Car fires - root causes?
Discussion
This stat was posted on another forum "There are 100,000 car fires every year, and whilst most are started intentionally, something like 100 cars will catch fire every single day of their own accord".
It got me thinking what is the root cause of the 100 daily fires? Is it largely bad modifications, carrying fuel cans in the boot, smokers... or something else? Anyone got any stats or experience?
It got me thinking what is the root cause of the 100 daily fires? Is it largely bad modifications, carrying fuel cans in the boot, smokers... or something else? Anyone got any stats or experience?
I’ve seen a car catch fire due to a wiring loom hanging free and eventually rubbed through the insulation and earthed to the body.
Only needed a zip tie or clip and it would have never of happened.
Old perished fuel lines, or lines placed next to a heat source is common.
I’ve seen people put big turbo’s on, remapped to run big power but they forget about all the stuff around it. It’s all good fun with 1xxxx horsepower but they forget when the turbo glows red it’ll melt everything around it.
Only needed a zip tie or clip and it would have never of happened.
Old perished fuel lines, or lines placed next to a heat source is common.
I’ve seen people put big turbo’s on, remapped to run big power but they forget about all the stuff around it. It’s all good fun with 1xxxx horsepower but they forget when the turbo glows red it’ll melt everything around it.
I can see how it happens just from random oddity part failures. Remember a few years back I was at my mums when she got dropped off by my aunt and uncle in their VW toureg thing. Only a couple years old but distinct smell of petrol. Had a nosey under the bonnet and line going to injectors had a failure/rubbed on something and was creating a fine jet of petrol being sprayed across the engine bay. Very luckily it didn't go up but just needed a bit of that fuel going to the wrong part of the engine bay and it could have ignited.
Things fail, it's just part of life but unfortunately cars have lots of very flammable things that make them work! In a way I'm surprised it isn't more common.
Things fail, it's just part of life but unfortunately cars have lots of very flammable things that make them work! In a way I'm surprised it isn't more common.
gt40steve said:
Even some antifreeze can vapourise & burn. Usually a brief flash though unlike oil which 'gets going' so that the high temperature ignites the liquid oil aswell as the vapour.
Only if you fall for the marketing rubbish about Evans coolant, give yourself a double-boost and don't use it.People go on about Petrol in fires, but years ago I had a Renault 12 and the float in the carb snapped off and petrol was pouring onto the exhaust manifold.. did it catch fire, no it just turned to white smoke thankfully.. from what I have read Petrol and Diesel flashpoints are too high to be set alight by hot metal, A flame yes, but Brake Fluid is another matter.
Ladvr6 said:
I’ve seen a car catch fire due to a wiring loom hanging free and eventually rubbed through the insulation and earthed to the body.
Only needed a zip tie or clip and it would have never of happened.
Old perished fuel lines, or lines placed next to a heat source is common.
I’ve seen people put big turbo’s on, remapped to run big power but they forget about all the stuff around it. It’s all good fun with 1xxxx horsepower but they forget when the turbo glows red it’ll melt everything around it.
The wiring thing happened to my brothers Xsara Picasso.To make them RHD they have to have a cross shaft from the brake pedal to the master cylinder.The wiring is strapped to the bulkhead above and became detached and chafed through catching fire.Only needed a zip tie or clip and it would have never of happened.
Old perished fuel lines, or lines placed next to a heat source is common.
I’ve seen people put big turbo’s on, remapped to run big power but they forget about all the stuff around it. It’s all good fun with 1xxxx horsepower but they forget when the turbo glows red it’ll melt everything around it.
ric19 said:
People go on about Petrol in fires, but years ago I had a Renault 12 and the float in the carb snapped off and petrol was pouring onto the exhaust manifold.. did it catch fire, no it just turned to white smoke thankfully.. from what I have read Petrol and Diesel flashpoints are too high to be set alight by hot metal, A flame yes, but Brake Fluid is another matter.
I can't even imagine how that failure mode (snapped float) could happen!Rod200SX said:
...
Things fail, it's just part of life but unfortunately cars have lots of very flammable things that make them work! In a way I'm surprised it isn't more common.
Reading this thread I tend to agree with you.Things fail, it's just part of life but unfortunately cars have lots of very flammable things that make them work! In a way I'm surprised it isn't more common.
As an 18 year old I drove to the coast and could smell petrol very strongly. When I got there I found my petrol can had tipped over in the boot and mostly leaked out with petrol sloshing around the boot. It was a hot day so I just left it to evaporate away then drove the 70 miles home with the stench and some still slopping around. Luckily I wasn't a smoker. I was extrememly unaware of risks as a youth.
Scarletpimpofnel said:
I can't even imagine how that failure mode (snapped float) could happen!
You know I have often thought the same, it seems unlikely but it definitely did, it was like the metal had been bent back and forward to weaken it then reinstalled in the carb, like a ticking time bomb Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff