Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

[5150abf]

Replaced a fuel pump on my daughters car this weekend, got the tank out and removed the old fuel pump, stepped outside to dispose of the gas in the pump housing,in an environmentally freindly way of coarse, I opened the garage door to finish the job and WOOF, the tank burst into flames!

The fire was only on the top of the tank so I went to put my hand over the opening to the tank to keep it from getting inside the tank and WOOF again as the fire jumped inside the tank!!!!!

I was about to run outside when I remembered I had brought the fire extinguisher out of the house to appease my "paranoid" wife, boy am I glad I did, a quick zap with the extinguisher and it was out but boy , what a scare.

Just before I started the job I was gonna pull my boat out of the garage "just in case" and didn't so I had all kinds of terrible thoughts going through my head.

Still don't know what caused it to go up, there was a trouble light on top of tank but it had a flourecent bulb in it and they don't get hot and there was a kerosene wick heater but it was 10-15 feet away, possibly static electricity?

Point being gasoline is such a common thing we all take it for granted until something like this happens so if you are working with it be heads up and spend the $16 for an extinguisher.

I got off easy, no damage to anything, cleaned out the tank and all was well but it could very easily been much much worse

By the way,if you need to replace a fuel pump DO NOT get it at Auto Zone,Master or Airtex brand, theres lasted a day and a half before it quit got a new one a Napa for 20 bucks cheaper and $16 for a new extiguisher of coarse.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

The kerosene heater was the ignition source. Fumes will act like a fuse. You can't see them and that is what makes them so dangerous. Any time I'm doing anything on the fuel system, if the car has to be inside, the garage door is open. Fumes are much more dangerous than the gas itself. That is the main reason it is stressed over and over about running your bilge blower before starting you boat engine. Glad you got it put out. Could have been reading about you on the news.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

scary, glad nothing worse happened.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

Yep fumes is what burns, stick the sole of your foot on the opening would have smothered it.

That should have been done outside. Glad all is well.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

this is what i does to a boat.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/271198675ZYLHNw
http://sports.webshots.com/album/558811194VpsxkF

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

So your kerosene heater was lit?
And how far away was it from the gasoline?

I thought everyone knew it was the fumes that start the fire.
The invisible fumes flow like a wave and don't really mix with the air.
Gasoline is more dangerous than any other solvent you have access to.

This reminds me of the story about 2 gas thieves. While stealing at night the
flash light would not work and they couldn't see inside the gas can to see if it was getting full. The smart guy of the 2 lit a cigarette lighter to see inside the can. You know what happened next.

 

[J JACKSON]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

that is scary my sister and her boy friend had that happen at a gas station a few weeks ago she had got him a Kleenex from her car handed to him as he pumped gas. static electricity caught the fumes on fire. then to top it all off the station didn't even have a working fire ext. just 2 dead ones they had to go next door and get one to put out his car. no one was hurt but it sure made all of us make sure we keep a fire ext. in our cars and make sure you ground your self before filling the tank

 

[Clam Biter]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

Gasoline fumes are heaver than air which is why in Calirornia, at least, gas (nat or prop) hot water heaters must be raised off the floor if kept in a gararge.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Just a reminder, GAS WILL CATCH ON FIRE!

Well ya, I know it is the fumes that burn but I thought the heater was plenty far away, I have done this or similar jobs alot of times without a problem.

When I put the second one in(UGH) I put the heater WAY on the other side of the garage and both times I syphoned out all the gas and put it outside well away from the garage.

As a disclaimer, it hasn't gotten above the teens for 2-3 weeks and I'm not gonna work on a car in 14 degree weather without some heat.

And NO, I am not even close to dumb enough to put a lighter in a gas can, please.

The point of the post was that most of us get a little to comfortable handling gas and it can burn so be careful, I know I have a healthy new respect for it.