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K5 fuel filler neck grounding

wazzabie

wazzabie

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Does the 73-80 K5 fuel filler neck have a grounding strap? I don't see a grounding strap on my 78 k5 however it could have broken off over the years. Maybe it might not be a bad ideal to add a grounding strap. Just not sure if this was factory for the 70s.

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wazzabie said:
Does the 73-80 K5 fuel filler neck have a grounding strap? I don't see a grounding strap on my 78 k5 however it could have broken off over the years. Maybe it might not be a bad ideal to add a grounding strap. Just not sure if this was factory for the 70s.

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I have seen it on some late 80s but never saw it on any of my 73, 74, or 76
 
You can, I would think that you would want to ground yourself and the fuel nozzle for that matter, in order to alleviate the static spark that sometimes accompanies fueling/fire thing.
I always make it a point to lean against my vehicle while fueling. That way there is zero chance for me to cause a static spark.
Bonding straps(read, ground straps)are a thing…
 
General electrical question, what mechanism other than fuel flow would cause static in the fill neck?

I have to assume all fuel station hoses are grounded now (even the aftermarket farm type stuff is) so any buildup of static from fuel flow would be controlled for.
 
dyeager535 said:
General electrical question, what mechanism other than fuel flow would cause static in the fill neck?

I have to assume all fuel station hoses are grounded now (even the aftermarket farm type stuff is) so any buildup of static from fuel flow would be controlled for.
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Friction between the tires and road or from the surrounding air when it’s moving (sort of like how a helicopter gets it’s static charge from the friction of the blades and air).
 
rampage said:
Friction between the tires and road or from the surrounding air when it’s moving (sort of like how a helicopter gets it’s static charge from the friction of the blades and air).
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Does that occur to insulated, isolated components? If the filler neck is touching no metal, how does that static charge pass to it?
 
dyeager535 said:
Does that occur to insulated, isolated components? If the filler neck is touching no metal, how does that static charge pass to it?
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The static travels on metal and plastic, even rubber.
The best thing to do is to ground it by leaning on the truck and transmit to ground.
I do this all the time
 
imiceman44 said:
The static travels on metal and plastic, even rubber.
The best thing to do is to ground it by leaning on the truck and transmit to ground.
I do this all the time.
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So a charge has built up, putting the whole vehicle at different potential than the ground. By leaning on the vehicle, the entire charge moves from the paint, through your clothes and body, then through the soles of your shoes into the concrete in a couple of seconds? Through millions of ohms? Wouldn't it be more effective to touch the pump and the fuel fill at the same time? That's like 100,000 Ohms at most. How do you know rubbing on the vehicle isn't creating more charge?
 
Blue85 said:
So a charge has built up, putting the whole vehicle at different potential than the ground. By leaning on the vehicle, the entire charge moves from the paint, through your clothes and body, then through the soles of your shoes into the concrete in a couple of seconds? Through millions of ohms? Wouldn't it be more effective to touch the pump and the fuel fill at the same time? That's like 100,000 Ohms at most. How do you know rubbing on the vehicle isn't creating more charge?
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Well I don't rub on the vehicles I touch it to absorb the static and yes in a second you discharge the static, and I know when I had any because it will spark on my fingertips.
You don't want to touch the pump while fueling but you could touch the dispenser to the car before you open the cap.
 
The source of the spark is the charge that was transferred between you and the vehicle as you exited. If the whole vehicle builds up a charge going down the road, you're at that same potential because you're in the car.
 
wazzabie said:
Has anyone here added a grounding strap to the fuel filler neck?
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No. They didn't have it before, vehicles did not frequently explode into flames at gas stations. I presume it was thought that the potential is there, the cost to prevent it is less than the class action lawsuits that would occur if it did happen and the manufacturer knew it was a possibility. Not likely, but possible.

Mine doesn't have one, hasn't in twenty years, not on my priority of things to "fix". That said, should be easy to do given the metal screws at the fill cap side and I'm sure another screw or bolt close enough to terminate it.
 
dyeager535 said:
No. They didn't have it before, vehicles did not frequently explode into flames at gas stations. I presume it was thought that the potential is there, the cost to prevent it is less than the class action lawsuits that would occur if it did happen and the manufacturer knew it was a possibility. Not likely, but possible.

Mine doesn't have one, hasn't in twenty years, not on my priority of things to "fix". That said, should be easy to do given the metal screws at the fill cap side and I'm sure another screw or bolt close enough to terminate it.
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Exactly.
I have never seen or heard of a vehicle exploding at a gas station but with all the ambulance chasers out there these car companies can't chance it.
The spark like I said does occasionally happen but it doesn't mean it will spark a fire
 
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