I saw this video
https://youtu.be/hEIP9ZYnnRc?si=uHDIZQg5xOF2CyUp
He spilled fuel but never cleaned any of it up unless he just doesn't show that part. I'd be afraid it would light up a big fire in the engine soon as the thing got hot. I took some canned air and sprayed mine down. Now I don't know where mine went because I have a 2000 Chevy S10 pickup truck with 2.2 liter fuel injection and a rear wheel drive oriented automatic transmission. When I took my fuel rail out I had to slide the entire manifold out with the fuel rail still bolted to the manifold. And I spilled all kinds of fuel. Don't you think I should give it a few days maybe a week or two before we even trying to start it and maybe possibly to be really safe not even use any power tools or air ratchets around it just so we don't create an even a little spark starting a huge explosion? And since I spilled probably a small amount of like a few drops to tablespoon or so of gasoline into the alternator with Chevy put too close to it the manifold can I still use that alternator or do I have to replace it because it got gasoline inside of it? Is there a way to dry that gasoline out of it so it won't explode when it runs?
Gasoline is extremely volatile and it readily evaporates, especially under the hot sun. If you spilled it in a well-ventilated area, it should readily evaporate within an hour or two, leaving only a bit of residue. Think about the smell at a gas station. There's gas fumes in the air, but it won't ignite because you need specific ratios. You also need a spark. Sparks are inside the vehicle's engine when it's running, inside the cylinders.
The only thing I might shy away from for a few hours is the gas that was inside the alternator. Leave the hood open for a couple hours and it should be OK to start.
The 2 things in working on cars that scare me are 1) getting under a car that's up on jackstands and 2) working on the fuel system. But the risk of working with fuel lines can be managed with proper care:
- Have a good fire extinguisher within reach
- Plan your job and have everything ready before you start (so you don't leave it unattended)
- Work quickly but don't hurry; minimize the time that the fuel system is open to the air
- Maintain situational awareness and minimize the potential sources of spark (eg, disconnect the battery)
- Keep plenty of shop towels handy to clean up any spills quickly*; dispose of used towels properly
I agree with @justin-shepherd about the alternator being the biggest risk in your situation.
* When working with fuel, it is important to have good ventilation. But actually using compressed air to clean spills makes me more nervous because aerosolized fuel is the easiest to ignite. If anything, maybe just set up a shop fan to draw fresh air in and gas fumes out, but otherwise just leave it and let any spills you can't wipe up naturally evaporate.
An ounce of fuel isn't the end of the world, but it is better to catch it into a rag.
There is no danger of "huge explosion". At worst a small fire that will just go out on its own.
The ignition point of gasoline is 495° F (232° C) so even a hot engine won't ignite it. Exhaust maybe.
Gas evaporates quickly (hours).
You're overreacting a bit. Try putting a small amount in a container and lighting it to get over your fear.
and yeah avoid spilling anything into the alternator.
Well I'll say one thing MountainManJoe I I think I am even more grateful that my engine is a 2.2 l with only four cylinders instead of six or eight like the vortec engine. Oh I could pat my dad on the back several times for buying a 2.2 l S10 in selling it to me in 2002 rather than buying something that would have exhaust on both sides. The fuel is on the intake side as you would expect and it doesn't really get much hotter than maybe 150° Fahrenheit on that side. Maybe sometimes the ac lines will reach that temperature because they got a lot of pressure in that liquid line right before it goes through the orifice tube but I think everything else save for the engine is cooler on that side
I regularly set fire to offcuts of wood in the BBQ by dousing it with a small amount of petrol and lighting it with a blowtorch. Going to the local dump is a pain. I'll probably lose my eyebrows one day.
Still, the thought of working on the fuel system of the car concerns me a bit more.
