What can gasoline spilling on a hot engine cause?

Gasoline spilling on a hot engine poses a significant fire hazard due to the flammable nature of gasoline. When gasoline contacts a heated surface, such as an engine that's been running, it can ignite easily. The heat can vaporize the gasoline, creating flammable vapors that quickly catch fire if they come into contact with any open flame or spark. This is why it’s crucial to avoid situations where gasoline might spill on hot engine components, as the likelihood of a fire occurring increases substantially under these conditions.

The other options, while they may involve gasoline or engines, do not reflect the immediate and dangerous consequences as directly as the risk of fire associated with a spill on a hot engine. Corrosion, for example, is a long-term issue related to certain substances, leaks indicate a different type of failure, and an explosion is less likely unless specific conditions escalate the situation beyond just a fire.