, and they don't let anyone come on location with a plastic bucket. One of their guys was burned while draining condensate from a separator into a plastic bucket.

 

[LarryB]

I think they ought to OUTLAW that gasoline crap! It's very Dangerous. It can be used as a weapon, burns your skin, pollutes the ground water. Sheesh! I wonder if gasoline accidents kill more people than handguns in a given year. Where are all the do-gooders when ya need em.