What damage can gas do?

[Por_sha911]

Some idiot must of thought it would be funny to setup the fuel hose latch so that it would stay open (think pump gas without holding the handle). I turned the pump on and was about to put the hose into the tank and gas started shooting all over the car (low mileage garage queen). This happened while we were about 1.5 hours from home. After two 5 gal buckets of water, a trip to the hand-held car wash (plain water), I got the car home and gave it a good soap and water wash (2 times). The sunroof felt and the left side rubber door seal still have a gas smell (not as bad as before but still there). Will there be any damage to these items? What about the tires or the rubber on the whale tail?

[Eric Coffey]

Damn, that sucks (******* morons). You might try several washes with a good grease-cutting dish soap, followed by a good polish and wax. Regarding the rubber bits, I would slather on the Vinylex or 303 to help dilute any nasty rubber-eating components of the fuel, and/or prevent the rubber from drying/cracking/fading. If the smell or residue still lingers, you might search for a fuel spill clean-up/neutralizing alternative.
This stuff might do the trick:
http://www.alabastercorp.com/petroclean.htm
If not, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

[BierHunter]

That sucks! I'm really losing my tolerance for idiots in society.


I've had that happen too. Fortunately not with the P-car.
I've gotten in the habit of putting the nozzle in the tank and clicking the handle before turning the pump on to protect myself from morons.

[drophit]

Faulty handle, pumps are made to only be active with flow, that would should be a reason to approach the owner

[Joe Bob]

If it was a vapor recovery nozzle, it's a documented problem, hold open latches are mandated by Federal and State law due to toxic emissions from the escaping/displaced vapors from your tank....anywhooo, the station owner is responsible. I hope you documented the incident.

File a complaint with the local regulatory agency.

I answer these complaints 5-10 a month.

[Por_sha911]

Here in TN we don't have the vapor recovery nozzles. I guess I blew it by not filing a report. I griped at the poor guy behind the counter (who was some yahoo who makes $6 an hour) and left. As long as I can prevent any damage to the car I'll just move on (AND check each time before I pump gas again). I am very thankful that the windows were all up. If not, we'd have had a major problem.

[Joe Bob]

They may be the assist type nozzles that don't have the big boot on the end...

[Joe Bob]

They look like this and have little holes on the end of a coaxial spout....