Spilled Gasoline

[Sinasta]

Not sure of this is the proper section so please forgive me.

I was just wondering if spilled gasoline from your tank will damage the paint. I do my best on not trying to spill gas from the spout I even tap it and roll the nozzle out but sometimes theres some spillage.

 

[alreadygone]

Takes quite a lot of untreated spills to ever cause paint deterioration. But it can happen. Carry, or step in store and get a bottle of water to flush off. Gas does act as a wax stripper, good idea to spot rewax after spill. OR carry a hand towel to nest under nozle while inserting and removing from tank.

Bob

 

[Mike-in-Orange]

Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Takes quite a lot of untreated spills to ever cause paint deterioration. But it can happen. Carry, or step in store and get a bottle of water to flush off. Gas does act as a wax stripper, good idea to spot rewax after spill. OR carry a hand towel to nest under nozle while inserting and removing from tank.

Bob

I agree on all counts. When I had my Miata I always grabbed a paper towel from the window cleaning station at the pumps before I started pumping gas. The fuel filler on the Miata is on top of the rear quarter panel - you think you get spills pulling the nozzle away from a side mounted filler, try accessing a top mount filler!! I would just hold a ball of paper towel to the nozzle as I moved it towards and away from the filler neck. No more spills, and no smelly rag to carry around.

 

[mjoekingz28]

We just gassed my grandmother's Buick and on the back of the license plate it said something on the order of "quickly clean areas exposed to gasoline"

Gasoline is good to remove road tar, but will remove wax as already stated.

Personally, I'd just spray it down with the water hose. Don't want to scratch your body with those hard paper towels.

 

[eljefino]

I push the "start" button on the pump after inserting the nozzle.

I use the gas cap (mine is untethered) to hit the little shutoff flap on the pump when done, then use the trigger to drain the hose.

I do this to get the most gas for my money, but it has the side effect of reducing spillage.

If one is slow, there is a little air space between the top of the tank spout and that unleaded restrictor flap, if they tap the nozzle a bit it should shake any drips loose.

Slow down and smell the roses.

Diesel... now that leaves an icky mess.