| Status | Not A Hoax | | Comments | Not everything said in this email is 100% true, but static electricity can cause a fire while you are filling your car with gas. To prevent this, don't get back in your car while you're gassing up. This can create a static buildup that will cause a spark when you touch the gas pump. This does not apply to full-service or passengers in your vehicle so long as they are not near the refueling nozzle.
| | Description | Turn Off Engine
Don't Smoke
Never Re-enter Your Vehicle
The last one concerns static generated when you slide across your seat. This short video shows you the possible consequences. If you are concerned, simply touch the metal part of your car away from the gas filler hole before going near the filler hole. That will discharge the static buildup between you through the car away from any gas fumes.
There is a risk when siphoning gas because siphons are not grounded. If you are filling a gas can for your lawnmower or other gas appliance by siphoning the gas out of your gas tank, keep in mind that the plastic pipe you are using is not grounded. Touching a metal part of the car away from the filler hole and the ground (with your hand, not through your rubber soled shoes) at the same time will discharge the car and reduce the risk of making a spark.
Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a
campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of
"static electricity" at gas pumps. His company has researched 150
cases of these fires. His results were very surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their
vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and
they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire started, as a result
of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely
finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of
fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire,
when connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the
nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and
models. Some resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the
station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately
after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while
filling it with gas. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle
while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door
TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way
the static from your body will be discharged before you ever remove
the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along
with several other companies now, are really trying to make the
public aware of this danger. You can find out more information by
going to . Once here, click in the center of
the screen where it says "Stop Static".
I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family and
friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while
pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able
to get the children out in time.
Thanks for passing this along.
Cora Velasco, Analyst
ChevronTexaco
Credit Card Enterprises, Risk Management and Portfolio
Optimization
2003 Diamond Blvd. #31026, Concord, CA 94520
Tel 925 827-xxxx Fax 925 827-xxxx
| | Related links | cell phone warning
Petroleum Equipment Institute
safety campaign
report
"PEI has not documented any cases of cellular phones causing fires at gas stations"
short video
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