14 replies to this topic

[reedyni]

Hello all,

Ok heres a question that has being woundering me and a few mates. If a mini should be smashed into from the rear how does the fuel tank stand up to a smash? Will it explode on impact? This is the only thing stopping me from a mini... I've always wanted one since I first seen my mates up close but the question about the fuel tank got me questioning if I would get one...

Edited by reedyni, 03 August 2006 - 02:01 PM.

[biggav]

Contrary to the A Team, crashed cars rarely catch fire let alone explode. In the 6 years i've been a firefighter, only 4 times have i been to incidents where fires have started following a crash.

only 1 of those resulted in the driver being bacon. And he was probably dead from the impact.

Fuel tanks only contain fuel and fuel vapour and not enough oxygen/ air to burn, otherwise all cars would be blowing up all the time. If you get a car with an electric fuel pump, they have an inertia switch so that in the event of any impact the pump shuts off stopping fuel supply.

If the tank ruptures and you can't get out then you could be in doo doo, but this is extremley unlikley.

I've only ever been to 1 crash with a Mini and that was nothing serious.

[reedyni]

Contrary to the A Team, crashed cars rarely catch fire let alone explode. In the 6 years i've been a firefighter, only 4 times have i been to incidents where fires have started following a crash.

only 1 of those resulted in the driver being bacon. And he was probably dead from the impact.

Fuel tanks only contain fuel and fuel vapour and not enough oxygen/ air to burn, otherwise all cars would be blowing up all the time. If you get a car with an electric fuel pump, they have an inertia switch so that in the event of any impact the pump shuts off stopping fuel supply.

If the tank ruptures and you can't get out then you could be in doo doo, but this is extremley unlikley.

I've only ever been to 1 crash with a Mini and that was nothing serious.

Thanks, see I thought with the mini being quite old that the saftey aspect with the fuel tanks wouldn't of being as good as they are today So if someone smashed into you're back then there would be doo doo. Well with this then I'll get my little mini

[biggav]

don't get me wrong, the safety aspects of mini's all round is pretty poor, due mostly to being outsized by everything else on the road, but you find most mini drivers look after/ knowtheir cars better and since they stick to the road like a go kart you don't see too many come unstuck.

[1984mini25]

I have seen on one program (myth busters) that its quite unlike that a tank will just blow up even with fuel in it.
You could if wanted fire bullets at a tank of fuel and all that will happen is they will go in one side and straight out the other.

Can’t see much of a problem with a minis tank in the boot, just as long as the battery is secure and the terminals don’t pop on/off which could cause a spark, you should be fine.

Edited by 1984mini25, 03 August 2006 - 05:33 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

lets not be naive about this... if you have a really big crash in a mini then its gonna hurt.

i have also heard that it takes A LOT to make a fuel tank explode, so don't worry about this.

maybe you should consider a roll cage if your worried, but it's basic science that a mini wont perform well in a crash.


(shoot me down if you think i'm wrong )

[reedyni]

I know about the roll cages etc.. its just I thought with it being an old style car safety wise the fuel tank wouldn't have much protection so with the impact and the engine from the other car pushing the rear causing the rear to push into/though the tank and cause it to explode.. because recently the fuel tank on a monkey bike with 2 childs on it exploded when a car hit it.. so why woundn't a car from the 70's+ not Anywho aslong as it wont explode if theres a minior rear smash then thats ok..

Edited by reedyni, 03 August 2006 - 06:27 PM.

[Gizzum]

Dude,
Just get one, that's all there is to it. My mate had one and crashed through a brick wall and landed on a fir tree! The car was knackered but he was o.k.... well after a few beers he saw the funny side! Mini's are great fun to drive... I have transformed many sceptics by taking them out for a spin!!!!

[TOMMO0302]

It's true! You could worry about everything in life....but seriously on the safety side, they arent going to be as safe as a modern euro box but check some independant safety figures etc to reassure yourself (or at least make up your own informed mind)as you are going to get rather biased views on TheMiniForum

Good luck with the Car hunt!

[minimanclive]

Six years ago a car drove into the back of my Mini while I was waiting at a red traffic light. It caught the corner of the car where the petrol tank is. It shunted my Mini into the oncoming traffic. It pushed the bootlid into the petrol tank and the seam on the tank put a deep line into the boot lid. The petrol filler neck went oval from where the tank was pushed forwards. There wasn't much petrol in the car at the time. But it didn't explode. It did however push the rear subframe forwards enough to make the battery cable catch on the exhaust and melt through. It hasn't stopped me buying and driving Minis.

[giz]

if your so concerned about your safety in the event of a crash whilst inside a mini...... don't crash!
or like a few people have said buy a roll cage and also do what i have done, get rid of the standard tank and buy yourself a decent ally tank full of anti explosion foam
giz

[minipip]

if your so concerned about your safety in the event of a crash whilst inside a mini...... don't crash!

and yes it is a simple as it sound dont crash, i avoided smashing itnto the side of someone the other week, i got a bit shaken up doing a 180 off a main road into a side road over an island. but my confecdence is well back now had the tail out erlyer in the damp on a corner (gave it a lil too much he he he)

by the way as i was spinning i could picture the car rolling, but because i knew i was in a small car there is less room for me to get thrown about so i felt safer, woulda felt better if i had harnesses but yea im glad it happened in my mini.

alls im gonna say is i own a mini because then the acedent will be worth it make the person feel bad when i say they rote my car off'

[reedyni]

I wasn't worrying about anything else about a mini safety wise, it was just the tank had me thinking. Haha nataliegizfish unfortunately I live in Northern Ireland where safe driving is not non-existent with all the guys driving around in their chav'ed up 1litre corsa's that sound like there doing 90mph but only 30

[edjohnson]

Has anybody thought to point out that the mini's petrol tank isnt particularly badly placed?

My polo, along with 99.9% of other cars out there has the tank mounted under the car, at the rear.

This is C**p safety if your bothered by such things.

And have you ever tried replacing the filler neck on a VW fuel tank due to corrosion. Thats DANGEROUS!!!!

Nah, the minis tank is cool where it is, i like it, at least it shouldnt rust.

Oh and my dads rally spec Mk1 lotus escort has had its tank in the boot since forever, and passed scrutineering all the time in the 70's,

Ed x

[walks]

i was thinking that, loads of cars have the fuel tank under the boot floor which is just as bad |