Maybe, but would need to look at the unit to tell.
In a simple system (single wire to tank sensor)the Gauge has +12 connected to the gauge. The - side is ran to the sensor. The sensor is grounded (-) at the tank. The sensor (a simple resitor) had a arm that moved across it and it changed the voltage across the meter terminals.
However this is a simplie system. With all of todays funky rules it has likely changed.
Then they went to supplying voltage across the sensor (two wires, 1 voltage, 1 to meter, and tank used as ground). It reads the voltage at a pictular point on the resistor. In this case the meter did not have voltage supplied to it but read the voltage from the sensor with the other side of the meter grounded.
Now with all the plastic gas tanks, computers, and such they use three wires (voltage, meter, and ground). They may also have have electronics in there to reduce the actual voltage in the sensor itself (computer and such).
If it is a simple one wire system it may be possible to use it. "BUT" you would have to have the ability to reverse both wires at the gauge "AND" the case of the gauge not internally grounded (like a plastic case). Given you asked, I would not reccomend you try it.
As for why you do not get an explosion.
Gas does not conduct low voltages. Having this low voltage in the gas is not a problem. However, if the sensor shorts out (highly unlikely) it could be an issue if the tank was near empty. But in that case you would still need a certian amount of fuel/air mix to cause an explosion. In most (all if properly maintained) cases there is not enough air (all fumes) and it would just pop a fuse before anything happened.
BTW - Yes I have made one fail. While trouble shooting a faulty gage, I accidently shorted out the resistor with the pickup unit half out of the tank (tank half full). That sucker got red hot in a hurry. Fused pop'd and it never set of the fumes in the tank. Scared the be-geeb-ish out of me. I am pretty sure I got real lucky........
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