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Motorists Share Fake Warning About Exploding Fuel Tanks In The Hot Weather

Motorists Share Fake Warning About Exploding Fuel Tanks In The Hot Weather

There's a warning going around that if you fill up you car all the way in this weather, it might explode. Don't worry - it won't.

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa Pearlmen

The weather is beautiful right now. The sun is shining, it's warmer than it has been for what feels like decades, people are happy, fuel tanks are on the verge of exploding.

Wait - what? If you use the internet, chances are you may have seen emails, Whatsapp messages and Facebook statuses warning that there's a risk of your fuel tank exploding if you fill up your tank to full when temperatures are around 30C, which they are right now.

The logic, as pointed out by Devon Live is simple: Liquids expand in the heat and petrol explodes, so if you fill up your tank all the way, the tank might rupture and the fuel will ignite?

The warning claims that five incidents have happened in the last week. There's just one problem - it's bullshit.

PA

That's right - the message has been circulating for about four years now, and just like those relatives you've never heard of who claim they have millions to send you if you just hand over all your details, it's completely fabricated.

Think about it - in places like Australia and the Middle East and even Arizona in the USA, people use cars and vehicles all the time in temperatures much hotter than 30C. And how many times have you heard about a car exploding out of the blue? That's right - not once.

The message tends to read along these lines: "Warning! Due to increase of temperature in the next days, please don't fill petrol to the max. It will cause explosion in the fuel tank.

"If u want petrol, then fill to half and leave a space for air.

"This week 5 explosive accidents happened due to filling petrol to maximum.

"Dont leave the msg stop here. Let others and your family who drive know about it so they can avoid this mistake...

"Please DO SHARE THIS MESSAGE."

Which, unlike the messages trying to get your bank details, at least aren't trying to scam you out of money.

But it's all still completely untrue. The only reason to not use your car in this weather is because it's going to be hot when you first get inside it. That's it. And maybe the fact you're adding to the pollution problem. But it's not going to explode if you fill the gas tank too full.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Fire, Explosion, Cars