Try and Explain, or Mind my Own Business?

[Bkreutz]

The Chevron info mentions the bed liner stops the can from grounding. As I mentiomed in my post a metal can will ground through the bed if you don't have a bed liner. Why bother setting the can on the ground? Larry

How's it going to ground through the tires? Actually the ground would be through the person standing there (unless he has rubber or other non conductive shoes). I could envision a static spark coming from your finger, but that would hopefully happen before the cap was opened and let the vapor out. I would still put it on the ground, just to be sure.

 

[tops]

If it is unsafe to fill a metal gas can sitting in the metal bed of a truck why is it not unsafe to fill a metal gas tank on the truck? And propane and gasoline tanks will not explode when shot and dynamite does not explode when set on fire. Larry

 

[timn8er]

If it is unsafe to fill a metal gas can sitting in the metal bed of a truck why is it not unsafe to fill a metal gas tank on the truck? And propane and gasoline tanks will not explode when shot and dynamite does not explode when set on fire. Larry

The OP's post stated that the gas can was sitting in a truck equipped with a bed liner, so it wouldn't be grounded to the truck. All that aside, even sitting in a bed without a liner it wouldn't be grounded as the truck is sitting on rubber tires, as another poster stated.

 

[tlay]

The problem you run into with the rubber liner is you put a plastic gas can or even a metal one and move it around on rubber and you build up static, kind of like moving your feet on carpet. The point is follow the safety rules, use your head don't pretend it can't happen because you have never seen it in 100 years.

 

[Strato]

Doing something un-wise for X amount of years without incident doesn't make it less apt to happen. Kind of reminds me of a former employer when he found out I carry a weapon for personal protection. He asked how many times I'd been shot so far. My response was "I think once would be too many." If you or your family are within the flash zone of someone doing something foolish with a flammable then it is your business.

 

[G-Mac]

And propane and gasoline tanks will not explode when shot and dynamite does not explode when set on fire. Larry

What, pray tell, does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

 

[Sebago Son]

The " I've been doin' it for years crowd" is FOS.
That's the "don't sweat it, it's unloaded" guys.
.
.thank heavens for the delete button.......

Walk by and mutter "Ploesti" ....

 

[MarkDozier]

but I seriously doubt that a static spark could occur when the truck had a bed liner which is the same as being on the ground, is it not.

NO, it is not the same as being on the ground. Your car or truck sits on four rubber insulators called tires. The reason for all those signs showing how to properly fill your tank (nozzle direction making contact with car etc...) is to provide a ground to stop static from making a spark.
Think of it like this, you hit a power line, It drops across your car. Live power crossing the car, What do electic compaby tell you to do Stay still do not touch any metal un your car. WHY, becuase you are not grounded. Same thing as filling a gas can on a bedliner.

 

[nachogrande]

ask anyone who has ever worked at a filing station about it. that is mild compared to the ones filing up while smoking. I've also seen geniuses put out cigarettes in a tray of gasoline while cleaning parts. it CAN be done, but not by me. if someone wants to go out in a blaze of stupidity, so much better for the gene pool. if others are at a serious risk, you don't have much choice but to say something, will they listen? doubtful. always the old "it never happened TO ME before" logic.

 

[O2Guy]

Minding one's own business is always a good choice.

 

[nachogrande]

MYOB

it's A CHOICE, wouldn't say it's ALWAYS the best one. would you not warn a kid about to run into traffic? I've never won the lottery or been struck by lightning but it happens, just ask Lee Trevino.

 

[Nlmadog]

Thanks for the video links,learned something from the gas company link. Will follow directions in the future! The you tube is exactly what the gas company was talking about ! I think the cell phone deal is bunk,any video on that ?

 

[mkk41]

Thanks for the video links,learned something from the gas company link. Will follow directions in the future! The you tube is exactly what the gas company was talking about ! I think the cell phone deal is bunk,any video on that ?

I think the MYTHBUSTERS did a show about cellphones and gasoline. They busted the myth.

Gotta wonder about the plastic gas can phenomena as many vehicles now use molded plastic gas tanks.

The Yamaha V-Max and Harley V-Rod and some Buells come to mind. They have molded plastic gas tanks under the seat and behind the motor.

Now a plastic gas can sitting in the bed of a pick-up or on a trailer , both of which are usually black and get real hot from the sun , ? , ?

 

[Poodle Soup]

You could also go up in flames when you pick up the gas tank and are putting it back in the truck. You could spark against the side and now your really cooking!

Ive always put it on the ground so I don't spill gas in the trunk of the car or in the pick up bed. Basically gas fires are from people doing something incredibly stupid... or its just their day.

Now a plastic gas can sitting in the bed of a pick-up or on a trailer , both of which are usually black and get real hot from the sun , ? , ?

Needs to be hotter than that.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

This is what Chevron says in the above link:

"Only 24 fires and 5 injuries during the past few years have been reported due to improper fueling of portable cans. When you consider that millions of gasoline cans are filled at pumps every year, these figures don't make it seem like much of a problem -- unless it happens to you."

Sounds like less of a risk than, say, shark attack.

Not really. That's 24 more fires and five more injuries than there have ever been shark attacks at a gas station. Or pretty much anywhere on dry land.

 

[coptercc]

Sounds like a good one for "Mythbusters" but I fill mine on the ground. Why take a chance?

 

[mkk41]

When we fueled aircraft , we had to run a ground wire from the plane and fuel truck to a marked ground pad. And that was JP-4 & 5.

Never heard of running a ground wire with an automobile.

 

[tops]

What, pray tell, does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

Because it is another myth by people that watch too much TV and don't know how things work in the real world. Another thing I didn't mention if a plastic bed liner keeps a can from grounding and makes it dangerous to fill the can then a plastic can on the ground is also not grounded and would be dangerous to fill. It goes back to common sense is not too common. Larry

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Read this thread and thought about yesterday down at the fuel dock in Venice. You fuel their way or you go somewhere else. Period. End of story. Safety rules are there for a reason. You want to be stupid-go do it somewhere else. The older I get the less tolerant I get with just about everything.

 

[blujax01]

Okay fellow backyard physicists, answer me this:

When one fills a plastic (or metal) gas can, that person is standing on grounded concrete, yes?

And when said person GRABS THE CAN AND UNSCREWS THE LID, this transfers any built-up static charge through the person to ground before any gasoline is introduced to the equation, yes?

And in order to make certain of one's aim, the person continues to hold the can when the nozzle is inserted into the orifice, yes?

I would think that these actions would dissipate any static charge.