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THE SILENT KILLER
Page 48
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Driving a truck with no brakes or steering could be deadly, but at least the driver would probably notice.
However, the technical fault on trucks that kills the greatest number of innocent third parties apparently goes unnoticed by the perpetrators. despite leaving clear visible evidence that it's happening.
By their nature, diesel spills are more likely to happen on sharp bends or roundabouts, where motorcyclists are at their most vulnerable.
Diesel is invisible, especially in wet conditions, but has the effect of black ice. If they are lucky, motorcyclists will fall off, break a few bones and bike components. If they're not, they will slide into roadside objects or oncoming vehicles and may be killed. Between 2000 and 2005, 617 motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured by diesel spills, and, unfortunately, this trend shows no signs of improving.
Fuel loss tips
Overfilling can be intentionally trying to squeeze every last teaspoon of fuel into the tank, whereas each extra litre will give you maybe two miles of range on an artic or five on a van. It could be failing to recognise that fuel drawn from a cold storage tank will expand considerably when put into a vehicle tank at warm ambient temperatures or with a recirculating fuel supply system.
Diesel expands at roughly 1% per 20°C, so if you brim a 700-litre tank at the end of the day, there will soon be seven litres of extra volume looking for some avenue to escape. The solution? Leave plenty of ullage to allow for expansion.
The other main cause of diesel spillage is faulty fuel filler caps. Damaged or perished seals, or filler necks distorted from wedging pump nozzles can all leak, especially when high centrifugal forces are present, such as when cornering hard or negotiating roundabouts. As diesel evaporates more slowly than petrol or water, any stains in the filler area should be cause for concern and treated as a major mechanical defect. And dont forget to refit the cap!
• For more information, go to www.killspills.org.uk