The secret magic of fuel
Discussion
The woman setting herself on fire decanting petrol in her kitchen got me thinking; now hopefully we'd all think of that as a stupid thing to do, but for most people petrol is just this expensive behind-the-curtain service that they never really see or have to trouble themselves with the detail of. It's not really surprising that people have no idea about the likelihood of blowing themselves up.
Then I realised that, basic understanding of volatility aside, I'm the same; I have very little idea what petrol and diesel even look like. When I was about five years old and somehow even more stupid, I assumed it was all black and sticky like crude oil, and from then on that it was clear like water. I've never thrown a bottle of it at a police line so I don't actually have any reason for that belief. Googling images of it makes it look like the last taboo, and web results suggest that it's basically any colour you like now.
So, have you seen it? Is it even real? Perhaps we've been running on free & plentiful perpetual motion all this time and pointlessly handing over briefcases of cash for used bathwater.
I will never be a petrolhead will I?
Then I realised that, basic understanding of volatility aside, I'm the same; I have very little idea what petrol and diesel even look like. When I was about five years old and somehow even more stupid, I assumed it was all black and sticky like crude oil, and from then on that it was clear like water. I've never thrown a bottle of it at a police line so I don't actually have any reason for that belief. Googling images of it makes it look like the last taboo, and web results suggest that it's basically any colour you like now.
So, have you seen it? Is it even real? Perhaps we've been running on free & plentiful perpetual motion all this time and pointlessly handing over briefcases of cash for used bathwater.
I will never be a petrolhead will I?
pilchardthecat said:
trashbat said:
The woman setting herself on fire decanting petrol in her kitchen
WTF! trashbat said:
The woman setting herself on fire decanting petrol in her kitchen got me thinking; now hopefully we'd all think of that as a stupid thing to do, but for most people petrol is just this expensive behind-the-curtain service that they never really see or have to trouble themselves with the detail of. It's not really surprising that people have no idea about the likelihood of blowing themselves up.
Then I realised that, basic understanding of volatility aside, I'm the same; I have very little idea what petrol and diesel even look like. When I was about five years old and somehow even more stupid, I assumed it was all black and sticky like crude oil, and from then on that it was clear like water. I've never thrown a bottle of it at a police line so I don't actually have any reason for that belief. Googling images of it makes it look like the last taboo, and web results suggest that it's basically any colour you like now.
So, have you seen it? Is it even real? Perhaps we've been running on free & plentiful perpetual motion all this time and pointlessly handing over briefcases of cash for used bathwater.
I will never be a petrolhead will I?
Ha ha, interesting post. My wife had never seen petrol until she saw me filling up my motorbike a few years ago. She couldn't believe it was clear! Then I realised that, basic understanding of volatility aside, I'm the same; I have very little idea what petrol and diesel even look like. When I was about five years old and somehow even more stupid, I assumed it was all black and sticky like crude oil, and from then on that it was clear like water. I've never thrown a bottle of it at a police line so I don't actually have any reason for that belief. Googling images of it makes it look like the last taboo, and web results suggest that it's basically any colour you like now.
So, have you seen it? Is it even real? Perhaps we've been running on free & plentiful perpetual motion all this time and pointlessly handing over briefcases of cash for used bathwater.
I will never be a petrolhead will I?
What you are looking at is hydrocarbon molecules in varying lengths. Gas like propane etc has very short molecules. Petrol has medium-length molecules, diesel slightly longer, and tar etc very long molecules. Crude oil is a mix of molecule lengths and refining it sorts the molecule lengths into layers that can then be extracted at the required grade.
trashbat said:
pilchardthecat said:
trashbat said:
The woman setting herself on fire decanting petrol in her kitchen
WTF! 
It's the same with a lot of things. People handle and use quite dangerous things all the time without knowing anything about how they work, so they have no idea if what they are doing is dangerous or not. It's the same (but different...) with computers or electricity. Both powerful (in different ways) and potentially very dangerous but so many people make no effort to learn anything about how they work. I couldn't live like that!
Plenty of experience with petrol and diesel. Rebuilding carbs, replacing petrol pumps, re-plumbing the diesel system in my landie after doing the engine etc.
Plenty of experience with petrol and diesel. Rebuilding carbs, replacing petrol pumps, re-plumbing the diesel system in my landie after doing the engine etc.
doogz said:
OP, you've never seen petrol?
I see it every time i fill a jerry can/quad bike/topper/strimmer/generator, whenever i've drained a fuel tank, fuel filter or a fuel rail but i suppose if you just have a car, and you pay someone else to service/work on/fix it, you don't really ever need to see it.
I'm not being entirely serious, but basically as you said. I don't own anything else fuel powered, I haven't yet the competence to do any mechanical work, and the closest I come to anything like it on a regular basis are paraffin-based things like white spirit, injector cleaner etc. I only mention this at all because a quick search revealed a strange mix of dyes in use.I see it every time i fill a jerry can/quad bike/topper/strimmer/generator, whenever i've drained a fuel tank, fuel filter or a fuel rail but i suppose if you just have a car, and you pay someone else to service/work on/fix it, you don't really ever need to see it.
Given the potential dangers of petrol and allowing the general public to fill their cars I find it curious the level of panic over the idea of hydrogen powered cars and any mechanism to enable people to refuel themselves.
Can't help but think that if cars had been invented today, they wouldn't have been deemed safe enough for public consumption and banned.
Can't help but think that if cars had been invented today, they wouldn't have been deemed safe enough for public consumption and banned.
Mr Gear said:
Ha ha, interesting post. My wife had never seen petrol until she saw me filling up my motorbike a few years ago. She couldn't believe it was clear!
What you are looking at is hydrocarbon molecules in varying lengths. Gas like propane etc has very short molecules. Petrol has medium-length molecules, diesel slightly longer, and tar etc very long molecules. Crude oil is a mix of molecule lengths and refining it sorts the molecule lengths into layers that can then be extracted at the required grade.
Amongst all the usual bWhat you are looking at is hydrocarbon molecules in varying lengths. Gas like propane etc has very short molecules. Petrol has medium-length molecules, diesel slightly longer, and tar etc very long molecules. Crude oil is a mix of molecule lengths and refining it sorts the molecule lengths into layers that can then be extracted at the required grade.
ks posted on PH, this has to be one of the most interesting and useful. (to me at least, who only has a rudimentary grasp of chemistry). To be fair to the OP, I've pumped thousands of gallons of fuel into my cars over the years, yet actually have only ever seen about a pint of the stuff in total!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff