Be careful of car spontaneous combustion in hot summer days, safety protection is very important

by langrentoh1 on 2012-02-28 10:05:50

High summer heat, be careful of car spontaneous combustion. Safety protection is very important. With the rise in temperature, our city has entered a high incidence period for car spontaneous combustion accidents. According to the latest statistics from the fire department, there were nearly 20 car fires in the city in July this year, averaging one per day, with a maximum of two cases of car spontaneous combustion per day. In half a month, there have been more than 10 cases of car spontaneous combustion. There are tricks for summer maintenance; preventing vehicle spontaneous combustion hinges on cautious modification. What causes car spontaneous combustion? How can we avoid car spontaneous combustion? What should be done once spontaneous combustion occurs? With these questions, I recently conducted a special interview.

Spontaneous combustion accidents are highly prevalent, with private vehicles accounting for 55%. The scorching summer weather is unbearable not only for people but also for cars. Recently, news of car spontaneous combustion has frequently appeared in the media: Around 10:00 AM on July 1st, near Li Hui Li Hospital, a pickup truck spontaneously combusted. At 5:00 PM on July 3rd, at the southern exit of Changhong Tunnel, a pickup truck caught fire, and the fire was extinguished by firefighters. At around 2:00 PM on July 7th, at the first monitoring station on Huancheng North Road, a newly registered private car spontaneously combusted. At 8:00 AM on July 16th, on the Ningbo-bound section of Yiwanzhou Expressway at the 56km mark, a heavy box truck caught fire. It took three fire trucks to put out the fire. On the morning of July 20th, in Sangzhou Ridge Tunnel, a Changan mini-bus burned down to just a "skeleton". On the afternoon of July 21st, on Qianhu South Road, a car spontaneous combustion accident occurred, where a Volkswagen Passat sedan was almost completely burned within moments. Fortunately, the occupants evacuated in time and were uninjured. On the evening of July 25th and early morning of July 26th, two consecutive car spontaneous combustion accidents occurred on Henghe Road and Nanhai Road in Beilun. Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and successfully extinguished the fires, but the sedans were beyond recognition...

Our newspaper's news hotline has almost every day received tip-off calls about car spontaneous combustion, with up to four or five cases in a single day. Analysis data shows that in motor vehicle spontaneous combustion incidents, the proportion of small cars catching fire exceeds 40%; private cars account for 55% of fire incidents; and over 70% of fires occur while the vehicle is in motion.

What do drivers think about vehicle spontaneous combustion?

On July 29th and July 30th, I conducted a mini-survey among 20 drivers at key traffic sections such as the South Railway Station, Zhongshan East Road, and Xingning Road. The results were disappointing: 70% of the 20 drivers knew little or nothing about car spontaneous combustion or how to deal with it. I also found that only about 40% of the vehicles were equipped with portable fire extinguishers, most of which were given as part of the new car purchase. Very few bought them voluntarily. Among those who had fire extinguishers, only half could use them proficiently. Moreover, female owners and novice drivers were especially lacking in knowledge in this area. Ms. Tian, who has owned her car for just over a year, said: "There is a fire extinguisher in the car, but I've never used it and don't know how to." She added that no one in her family had ever checked whether the fire extinguisher had expired. Many drivers told me that since their cars undergo annual inspections, inspected cars shouldn't experience spontaneous combustion, right?

"Who started the 'fire'?"

Oil leakage and aging wiring are the main reasons.

Why do cars spontaneously combust?

Mr. Huang, a repairman from a certain brand 4S store in Jiangdong, analyzed from the numerous cases he encountered:

Firstly, the reasons include gasoline pipe leakage, wire aging, transmission oil leakage, electrical modifications, improper maintenance, dirty engines, as well as human factors like smoking and storing lighters. Among these, car oil leakage and wire aging are the two most significant reasons.

Secondly, high summer temperatures easily cause some rubber components to age and increase the pressure in liquid-sealed containers, leading to car oil leaks. If the car windows are tightly closed and exposed to sunlight for too long, items like disposable lighters, perfumes, or aerosol sprays in the car could ignite and cause spontaneous combustion.

Simultaneously, plastic and fiber car decorations may also heat up due to high internal car temperatures and prolonged driving, potentially causing friction-induced heating or even combustion. These objects often burn uncontrollably and emit toxic gases when they catch fire.

Thirdly, most vehicles experiencing spontaneous combustion have been driven for many years, with mileage exceeding 100,000 kilometers.

"But new cars aren't absolutely safe either," Mr. Huang explained. Spontaneous combustion in new cars mainly relates to unauthorized modifications by the owner. For example, some car owners install anti-theft devices, high-end sound systems, sunroofs, air conditioners after purchasing the car, or modify its appearance extensively... All these actions can create potential risks for spontaneous combustion.

In summary, Mr. Huang believes that vehicle spontaneous combustion is closely related to the owner. So-called "spontaneous combustion" is largely "human-induced."

Another point worth noting is that during post-accident investigations into vehicle spontaneous combustion causes, the fire department discovered that a large portion of the onboard fire extinguishers had exceeded their shelf life and could not function properly, or some vehicles did not carry fire extinguishers at all.

"Onboard fire extinguishers are similar to those used in daily life, both having an expiration date. Once expired, they should be replaced promptly. As car owners, you should learn to use fire extinguishers proficiently," relevant personnel from the Fire Prevention Supervision Department of the Municipal Fire Brigade pointed out. After discovering a vehicle on fire, many car owners panic and fail to use the fire extinguisher correctly, missing the best opportunity to minimize losses.

Routine checks are indispensable, and correct emergency response is quite critical.

During interviews, firefighters and repair technicians provided several useful suggestions for drivers, which are highly effective in preventing spontaneous combustion and self-rescue after spontaneous combustion.

First is "vehicle condition." To reduce and prevent car spontaneous combustion accidents, car owners should regularly check their vehicle's fuel system, electrical circuits, and other electrical facilities, especially during the summer. Developing a habit of regular vehicle maintenance is crucial.

Second is decoration. Do not seal off any areas of the car that cannot be sealed, to avoid poor heat dissipation.

Third is temperature. Summer driving should not last too long. Every two hours, stop appropriately to rest and check tire temperature. When finding tires overheated with rising pressure, park the car in a shaded area or under a tree, allowing the tires to cool down naturally and reduce pressure. Do not deflate the tires or pour water to lower the temperature.

Drivers should also pay attention to changes in the water temperature gauge, which generally should not exceed 95°C. Especially when the vehicle is heavily loaded or driving on mountain roads, more attention should be paid to preventing the engine from overheating.

Fourth is modification. Any car's original design is the result of thousands of tests and each detail has scientific basis. Modifying a car slightly might damage other functions, affecting overall safety and increasing the risk of spontaneous combustion. If modifications are necessary, choose reputable auto repair shops and follow professional guidance. If adding other electrical equipment to the car, always consult professionals and avoid connecting electrical appliances to the car circuit privately.

Additionally, experts urge drivers to check if their car is equipped with a small hammer and a portable dry powder fire extinguisher. Regular cars should at least have one medium-sized fire extinguisher, preferably a 3 to 5-liter ABC dry powder fire extinguisher or water-based foam fire extinguisher. This fire extinguisher needs to be inspected annually at local fire equipment stores.

What to do once a spontaneous combustion accident happens?

A technician from a large auto repair shop in our city said that spontaneous combustion usually has warning signs, such as the dashboard not lighting up, excessively high water temperature, strange smells while driving, smoke, etc. From emitting smoke to catching fire takes a relatively long time, and cars typically explode after open flames start. Therefore, car owners must not panic; using a fire extinguisher, water, or covering with clothing can possibly eliminate spontaneous combustion.

Experienced rescue personnel from the Fire Brigade reminded that different fire sources and burning parts of the car require different firefighting methods.

If the hood or dashboard catches fire, it is often caused by electrical faults or fuel system oil leakage. In such cases, drive the car away from the lane as soon as possible, turn off the ignition switch, get out of the car quickly, and use the onboard fire extinguisher to put out the fire. If there is no fire extinguisher, sand can be used to extinguish the fire under the hood, or thick cloth or work clothes can be used to smother the fire.

At this moment, pay attention to a detail: wear gloves when opening the hood and turn your face aside to avoid facial burns. Additionally, do not rashly open the hood during the initial stages of fire, as the fire initially burns under the hood without forming thermal convection, with fewer flammable materials, and slower fire spread. Use the onboard fire extinguisher to spray at the source of the fire through the gaps in the hood to control the fire as much as possible.

If it is determined that the fire is caused by the fuel system, cut off the fuel supply and notify the fire department simultaneously.

If smoke appears at the rear of the car, immediately drive to a remote area and evacuate the car quickly, as fires at the rear of the car can easily cause gas tank explosions.

Vehicle spontaneous combustion will cause serious losses to car owners. Therefore, purchasing spontaneous combustion insurance is an effective way to cope with spontaneous combustion risks. "Spontaneous Combustion Insurance," fully named as Additional Spontaneous Combustion Loss Insurance, stipulates that if a motor vehicle catches fire due to electrical, line, or fuel system failures during use, it falls under the scope of "spontaneous combustion" insurance. If the car owner has purchased "spontaneous combustion insurance," the insurance company should compensate accordingly.