Peter Ashby wrote:
Mike Barnes wrote:

In uk.d-i-y, Peter Ashby wrote:
reminds of the recent demonstration that it is practically
impossible to light a puddle/stream of petrol with a lit ciggy.
That's true, but try telling smokers that they can smoke but they can't
light up.

Oh granted, there is difference between a spark in vapour in the petrol
station and a cinder in liquid petrol. Recent report in the local rag
about a truck which rolled and spilled grain all over the carriageway
also mentioned leaking diesel and the consequent fire risk, and there
was me thiking you needed to compress diesel vapour before it will
burn...


No you don't.

There are other ways of getting it to flashpoint.

Diesel burns remarkably well with any sort of wick.

And, if hot enough, will go up in a ball of fire..think 911. Aircraft
fuel is essentially diesel.

Petrol *vapour* if the concentration is critical, will ignite with
almost anything. As a *liquid* you can drop a lit match in..and it will
douse it.

Peter