Gasoline and natural gas have inherently about the same explosive potential. Gasoline often ignites before it has had a chence to diffuse into the surrounding air. Under these conditions the combustion rate is usually slow enough to allow venting which mitigates the over-pressure. However, if substantial premixing occurs before ignition., the effects of the explosion will be substantially the same as those of premixed methane.

Conventional detonating (and deflagrating) explosives can produce damage which mimics that of a vapor or gas explosion. If the charge is small and located away from hard target materials, the high-pressure effects of detonation dissipate before the shock wave or the pressure front reaches walls and ceilings. Under these conditions, the force on the walls and ceilings can be comparable to that produced by a vapor/gas explosion. If a subsequent fire does not destroy the evidence, an investigator may find small remnants of the packaging materials or blasting cap.