T&T: Playing with fire

[LRZeitlin at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/2/08 12:02:36 AM, Vaughn writes:


> Plugged the fuel vents with duct tape, put a shop vac in the fill port and
> taped around the hole.  Loostened the old plug then turned  on the vacuum.
>
> Worked like a champ....virtually no fuel lost from either tank using this
> method.  There is a nice gurgling sound created by the vacuum as you thread
> in
> the new valve.
>

You are very lucky. Diesel fuel has a high enough flash point so that it will
not ignite if a match is dropped in a tank. But diesel fumes are another
matter. In the right concentration, they can be ignited relatively easy by a
spark
from the vacuum motor. Wisconsin makes a series of oil fueled spark ignition
motors used to operate oil pumping rigs. The engines are warmed by running
them on gasoline, then switching to diesel. The hot carb vaporizes the fuel
and
the spark ignites it. I once had a nasty engine compartment fire when a high
pressure fuel line sprang a pinhole leak and sprayed a minuscule jet of fuel
on
the hot manifold.

Larry Z


**************
Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking
with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)