3 ms·
Gasoline isn't that explosive. You can shoot up a gas tank and it will just burn. What you see on TV is movie magic. Gasoline vapor can explode, but you need th
by not_the_fda 2mo ago
Gasoline isn't that explosive. You can shoot up a gas tank and it will just burn. What you see on TV is movie magic. Gasoline vapor can explode, but you need the right air to fuel ratio and a spark.
- SV_BubbleTime 2mo agoUh… gasoline has a super high vapor pressure. If you start out at the wrong ratio, it does what it can to make that ratio right. I’ve seen a few gasoline fires that start by burning, and then much more rapidly expressing potential.
- capitainenemo 2mo agoRequires a good mix though. The parent is still correct. Mythbusters spent a long time trying to get cars to blow up in a dramatic hollywood fashion in various episodes and determined that under most conditions it wouldn't happen. They did get it to happen, they just had to try really hard. In most accidents the gas tank will not blow up.
- vablings 2mo agoHigh velocity accidents where the gas is quickly dispersed into the air is pretty much the only way that happens.
- jojobas 2mo agoEven then it's just a slow-burning fireball, not detonation, no shockwave.
- vablings 2mo agoStill more than enough to burn your windpipe, skin to 2/3rd degree and permanently disfigure you
- jjk166 2mo agoAll of which are symptoms of burning, not explosion.
- capitainenemo 2mo agoAnd was still not really possible without some really unlikely conditions. Not that car fires aren't dangerous, regardless of whether the vehicle is ICE or otherwise, but the fireball thing doesn't really happen.