Lucky Escape!!

[Pandora]

Yup, the petrol pool won't ignite easily in itself, but the vapour above it will very readily. The heat from this will in turn create more vapour through evaporation from the fuel below, fuelling the fire........

and all the while the liquid fuel will run, taking the flames with it.

All in all, best avoided.

Al

[1071 S]

"....I remember a demonstration by a lecturer when I was at college, he plunged a lighted match into a container of petrol & the match was extinguished, a procedure which I have repeated myself whenever someone is critical about me smoking my pipe while working on an engine. (I am also expecting to be shouted down, but I have been doing this kind of thing for 45 years with no harm ) Nevertheless, I do take fire risk seriously, all my cars have been equipped with a good quality fire extinguisher.
I have never had a fire due to petrol dropping on to an exhaust manifold, but as you say, oil & particularly brake fluid is a different matter...."

Just in case anyone else thinks that petrol and a naked flame is not something to be treated with extreme respect ... or that having an extinguisher is a reasonable excuse for a precaution...

Check these out....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w09IY73oVjE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB0pb2Pvtq4 ..... stick around 'til about minute 1:50.....

Cheers, Ian