A little help from the physicians, please...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I got gasoline sprayed in my eyes and left ear today and it was at considerable psi, like enough that it would have hurt had it been water. I was changing the fuel filter on my 330i. I removed the fuel pump fuse and started it up a few times until it finally wouldn't start anymore to remove the pressure. Well, that apparently didn't do it. When I pulled the front line off, it sprayed me like a water cannon. Blinded and panicked, I felt my way through my garage and into a bathroom to start flushing. It was the most painful thing I've ever been through. Once I was able to stop moaning after about 30 min. in a cold shower, I called Poison Control. They said 30 min. of flushing should do it and to go to the ER if pain persisted. I flushed some more and my eyes recovered pretty well, but the left ear felt full of water and on fire. Finally it all went away.

Anyway, now my eyes feel a litte dried out, but then I've been wrenching on the 993 and 330i for the last few hours. Is there likely to be any delayed damage? I mean, if I feel and can see fine now, does that mean I'm home free?

on-ramp · 04-22-2007, 04:07 PM

Go see your doctor/ ER immediately.
why waste time posting on the internet?

it's your eye-sight and hearing at risk. why take the chance?

BlueSkyJaunte · 04-22-2007, 04:15 PM

Seriously. Go to the ER. And wear friggin' safety glasses next time, dammit!

MRM · 04-22-2007, 04:16 PM

No it doesn't. Go to the ER now.

RickM · RickM's Garage

You likely burned your eyes. I agree with the advice to see call Eye Doc ASAP. He/she should meet you at the ER.

Unfortunately there may not be alot they can do for the pain. But you may need wetting drops and/or an antibiotic if there's damage.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Guys, I'm not in pain in the least anymore. It's been gone for many hours. My vision is totally normal and my ear feels fine too. If I go to the ER, I'll sit there until the wee hours of the morning and would probably be better off just going to an urgent care place in the morning. Anyway, Poison Control said water was enough, not to use saline or Visine and only go to the ER if symptoms persist. What else can they do for me?

jriera · 04-22-2007, 05:08 PM

GO DOCTOR NOW!!!!

Joeaksa · 04-22-2007, 05:42 PM

Rick,

Go to the ER now.

Its worth the wait. That is unless you do not need your eyes in the future, then stay at home...

Dammit go now!

Joe

PS I am only an ex medivac driver and EMT/Paramedic.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I just went to the local ER. En route I called my insur. company's 24-hr. hotline and talked with a nurse. She asked a lot of questions, did some computer searching and then said I did everything right and to just keep cold, wet cloths on my eyes and my head elevated for 15 min. at a time every few. hrs, which I've been doing. When we arrived at the ER, the place was packed. Honestly, my eyes would be worse if I had to stay up all night waiting to get seen by a doctor. I just came home, will email my eye doctor buddy and then give my eyes a rest and sleep.

Joeaksa · 04-23-2007, 07:01 AM

And how do we feel today? Going to the doctor today??? PLEASE!!!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I feel fine. I emailed an eye doctor friend of mine and he said as long as I feel fine, vision and hearing are fine, then I am fine. He said there are some dry eye lubricants with no preservatives available over the counter if I feel any discomfort. But I feel fine. BTW, this eye doctor buddy of mine is the guy who invented and patented Rescula, so his word carries some weight with me.

VincentVega · 04-23-2007, 09:09 AM

Glad to hear you are ok. I had a similar soaking when I changed the fuel pump on my truck, but it sounds like your incident was worse. Like you said, once you flush you just have to deal with the sting for a while. Next time, dont get so close to your work.

speeder · 04-23-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Martin
Glad to hear you are ok. I had a similar soaking when I changed the fuel pump on my truck, but it sounds like your incident was worse. Like you said, once you flush you just have to deal with the sting for a while. Next time, dont get so close to your work.

Just what I was thinking. I am very relieved that you are going to be OK, Rick, but this can be a strong cautionary tale for anyone else working around high-pressure fuel delivery systems on modern cars/trucks/MCs. Once you have the wrench on the fitting, move your head as far away as possible while you break the seal and then return to visual contact only when you are sure that there is no pressure remaining.

notfarnow · 04-23-2007, 09:20 AM

Good to hear you're OK.

A guy on one of the diesel forums was testing an injector and got hit with high pressure diesel. Medical treatment is amputation; lost 2 fingers.

Be careful out there!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Man, I am so confused by all this. I've done this so many times on 911's, never even bothered with the fuel pump fuse and never got more than a little dripping.

On the 330i, I followed the directions to the letter, pulled the fuse, started the car, let it die, repeated. I was positive I was gonna get a little drip and I thought, since the gas tank is in the rear of the car and fuel pump up front, the pressure would be facing forward, if anything. I undid the hose clamps and got my catch pan lined up, gently pulled the line off and BAM!!!! It sprayed me from the front to rear like a water cannon. I was stunned. A few hrs. later when I was feeling better, I went to finish the job, as I couldn't leave a fuel line hanging there, since someone could toss a cigarette under there. That time I put lab goggles on. Will never make the same mistake again. I used to love the smell of gas. Now it makes me ill.

notfarnow · 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I used to love the smell of gas. Now it makes me ill.

A couple weeks ago I had a problem with the veggie oil system in my Jetta. Pressurized it to 90 PSI with my air compressor to force everything back to the tank. A fuel line split, and sprayed used cooking oil from a seafood joint all over my face. THAT was gross.

All kidding aside, eye injuries are really nasty and very frightening. Nothing as scary as stumbling around blind and in pain. Were you all alone in the house when it happened?

AFJuvat · 04-23-2007, 11:20 AM

Got gasoline in the ear a few years ago.

See a doctor - you likely have chemical burns on your eardrum.

You will have that "sticky ear" feeling for a few weeks.

Moneyguy1 · 04-23-2007, 11:23 AM

Always follow the instructions and depressurize the system. I con't wait for the firs post by someone who forgets to do this on ABS brakes.

osidak · 04-23-2007, 11:33 AM

I always place a rag over the connection after I put my wrench on it - if anything flies then rag blunts it

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Ok, just came back from the eye dr. I was able to get squeezed in between appointments on short notice. He said I'm fine and that there are a lot worse things than gasoline to get in one's eyes. He put some dye drops in and then looked me over with a very cool cobalt filter on the light. There's still some slight irritation, but no scratches. He actually asked if the gas was clean or could have been contaminated with particles. So I had to stop to think which end of the filter had hit me. Pretty sure it was back pressure from the fuel that had already passed through the filter. Vision is still 20/20 and he gave me some lubricant eye drops to add every few hrs.