inexpensive pressurized fuel system safety for amateurs

[Golden]

This thread is for financially-limited amateurs who choose to mess with pressurized fuel systems for some reason. Professionals: please add some replies: we don't want any NICO members to be BBQ. My #1 suggestion is to read up all you can about what it is you're planning to do. Even when the car is off, the fuel system is still under pressure. I got the idea for this thread when I replaced my fuel injectors. If you touch the fuel injectors or even the connectors leading to them you are LIKELY to cause some fuel to squirt past the injector seals; especially if they're old. These seals really should be replaced unless they're brand new but whatever. Fuel doesn't actually burn, only fuel vapor and even then it only burns at certain consentrations with air. The trick to doing this safely is to not let fuel vapor build up in the air. Lots of ventilation is absolutely required, do it outside. Never do anything that may cause the fuel to squirt out continuously, this will clearly cause fuel vapor to build up to dangerous levels. Heat, spark, or even static can ignite a fire and they're all present under the hood of a car at all times. If any fuel leaks out, be certain it is not still leaking and then wait for it to evaporate completely before continuing. This is tricky because you can't rely on visual inspection because fuel can puddle up in out of sight places under the hood and you can't rely on smell because of olfactory fatigue: you get used to smells quickly and can't tell how strong the odor is. (this is why stinky people don't realize that they stink so bad) You must rely on judgment. (or complicated mathematics I suppose) Wear some kind of glasses for your eyes and secure your flamable hair. Put on some wet clothing made of cotton or other natural fiber with long sleeves and a hat. Synthetic fibers are all made out of hydrocarbons, lol. They will melt and stick to your skin and even add fuel to the fire. Moist natural fibers are quite fire proof actually, prove it to yourself first before you trust it. Be realistic about your physical capabilities: you need to be able to jerk your body out of harm's way real quick if you see any fuel. Obviously, you can't get out of harm's way if you're underneath the car: DO NOT mess with fuel while pinned under a car. I know a pharmacist in Raleigh NC that BBQ'd himself working underneath his Jensen Heally in his garage and burned half his house down. His skin looks like Thanksgiving turkey now, lol. To prepare for a fire on the car: Steal a fire extinguisher to keep nearby for this operation, you can find dozens of them at any public building and they're not locked up, just return it when you're done. Think about what you will do if you catch on fire. Don't panic, it actually doesn't even hurt as long as you are quick to put it out. Just smother it with your damp clothes as quickly as you can.