jjs wrote:
>
> "Tim Rogers" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > [...] Ask any firefighter who has tried to rescue
> > someone in burning car where the tank is or is possibly about to ignite
> > after rupturing in an accident.
>
> Ask any firefighter if he's _ever_ seen a gas tank explode due to a burning
> automobile - for example, when the interior is on fire, or much more
> typically when the tires under the engine are on fire - the later is very
> common and nasty. A ruptured tank is another story, but fairly rare. In my
> years on the flightline and in the field, I've never seen an automobile or
> truck's tank explode.

It could, if it was mostly empty. It's the fumes that explode, gasoline
alone won't.
Gasoline doesn't even burn.

You can weld a patch in the bottom of a full gas tank without blowing it
up or setting it on fire.
(I don't recommend it though).


For gasoline fumes to ignite and explode, the air/fuel ratio needs to be
within certain limits, too.

Jan