re: Smoking while pumping gas

Dangerously trashy.

I do this. Really no big deal.

Nothing happens man. Gas pumps are pretty safe these days.

I'm worried that, in 2018, people still don't understand science enough to know cigarettes aren't a risk to light gasoline on fire. Scary stuff.

That doesn't count, that's a Gas "Staion".

quote:

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Gas used to be a lot more potent. Today I wouldn't really worry about it as gasoline fumes are pretty weak these days

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Seriously, though, the autoignition temperature of gasoline is around 540degF. Cigarettes burn up to 1200+degF. It is absolutely possible, in theory, for a cigarette to ignite gasoline vapors.

The issue is that for it to happen, an explosive atmosphere has to come into contact with the tip of the lit cigarette. That requires between 1-8% gasoline vapors by volume, which is a fairly small range when you think about it. Throw a lit cigarette into a puddle of gas and it is above the upper explosive limit as it gets put out by the liquid. Stand next to a gas pump in open air and you don’t come anywhere near the lower explosive limit. You would probably have to be standing next to a massive spill or hold your cigarette right next to your gas cap to really be at-risk.

Dunno that it’s worth the risk though. I know my chances of being struck by lightning are slim to none, but I still don’t run around holding a 7-iron in the air during thunderstorms.

I have a buddy who used to put cigarettes out in a cup of gas as a party trick.

I do it all the time. You can throw a cig into a puddle of gasoline and nothing is going to happen.