• Ach@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 day ago

      Oil has a high flash point. You can throw a lit flare in an oil drum and it will take a surprising amount of time for the oil around it to heat up enough to ignite.

    • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      It super does though the specific characteristics vary depending on where it was extracted (iirc crude from the canadian oil sands is borderline explosive)

      • deranger@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        That’s US domestic crude which is famously volatile. I’d be curious to see what Venezeula’s oil is like. I’ve heard it’s similar to the shitty heavy crude from the Middle East, which the US has facilities to process, unlike the domestic oil they produce which has to be processed elsewhere.

    • ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      This is only if you’re talking absolute pressure.

      At one atmosphere in air, diesel will burn. It just won’t self ignite.

        • ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          Just because a match goes out doesn’t mean it won’t burn.

          Also a tank keeps the oxygen level low.

          Pour some in a cup. Then present a lit torch (not British torch) to the top of the diesel.

          Unless it’s way too cold out, it’ll light up.