Fuel tank location

[anonymous-user]

I note the fuel tanks are located in the front of the car ahead of the pedals, is anyone concerned about the risk of this in the event of a collision ? I'm aware they don't seem to crash test them either for ncap as volumes are too low. I'm sure it must be fairly safe or they'd not be able to sell them. Hopefully someone on here can put my mind at rest, particularly in view of Paul Walker...

[Twinfan]

I've seen plenty of nasty Cup car crashes and the fuel tank has never gone up in a fireball. I think the location is pretty safe

[gsewell]

Race cars will have baffled, crush resistant fuel cells and not domestic fuel tanks.

[Twinfan]

Fair point, forgot about that!

[SRT Hellcat]

Life itself is a risk. The fuel tank has to go somewhere and I think all varieties of the 911 have the tank in the safest place. The Carrera GT I believe has the fuel tank behind the passenger compartment fire wall.

[Timbo_Mint]

I was told or read once that other fluids in a car - Brake Fluid for example - were far more flammable than petrol. Mind you I guess your point is that being where it is could cover you with fuel which is then lit by a fire caused by the other fluids. What would start it though? The hot stuff is behind you.

There is Myth Busters episode where they go to a lot of effort to try and get petrol to ignite.

Does the tank stretch across both drivers and passenger side? Just curious if there is any different in Left/right hand drive?

[wag2]

Drop a match into a saucer of petrol and it will light. Do the same with any other fluid found in a road car and it won’t.

[gsewell]

Brake fluid will spontaneously ignite if spilled onto a hot exhaust manifold. Many cars have died that way when the master cylinder reservoir sprung a leak.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks guys, well that’s certainly put my mind at rest, everything carries an inherent risk. In the meantime I’ve started driving like a pussy and speccing up a Q7 ;-)

[Green1man]

gsewell said:

Brake fluid will spontaneously ignite if spilled onto a hot exhaust manifold. Many cars have died that way when the master cylinder reservoir sprung a leak.

This.

The fact that in a Boxster the brake fluid Resevoir is nowhere near the engine makes it much less likely to burst into flame after a crash than most other cars where the Resevoir is typically above the engine.

[88racing]

gsewell said:

Race cars will have baffled, crush resistant fuel cells and not domestic fuel tanks.

Not unless they are FIA approved - and no club raced Boxster in the U.K. will be.

[rgj1964]

Talking about fuel tanks, why is the tank not the maximum size it can be rather than a paid option to get the full size tank (other than Porsche having another laugh at our expense on the options list)? Is there some disadvantage to the owner with the larger tank ie does it reduce the front storage space?

[weebz]

rgj1964 said:

Talking about fuel tanks, why is the tank not the maximum size it can be rather than a paid option to get the full size tank (other than Porsche having another laugh at our expense on the options list)? Is there some disadvantage to the owner with the larger tank ie does it reduce the front storage space?

Takes up space, extra weight (even empty) although probably negligible. (2WD v 4WD space is different at least in 996/7 cars due to 4 wheel drive system taking space and the fuel tank having to be a saddle type, so any 4WD 911 will have less luggage space in the front).

TBH a 64ltr tank is plenty enough IMO.

[anonymous-user]

Schmed said:

I'm aware they don't seem to crash test them either for ncap as volumes are too low.

The individual components and complete cars have to meet European crash performance requirements.

They are definitely crash tested for the US market as well.