[not_the_fda]

Gasoline isn't that explosive. You can shoot up a gas tank and it will just burn. What you see on TV is movie magic. Gasoline vapor can explode, but you need the right air to fuel ratio and a spark.

[SV_BubbleTime]

Uh… gasoline has a super high vapor pressure. If you start out at the wrong ratio, it does what it can to make that ratio right.

I’ve seen a few gasoline fires that start by burning, and then much more rapidly expressing potential.

[capitainenemo]

Requires a good mix though. The parent is still correct. Mythbusters spent a long time trying to get cars to blow up in a dramatic hollywood fashion in various episodes and determined that under most conditions it wouldn't happen.

They did get it to happen, they just had to try really hard.

In most accidents the gas tank will not blow up.

[vablings]

High velocity accidents where the gas is quickly dispersed into the air is pretty much the only way that happens.

[jojobas]

Even then it's just a slow-burning fireball, not detonation, no shockwave.

[vablings]

Still more than enough to burn your windpipe, skin to 2/3rd degree and permanently disfigure you

[jjk166]

All of which are symptoms of burning, not explosion.