What is a diesel spillage ?

Ebe_Scrooge

Yeah, I know it's diesel spilled on the road

What I mean is, I'm forever hearing on the radio traffic reports that there's a diesel spillage at such-and-such a place. It seems to be a very frequent occurrence. Just curious as to how it happens, and why so often ? I drive a diesel car, it's got a locking cap on the fuel filler, just like any other car, nothing ever spills out of that. So why ?

WTFH

If there has been an accident and fuel has leaked out, then you'll end up with it on the road. While petrol is more flammable, it's less slippy than diesel, so if there is a diesel spill they need to get it cleared up before the road is considered safe enough to drive on.

Moto2

It's often trucks or vans that have forgotten to fasten the filler cap, I've seen vehicles going around roundabouts spilling the stuff out.

As a motorcyclist and cyclist, it's lethal - you can often smell it before you can see it

Ebe_Scrooge

Moto2 wrote: »

As a motorcyclist and cyclist, it's lethal - you can often smell it before you can see it

Tell me about it. Last week I was going round a roundabout in town - maybe 15 mph or so. Suddenly the whole car just started sliding, like being on an ice rink. Front-wheel skids or rear-wheel skids I can deal with, but when all 4 wheels go it's scary. I dread to think about a motorcycle hitting that. Actually, that's the first time I've experienced it, that's kind of what prompted the question.

Moto2

Usually quite easy to spot in the dry but you need to be extra vigilant when the road is wet

gilbert_and_sullivan

Moto2 wrote: »

Usually quite easy to spot in the dry but you need to be extra vigilant when the road is wet

I find spills easier to see when wet with the resulting 'rainbow' effect reflecting off the road.

Moto2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I find spills easier to see when wet with the resulting 'rainbow' effect reflecting off the road.

Long after the 'rainbow' effect has gone, you'll see little on a wet road but it's still very slippy, in the dry you always see the dark line.

Ebe_Scrooge

Yes, this was in the wet, no visible indication of the spill until I hit it. I'd imagine it's even worse in the wet as well, a mixture of oil and water being particularly nasty ! Just glad I was going slowly and no other traffic on the roundabout at the time.

motorguy

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Yeah, I know it's diesel spilled on the road

What I mean is, I'm forever hearing on the radio traffic reports that there's a diesel spillage at such-and-such a place. It seems to be a very frequent occurrence. Just curious as to how it happens, and why so often ? I drive a diesel car, it's got a locking cap on the fuel filler, just like any other car, nothing ever spills out of that. So why ?

Fuel filler caps on lorries that dont lock in to place or farm vehicles.

A small amount of diesel will spread a long way over a wet surface.

pogofish

Moto2 wrote: »

It's often trucks or vans that have forgotten to fasten the filler cap, I've seen vehicles going around roundabouts spilling the stuff out.

As a motorcyclist and cyclist, it's lethal - you can often smell it before you can see it

Or drivers who have overfilled their tanks! :mad:

fivetide

You'll see vans with tell tale streaks down the side too. Basically poor maintainence and a selfish approach to the safety of other road users.