xfirechief

Maybe the cigarette was too far above the fumes or a breeze was blowing the vapors away
Care to do this demo for us, that way you can tell us 1st hand if it works? Just pour a 1/2 gal or so on the floor, wait a few minutes & go for it. Remember vapors stay low so u will have to get low or why not drop the cancer stick on the floor?
Please post your results.

oldcajun

If you don't turn it off, then the computer could start the ICE based on several requirements such as cabin temperature. If you don't turn the system to "off", then you leave it running.
Steve

xfirechief

What are u talking about? What does your comments have to do with leaving the vehicle running while refueling?

The G Man

If this guy held a lit cigarette over a open container of gasoline and tell you its safe, then he should be fire as a safety officer immediately.

jgr7

iTrader: (1)

I've seen the gas and cigarette demo also, you can put the cigarette out in gas. There has to be a spark or open flame to ignite the gas vapor.
Jeff

The G Man

That must have been quite a show, and thats all it is, its a show. Kind of a illusionist, it can be done if it is done under the right conditions, but for the rest of us who are not profession illusionist:
The ignition Temperature of a standard unleaded gasoline can be anywhere from 260 to 460 degrees C.
Temperature during drawing on a cigarette is around 700 deg C. More than enough to light the gasoline.

http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae1.cfm

Boognish

Hey man, you said it, not me.

Didn't you ever see Zoolander?

SteveInCal

Check out the following website, ~3/4 of the way down the webpage. It may be feasible, but not under normal conditions. Again, I trust the actual testing. http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/mpmain.html

Or, check out Mythbusters: http://mythbustersresults.com/special7

The G Man

I think the important think to know here is that an ignition from a cigarette is improbable but possible.

jgr7

iTrader: (1)

I'm thinking about the same time the next astroid hits earth and kills off the humans like the last one that killed off the great oil givers.

Audriuss

just to consider a little. I know one girl, that likes filling up gas with engine on. The problem she faced up with, was not the "fire" but car alarm. Once, it somehow locked up when she was outside!

I know it is not the car problem, but alarm system that was instaled, but have in mind, that those systems sometimes fails, and does such things in most unwanted situation..

xfirechief

Did u do the test yet? Let us know how it turns out but don't forget to try it when there is no wind & then try dropping the cancer stick into the gas fumes.

lxus4xms

It is also the law where I live

Occam

Pumping gas with the engine on is illegal where I live. Fire regulations. Big fines.

The cited articles involve lighting liquid gasoline with a cigarette.

I wouldn't take an LEL meter at face value. Most won't measure the range you want, it might make a difference if the detector was an ambient-sampling or a direct-draw / sampling pump type, differing sensitivities to different fuels, blah blah blah. Too many variables. I've designed five myself in the last 15 years, I should know.