Cops: Van burst into flames after gas poured in carburetor

[n2doc]

Bellevue police now say that a van burst into flames on Wednesday after gasoline was poured from a water bottle into the carburetor.


Fumes filled the vehicle and were apparently sparked by someone trying to start the van.

Three people were burned and are at Harborview Medical Center.

One of them has told police that she and two male friends were getting gas at a station in Factoria.

They were having problems keeping the van running. They didn't have a gas can, so they put 2 gallons of gas in a bucket.

more

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/236404.asp

Real bright bunch that group...

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Holy smokes!

[dhill926]

2. should do quite well in the Darwin Awards.......n/t

[bluestate10]

3. Some auto repair hands correct me if I am wrong. But

pouring a little gas down the carburetor was used to kick start ignition in older versions of automobiles. Modern versions of motor vehicles are more complicated, with gasoline not having a direct path to the tips of sparkplugs.

[Sonoman]

5. Basically, you are right.

Computerized carbs are definitely intended for raw gas to be poured into them. Those guys are lucky to still have their faces.

Sonoman

[Maine_Nurse]

6. The problem was the bucket of gasoline

Sounds to me like the "fumes filled the van" from the open bucket of gas in it. That is what ignited, probably from the spark of the ignition switch contacts or something.

Just adding a bit of chlorine to the American gene pool.

[lpbk2713]

4. "Here. Hold my beer while I get this thing started."

:rofl:

[Canuckistanian]

8. LOL

Just what I was thinking....

[onethatcares]

7. those damn electric fuel pumps

cause problems like not being able to keep the engine running when they break down. Then you pay $365.00 for the part, drop the tank (hopefully it's m/t,) buy a tool to disconnect the fuel line, reassemble, and you're back on the road for a while. Not at all like the old cam shaft operated lever pump, not at all.

the use of a bucket was stewpid, but do you know what those red gas cans cost?