Is Gasoline Electrically Conductive?
06-26-2006, 12:49 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: N. CA
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '85 TA
Engine: Aluminum Fuelie
Transmission: Mother of All Manuals
Is Gasoline Electrically Conductive?
I pulled out my fuel tank, and the fuel sender and other various wires are bare at the connections inside the tank. Does gas not conduct electricity? I'm going to be modifying the fuel sender, and I was a little confused when I saw this. 
06-26-2006, 12:52 PM
#2
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally Posted by super_kev
I pulled out my fuel tank, and the fuel sender and other various wires are bare at the connections inside the tank. Does gas not conduct electricity? I'm going to be modifying the fuel sender, and I was a little confused when I saw this.
but put it as a mist in the air, and you can jump a big spark..... (and make a big boom)
06-26-2006, 03:20 PM
#3
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Posts: 17,110
Likes: 0
Received 120 Likes
on
101 Posts
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
I've always wondered that myself. All new cars have a fuel pump mounted in the tank. The wiring to the pump inside the tank is not sealed. The last fuel pump I had to change just had a simple push on spade connector for the wires. When the fuel tank is low, the wires are exposed to the air/mist in the tank and it doesn't explode.
Although gasoline may conduct electricity, we're also talking about 12 volts and a few amps at the most. To jump such a gap between the positive wire and a ground, you would need a lot more voltage or amperage.
Although gasoline may conduct electricity, we're also talking about 12 volts and a few amps at the most. To jump such a gap between the positive wire and a ground, you would need a lot more voltage or amperage.
06-26-2006, 03:26 PM
#4
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally Posted by Stephen 87 IROC
I've always wondered that myself. All new cars have a fuel pump mounted in the tank. The wiring to the pump inside the tank is not sealed. The last fuel pump I had to change just had a simple push on spade connector for the wires. When the fuel tank is low, the wires are exposed to the air/mist in the tank and it doesn't explode.
Although gasoline may conduct electricity, we're also talking about 12 volts and a few amps at the most. To jump such a gap between the positive wire and a ground, you would need a lot more voltage or amperage.
Although gasoline may conduct electricity, we're also talking about 12 volts and a few amps at the most. To jump such a gap between the positive wire and a ground, you would need a lot more voltage or amperage.
i dont reccomend connecting an ignition coil and airpump to test this theory.
06-26-2006, 03:52 PM
#5
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,051
Received 1,672 Likes
on
1,269 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
No, gasoline is not a conductor.
In fact it's quite a good insulator. Other similar compounds (hydrocarbons) such as paraffin have been widely used as insulators in various electrical apparatus over the years.
So no, the connections inside the gas tank don't have to be sealed or anything. But you wouldn't want a spark in there just the same; there could be enough oxygen in there, from air being let in as fuel is pumped out, to where you could have a small problem.
In fact it's quite a good insulator. Other similar compounds (hydrocarbons) such as paraffin have been widely used as insulators in various electrical apparatus over the years.
So no, the connections inside the gas tank don't have to be sealed or anything. But you wouldn't want a spark in there just the same; there could be enough oxygen in there, from air being let in as fuel is pumped out, to where you could have a small problem.
06-26-2006, 11:04 PM
#6
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: houston
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 83 POS monte carlo 2015 chevy P/U
Engine: 92 5.7 tpi 5.3
Transmission: 700r4 6L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.42 too high
actually, there is a spark inside your fuel tank,... & quite a big one at that.
the fuel is used to both cool & lubricate the pump, it flows through the pump,.. right across the armature & the brushes.
if you want an ideal what kind of spark in talking about, you know when you short a power wire against a ground? its about half that much of a spark, but repeated about 5000 times a second times 2.
a good fuel pump will pull up to around 6 amps.
it won't ignite the fuel for the reasons given above.
the fuel is used to both cool & lubricate the pump, it flows through the pump,.. right across the armature & the brushes.
if you want an ideal what kind of spark in talking about, you know when you short a power wire against a ground? its about half that much of a spark, but repeated about 5000 times a second times 2.
a good fuel pump will pull up to around 6 amps.
it won't ignite the fuel for the reasons given above.
06-27-2006, 12:12 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: N. CA
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '85 TA
Engine: Aluminum Fuelie
Transmission: Mother of All Manuals
I figured that it must not be a problem, but it still confused me. Thanks for the replies; now it makes sense. 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TMZIrocZ350
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
1
10-07-2015 12:09 PM
car, conductive, conducts, connection, electrical, electricity, explode, fuel, gas, gasoline, pump, short, tank, tanks, wiring
