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Thread ID: 137554	2014-07-20 08:33:00	Why does the fuel tank not explode?	mzee (3324)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1379675	2014-07-20 08:33:00	I have always half expected the fuel tank to explode when I turn the key! Fuel pump, gauge sender unit and connectors all in the fuel tank. I can understand that there may not be sufficient air for an explosion, BUT what if the tank was almost empty and the cap was off? Question is, why do we not have exploding cars all over the world?	mzee (3324)
1379676	2014-07-20 08:46:00	if you put a spark in a gas tank it can pop. they don't explode on tv but can make a decent bang. something to watch if your welding fuel tanks. why they don't normally go bang is because there is no spark. 12 volts isn't high enough voltage to jump any decent distance and any short pops the fuse. also the fuel air ratio needs to be within a certain range.	tweak'e (69)
1379677	2014-07-20 08:50:00	Because the people who made exploding fuel tanks are all dead. Some shredded, others ripped to bits by the relatives of blown up people.	R2x1 (4628)
1379678	2014-07-20 10:57:00	Also there should be minimal vapour pressure in the tank, and fumes escaping. It routes to a charcoal cannister and vacuum controlled to the intake for reuse.	kahawai chaser (3545)
1379679	2014-07-20 19:57:00	You'd think it would be possible to have a simple float within the tank which reflects wavelengths from an external sensor, like a mini radar or ultrasound method to assesss the fuel level without any wires ever having to enter the tank. Given there's the hazanrd of a solar flare inducing such a strong magnetic field that has enough intensity to melt wires, you do have to wonder how safe those petrol tanks become in those circumstances.	Paul.Cov (425)
1379680	2014-07-20 21:07:00	Given there's the hazanrd of a solar flare inducing such a strong magnetic field that has enough intensity to melt wires, you do have to wonder how safe those petrol tanks become in those circumstances . Perhaps if the units involving electricity and fuel could be enclosed in a Faraday Shield and mounted under the car? Oh, wait . . .	R2x1 (4628)
1379681	2014-07-20 23:46:00	You'd think it would be possible to have a simple float within the tank which reflects wavelengths from an external sensor, like a mini radar or ultrasound method to assesss the fuel level without any wires ever having to enter the tank. Given there's the hazanrd of a solar flare inducing such a strong magnetic field that has enough intensity to melt wires, you do have to wonder how safe those petrol tanks become in those circumstances. I once had a 1934 Ford V8. Its fuel gauge consisted of a tube from the tank to the dash. This looked like a thermometer on the dash. It wasn't very accurate but did give some indication of the fuel level. The Model "A" Ford had the fuel gauge mounted on the dash which formed part of the fuel tank, gravity feed. The Ford Model "T" also had gravity feed but as the tank was under the seat you had to go up steep hills in reverse!	mzee (3324)
1379682	2014-07-22 11:42:00	Perhaps if the units involving electricity and fuel could be enclosed in a Faraday Shield and mounted under the car? Oh, wait . . . LOL . Clever b'stard . I tip my hat to your logic and science, Sir . Although . . . that wire to the sensor might not be shielded, so might still spark within the tank? Whatever . If we had that scale of solar flare we'd have more to worry about than our cars burning . Even if they didn't blow up their ECU's would be toasted anyway, so there'd still be transport chaos . Do they still make cars without ECUs and immobilizers and stuff that requires functional microcircuitry? Like a carbeuretor, manual choke and a manual transmission? Or is this combo of features all museum stuff these days?	Paul.Cov (425)
1379683	2014-07-23 00:27:00	Do they still make cars without ECUs and immobilizers and stuff that requires functional microcircuitry? Like a carbeuretor, manual choke and a manual transmission? Or is this combo of features all museum stuff these days? only in third world countries where they have no emission standards. one of the reasons we get a fair bit of theft of older models here. parts exported to certain countries that rely on older vehicles cause they can't fix vehicles with electronics.	tweak'e (69)
1379684	2014-07-23 01:20:00	Hmmn... Ford Pinto. Crash fire burn . Lawsuits were deemed cheaper than fixing the problem of dangerous petrol tanks. :-(	1101 (13337)
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