Is it harmful if gasoline spills on a car?
3 Answers
It depends on where it is spilled. If it is just spilled on the exterior of the car, it may have a slight impact on the paint. Here is some relevant information about gasoline: The meaning of gasoline: Gasoline is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid obtained from petroleum through distillation and cracking, and it can be used as fuel. Important characteristics of gasoline: The important characteristics of gasoline include volatility, stability, anti-knock properties, corrosiveness, and cleanliness. The difference between 95-octane and 92-octane gasoline: 95-octane gasoline has better anti-knock properties than 92-octane gasoline. The better the anti-knock properties, the less likely the engine is to experience knocking.
Spilling gasoline on your car is no small matter and must be dealt with immediately. Last time I accidentally spilled a little on the car door at the gas station, and the next day I noticed the paint in that area had turned white and started peeling—gasoline can corrode car paint and rubber seals, and it’s even more likely to cause plastic parts to crack. The scariest part is the safety risk; gasoline evaporates quickly and can ignite with just a spark, especially dangerous in summer when the car’s surface temperature is high. If gasoline spills near the exhaust pipe, never start the car—push it away from the fueling area and rinse it with water immediately. When rinsing, don’t wipe; use a continuous stream of water to dilute the gasoline, then wash the area again with car shampoo. Remember to open the windows to ventilate, as lingering gasoline fumes inside the car could also be hazardous if they come into contact with electrical sparks.
I've seen someone spill a tank cap's worth of gasoline and ignore it, only to find the car paint mottled like a map later. Gasoline is particularly damaging to car paint, and the effects vary by color: dark cars show white spots, while light-colored cars develop yellow stains. Extra caution is needed if it spills on the tires or rims, as prolonged contact with gasoline can cause rubber to harden and crack. Personally, I recommend immediately diluting it with bucket water; if water isn't available, cover it with sand to absorb the gasoline. After treatment, observe for two days—if the paint loses its luster, polishing and waxing may be needed for remediation. Prevention is actually simple: don't overfill the tank, stop when you hear the fuel pump nozzle 'click,' and keep the tank opening facing upward to prevent splashing.
