Static Electricity

[Son of Odin]

Has anyone else had problems with static electricity in their Tundra? I have a 2001 and lately driving in my truck has become quite the shocking experience. Any idea as to the cause of this?

Thanks

[george60]

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The cause is usually low humidity and two things rubbing together such as the seat in your truck and your pants. I would guess that Boise in the summer is hot and dry. We get that here in California's central valley under the same weather conditions.

You can reduce the chances of getting zapped by touching a metal part of your truck when getting in or out. There is an old wive's tale that you can actually create an explosion when getting gas at the station by getting back in the seat while the pump is running. I have seen it happen in a surveillance video onthe internet. It's rare but touching metal before the gas nozzle will eliminate this possibility.

Hopefully this explanation is helpful.

Keep on truckin'
George60

[Sp00ks]

This is the main reason that my last three cars have had leather seats. I don't know if its my body chemistry or what, but I am constantly getting shocked by everything. I'm talking blue archs from my fingertips shocked.

You might want to try a can of "static guard". It seems to help.

[mitchr]

Originally Posted by Son of Odin

Has anyone else had problems with static electricity in their Tundra? I have a 2001 and lately driving in my truck has become quite the shocking experience. Any idea as to the cause of this?

Thanks

Only in the winter. I will really knock the crap out of you. That is the reason they say to never get in and out of your vehicle while you are filling it with gas, as it could cause a fire or explosion

I just saw where George had said the same thing so I edited. Sorry

[Yallrun]

Originally Posted by george60

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I have seen it happen in a surveillance video onthe internet. It's rare but touching metal before the gas nozzle will eliminate this possibility.

Hopefully this explanation is helpful.

Keep on truckin'
George60

I've seen some footage of that, I keep one of those little fire extinguishers just inside the bed for any such emergencies.

John

[mit42ls]

I use to have the same problem. Every time I get out the truck I would get zapped. But after waxing the truck I had no more static electricity. When is the last time you waxed your truck???

[mitchr]

Originally Posted by mit42ls

I use to have the same problem. Every time I get out the truck I would get zapped. But after waxing the truck I had no more static electricity. When is the last time you waxed your truck???

I think that was a coincidence. The static is genrerated by your pants when you slide across the cloth seats. Like Sp00ks said if you have leather seats usually it will not happen. The wax might insulate the surface of your truck some but you would still get shocked when you touched another metal surface.

[jasbus]

Humidity has nothing to do with it... I live in Florida, air's like a sponge here all the time. My wife's CRV shocks the crap out of us all the time. The best thing I've found to do is, wipe a dryer sheet on the seats every couple of months, works like a charm...and it smells fresh to

[hargray2]

My 4-runner had leather and shocked me all the time. It's dry weather.

[GF4x4]

Originally Posted by jasbus

Humidity has nothing to do with it... I live in Florida, air's like a sponge here all the time. My wife's CRV shocks the crap out of us all the time. The best thing I've found to do is, wipe a dryer sheet on the seats every couple of months, works like a charm...and it smells fresh to

Actually, humidity does make a difference. Higher relative humidity doesn't necessary eliminate a static charge, but the voltage potential that can build up on an object or surface is higher in dry climates.

And the "wives tale" about generating a charge by getting back into your car is possible as well. Hopefully you won't discharge it by reaching your finger deep inside your gas tank fill tube.....

Sorry about the rant- I work for an aerospace company, they keep humidity gauges in the labs, don't want to zap those expensive chips!

[wysokowski]

Originally Posted by GF4x4

Actually, humidity does make a difference. Higher relative humidity doesn't necessary eliminate a static charge, but the voltage potential that can build up on an object or surface is higher in dry climates.

And the "wives tale" about generating a charge by getting back into your car is possible as well. Hopefully you won't discharge it by reaching your finger deep inside your gas tank fill tube.....

Sorry about the rant- I work for an aerospace company, they keep humidity gauges in the labs, don't want to zap those expensive chips!

Unless the gas dispenser has vapor recovery on it you don't have to be inside the fill tube to have explosive fumes. For every gallon of gas you pump into the tank a gallon of fuel vapor comes out of the tank at the fill opening. So as long as the fuel is going in,the highly explosive vapor is around the nozzle handle. The nozzle itself is grounded, so when your come back to it and grab it you can discharge the static you may have picked up else where.

[Rlockyer]

The only video that I've seen of a fire at a gas pump was someone filling ATV jugs in the back of a pickup with a plastic bedliner.
That's bad news.

Mythbusters pretty much busted the static and cellphone myths. Even with the correct air/fuel concentrations and an auto seat static generator in the chamber, they couldn't get it to ignite.

I've forgotten what it actually took to cause an explosion... I think they ended up sending some pretty healthy current through there.

[Wes33]

Had a 98 camry that did the same thing, shocked the ever loving crap out of you in the winter! i remember geting out of that thing and cringing when i realized i had to touch the outside of the door to shut it. hehe fun times
i sure miss that car

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Rlockyer

The only video that I've seen of a fire at a gas pump was someone filling ATV jugs in the back of a pickup with a plastic bedliner.

Ive heard that too----but what about the plastic gas cans we use now days? ----Buzz

[george60]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Ive heard that too----but what about the plastic gas cans we use now days? ----Buzz

When filling a plastic gas can always have it sitting on the ground (to ground it). The gasoline flowing into the can creates static electricity and can cause a spark if not grounded.