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Porkchop · 06-08-2003, 01:31 PM

Just yesterday at the local gas station guy was filling a gas can in the bed of his truck and it exploded from static electricity. He got second degree burns. So, if you are ever filling a gas can you're supposed to take it out of the vehicle. Also, when filling you're truck you're supposed to ground yourself on something metal before pumping. Just thought you all might want to know this
brad

bigvinnie · 06-08-2003, 01:39 PM

static electricity, damn that's a new one... wonder what the odds on that happening are...???

**Stocker** · 06-08-2003, 01:49 PM

Well, I have indeed heard of this before. It's been in print and on TV. *Problem most likely to occur if you have a plastic bedliner*. Rare, but obviously possible. Good thing to make everyone aware of! Sorry to hear of the incident though, hope the guy recovers OK.

72moneypit · 06-08-2003, 02:14 PM

Apparently the static electricity thing isn't all that rare... especially when filling portable gas cans. We just had a presentation about this very thing at a work-sponsored safety meeting. Doesn't happen all the time, but happens routinely.

I guess cell phones can do the same thing, if they ring while your filling your gas can or vehicle and your not properly grounded. Not sure if this has actually occurred or not, but theoretically it could happen.

Can never be too careful, I guess.

Longhorn Man · 06-08-2003, 02:24 PM

The Cell Phone thing is an urban legend from what I have read.

mtdave2 · 06-08-2003, 02:52 PM

you all didnt know that? wow. yhis was hammered into my head as a kid...

anytime fluid is moving it can cause a charge. usualy it doesnt build enough to cause a spark, but you do not want to fill anything in the back of your truck. (rhino lining did get sued over this).

**Stocker** · 06-08-2003, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longhornmail
The Cell Phone thing is an urban legend from what I have read.

Yup! http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

69_hafton · 06-08-2003, 03:31 PM

Seems to happen every 2-3 years locally. Especially in the winter months when the air is really dry. Good practice to touch the vehicle with your hand before and while you put the pump into the filler spout. Otherwise the pump nozzle will be what the static jumps across.

Also, while on the subject, in your house or garage, don't store gasoline powered anything near a gas water heater, furnace, etc. with a pilot light. The fumes will ignite. I never thought anything of it until I heard about a family who lost there house to fire due to a the lawn mower in the garage near their water heater.

Mudder · 06-08-2003, 03:36 PM

Sliding across the seat then getting out and putting the pump in can cause a spark. They way that you should always touch something metal after you get out of the vehicle. A lady burnt up not long ago and was caught on camera filling her tank.

cdowns · 06-08-2003, 03:37 PM

i've seen it covered on tv alot over the pasr year!! i've also noticed more and more gas pumps with warning stickers on them about static electricity dangers

knucklebuster · 06-08-2003, 04:12 PM

They have warnings on all gas pumps around here about cell phones now and my mother in-law who works at a gas station was told by her supervisor to shut any pump down that has someone on a cell phone using it.

**68 Stepside** · 06-08-2003, 04:40 PM

Here's the static electricity article on the same site as posted above, but this article is true, unlike the cell phone article.
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp

No3Fan4Ever · 06-08-2003, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 69_hafton
.

Also, while on the subject, in your house or garage, don't store gasoline powered anything near a gas water heater, furnace, etc. with a pilot light. The fumes will ignite. I never thought anything of it until I heard about a family who lost there house to fire due to a the lawn mower in the garage near their water heater.

That's why most building codes require all gas-fired water heaters and furnaces located in rooms off the garage to be mounted on 18 inch high stands; gas fumes are heavier than air will travel along the floor surface..

PanelDeland · 06-08-2003, 06:30 PM

Just read a great article on this in the GSRA newsletter.Cell phones,static from the seat or dry air,bedliners and touching the vehicle were all sited as factual problems.One thing I found interesting was that women are more likely to cause this by returning to the car while the pump is running.I guess they also tend to wear more nylon that causes static electricity.Men tend to have problems with it because they are more likely to fill gas cans.I always unload and load the cans for filling.Touching the vehicle is also something I do just from habit.Usually it's the door or filler door.My bedliner is a spray in which seems to ground to the bed but I'm not taking any chances.
The lighting cell phones are more likely to cause problems because of higher draw on the batt.
If we get the attachments back up I would post the article.

wxman1 · 06-08-2003, 06:37 PM

I've read a bit about this. It seems that it happens
mainly to women! I'm told it is because most
women start pumping the gas and then get back into the vehicle. Since they generally are
wearing more synthetics/nylons, getting back
into the vehicle generates a static charge.
They then get out to take the gas nozzle out
of the filler neck or possibly top off and when
they touch the car metal, they get a spark
and possibly an explosion.

Jim M

06-08-2003, 01:31 PM	#1
Porkchop Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dowagiac, MI US Posts: 579	you might want to know this Just yesterday at the local gas station guy was filling a gas can in the bed of his truck and it exploded from static electricity. He got second degree burns. So, if you are ever filling a gas can you're supposed to take it out of the vehicle. Also, when filling you're truck you're supposed to ground yourself on something metal before pumping. Just thought you all might want to know this brad

06-08-2003, 01:39 PM	#2
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	static electricity, damn that's a new one... wonder what the odds on that happening are...??? __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

06-08-2003, 01:49 PM	#3
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,499	Well, I have indeed heard of this before. It's been in print and on TV. Problem most likely to occur if you have a plastic bedliner. Rare, but obviously possible. Good thing to make everyone aware of! Sorry to hear of the incident though, hope the guy recovers OK. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

06-08-2003, 02:14 PM	#4
72moneypit Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 125	Apparently the static electricity thing isn't all that rare... especially when filling portable gas cans. We just had a presentation about this very thing at a work-sponsored safety meeting. Doesn't happen all the time, but happens routinely. I guess cell phones can do the same thing, if they ring while your filling your gas can or vehicle and your not properly grounded. Not sure if this has actually occurred or not, but theoretically it could happen. Can never be too careful, I guess. __________________ Paul 72 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper greenaz@hotmail.com

06-08-2003, 02:52 PM	#6
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,507	you all didnt know that? wow. yhis was hammered into my head as a kid... anytime fluid is moving it can cause a charge. usualy it doesnt build enough to cause a spark, but you do not want to fill anything in the back of your truck. (rhino lining did get sued over this). __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

06-08-2003, 02:24 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	The Cell Phone thing is an urban legend from what I have read.

06-08-2003, 03:31 PM	#8
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Seems to happen every 2-3 years locally. Especially in the winter months when the air is really dry. Good practice to touch the vehicle with your hand before and while you put the pump into the filler spout. Otherwise the pump nozzle will be what the static jumps across. Also, while on the subject, in your house or garage, don't store gasoline powered anything near a gas water heater, furnace, etc. with a pilot light. The fumes will ignite. I never thought anything of it until I heard about a family who lost there house to fire due to a the lawn mower in the garage near their water heater.

06-08-2003, 03:36 PM	#9
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,339	Sliding across the seat then getting out and putting the pump in can cause a spark. They way that you should always touch something metal after you get out of the vehicle. A lady burnt up not long ago and was caught on camera filling her tank.

06-08-2003, 03:37 PM	#10
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	i've seen it covered on tv alot over the pasr year!! i've also noticed more and more gas pumps with warning stickers on them about static electricity dangers __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

06-08-2003, 04:12 PM	#11
knucklebuster Failure is NOT an option! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: greenwood s.c. Posts: 811	They have warnings on all gas pumps around here about cell phones now and my mother in-law who works at a gas station was told by her supervisor to shut any pump down that has someone on a cell phone using it. __________________ House payment or truck parts?????.........why does life have to be so complicated? 1969 Chevy Shortbed Fleetside 1969 Camaro ps pb a/c(drove in high school now it's just a yard ornament,but it's next on the list for resto) 1990 Ni$$an hardbody( daily beater that has been really beaten!) 1999 Grand Am GT(wifes ride...never buy a pontiac!!Trust Me)

06-08-2003, 04:40 PM	#12
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	Here's the static electricity article on the same site as posted above, but this article is true, unlike the cell phone article. http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

06-08-2003, 06:30 PM	#14
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Just read a great article on this in the GSRA newsletter.Cell phones,static from the seat or dry air,bedliners and touching the vehicle were all sited as factual problems.One thing I found interesting was that women are more likely to cause this by returning to the car while the pump is running.I guess they also tend to wear more nylon that causes static electricity.Men tend to have problems with it because they are more likely to fill gas cans.I always unload and load the cans for filling.Touching the vehicle is also something I do just from habit.Usually it's the door or filler door.My bedliner is a spray in which seems to ground to the bed but I'm not taking any chances. The lighting cell phones are more likely to cause problems because of higher draw on the batt. If we get the attachments back up I would post the article. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

06-08-2003, 06:37 PM	#15
wxman1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: mt juliet, tennessee, usa Posts: 237	I've read a bit about this. It seems that it happens mainly to women! I'm told it is because most women start pumping the gas and then get back into the vehicle. Since they generally are wearing more synthetics/nylons, getting back into the vehicle generates a static charge. They then get out to take the gas nozzle out of the filler neck or possibly top off and when they touch the car metal, they get a spark and possibly an explosion. Jim M



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