Quote:
Originally Posted by Seth Manson
Please do that and make a video of it.
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The temperature of the cigarette, even at the side of the lit portion, is more than enough to cause gasoline to autoignite. However, there are many other factors that one should take into account. It matters how the cigarette actually falls onto the surface to the gasoline. There is a lower chance of autoignition if the cigarette falls on it's side where the temperature is lower. Also, the temperature of the gasoline itself matters. If the gasoline is cold to start with then there is again a lower chance of autoignition. One should also consider the amount of the gasoline that you have, namely if you have a large volume of gasoline that would mean that the there is enough surrounding liquid for the heat to go into and therefore the temperature of the gasoline-cigar contact spot would due to heat conduction of the gasoline decrease rapidly, therefore reducing the chance for autoignition.
Diesel fuel will ignite at temperatures as low as 260F ... thus why a diesel engine has glow plugs ... but a gasoline engine requires temperatures of 480 - 700F to ignite, which is achieved through a 30,000 volt spark - delivered by a copper or platinum tipped spark plug.