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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
  
Location: Southern California | I know this is a strange topic but I was wondering what I could do in the god awful event my car catches fire for whatever reason by either electrical or gas leak failure. Is there anything I could do to save the car? I carry a large fire extinguisher in the car at all times. Also what are some good preventative meausures I can do to prevent engine fire. I know that some of the obvious things to do is make sure electrical wires are in good shape and making sure fuel lines are not leaking. Anyhow random nightmare I had but any insight would help. Thanks  |
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Expert
Posts: 2612
 
Location: Parts Unknown | Fire extinguisher is a good call - make sure you don't have any oil on the block anywhere from leaks - PRAY it never catches on fire !!! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6203
Location: Big pimpin' | Turn it in to your insurance? No, seriously Mike, I'd run one of those quick disconnects on the pos. side of the battery so you can unhook the car at night and when in storage... |
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Wise Old Village Idiot
Posts: 3591
Location: Dellslow, West ("By God") Virginia ! | Make sure ALL of yer rubber fuel line components, are up-graded to withstand this 10% or E-85 feces!
This newer gas, will 'eat' older, neoprene and similiar rubber. |
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Wise Old Village Idiot
Posts: 3591
Location: Dellslow, West ("By God") Virginia ! | ,,,,,,,,NUTS! Forgot!
"Cooter's" right on the battery disconnect thing!
I only went to the work of installing a switch on one car. (hard to get GM side post) Otherwise, I just untwist one of the battery cables. I even un-do the lawn mower.
Most vehicle 'fars' happen when a electrial component shorts out. (You can stop flip that swithch or twist off a battery cable) Or a transmission line or fuel line ruptures and sprays on the hot motor/exhaust Those little 1 pounders or less, you get at the parts store, are not really big enough.
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Expert
Posts: 3951
Location: Bama | I also agree on disconnecting the battery when parked. Old car. If you smell gas, it's too much some where. |
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | Some car fires have been started by a lean mixture, usually in the morning on 1st start up. Make sure your choke is working correctly, don't jab the gas pedal till she warms up and make sure if you do not have a stock aircleaner--or in your case air cleaners--that they are the type that will lessen a chance of fire due to a backfire from the carb, (the cheapie unsilenced air cleaners,like the ones on my car do not do a good job of "Containing a carb backfire). Always make sure there is no gas anywhere around the carb. If the engine should backfire start it straightway as this will help keep the flame sucked inside the carb and aircleaner.
Gary
PS Show in Orange Thursday!!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | Course by now , you are wondering "How do I know if the choke is set correctly"---so here goes!
First a little lesson on how the choke and it's associated parts works(IE fast idle).
When the engine is cold, the choke will try to close-but it can't (all the way) why?, -because of the fast idle cam linkage on the carb. It is a little cam shaped thing, that has it's own adjustable screw that comes to rest on it--so you can adjust the "cold fast idle". The adjustable screw can not climb over that little cam, unless You depress the accelerator pedal---(OK ya got that) so first thing ya do, before even turn on the key is step down, at least half way on the accelerator pedal--this allows the choke to fully close and the preset fast idle to be activated.
Now take your foot OFF the gas pedal. If everything is set correctly the engine will start immediately and idle a bit faster than normal. If the car has been sitting for a few day, you may need to pump it a time or 2(dont crank while you are doing this) pump a couple times, take foot off the accelerator pedal and crank it--should start straightaway. If it's been sitting a long time--week or so, just crank the engine, foot off the gas, for 15 seconds or so, stop cranking, take foot off pedal, crank her and she should start.
So anyway, after all "this" if choke is set correctly as well as fast idle, engine will start and run with you foot off the gas and will not try to quit on you. If it starts chugging and blowing black smoke choke is set to rich, choke "Pulloff" is not working, or of you have an electric choke the heater in it is not working--could be a bad heater or a bad connection.
Most backfires occur when you are cranking the engine with the accelerator depressed----now granted if the engine is flooded you have to do that--and obviously,of course, we dont have a lean mixture. Safest way is to start the engine with your foot off the pedal--cept for flooded engine, as mentioned above.
Gary
Edited by 1959Dodge 2009-09-15 8:54 PM
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Expert
Posts: 4533
Location: Ripon, WI | Make sure fluids prone to combustion are in good quality hoses. This includes power steering, transmission, oil and fuel. Make sure hoses are routed away from things that could chafe them or abrade them, causing leaks. Make sure exhaust systems are in good shape and a proper distance away from anything flammable. Make sure electrical wires are in good shape. Protect them where necessary, and if you move them for whatever reason, check them to ensure there are no cracks in the insulation. Master shut off is a great idea. I recommend one that is remote operable... i.e. you don't have to open the hood to do it. You need at least a 20 pound fire extinguisher to put any fire out. CO2 work better, as they create less mess, but they are less forgiving, i.e., you have to be more accurate on your aim. Opening the hood is not always a good idea, as if you can feed CO2 through the grill or under the car, you can smother a fire out often times, while with the hood open, there is more airflow which can increase the speed of combustion. If you have an older car, rewire it so fuses are in each circuit, and only go as big as you need to run what is on the circuit. Also, make sure the wires are the appropriate size for the current moving through it. |
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | Good advice too safety mike, also make sure they are not routed close to exaust manifold. I had a power steering hose melt-----seller had routed it right next to the exaust manifold---yet in 4 years never had a problem, till I was "Running down" Aivar's 58 Regal---He had the pedal to the medal----after maybe 10 miles whole inside of car was filled with smoke and smoke pouring out from under the car---I was really lucky it didnt catch fire, as unlike Mikey (LOL) I still dont have a fire extinguisher. Anyway watch the routing and the quality of those hoses as Safety Mike Mentions- and Yea I'm gonna get a fire extinguisher.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 636
| Consider installing a fuel shut off valve near the tank, where you can reach it easily. (also does double duty as a theft prevention device).
And to help prevent a fire: If you have an electric fuel pump make sure it is set to deliver the proper line pressure. Never park over dry grass, leaves etc.
And I gotta get me a new PS hose.
Sparky |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Thanks for the advice guys, I'm definetly going through my engine department now that I have my own garage, guess I'll just start from the obvious and work my way through it  |
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Expert
Posts: 4533
Location: Ripon, WI | sparky7 - 2009-09-16 10:36 AM
Consider installing a fuel shut off valve near the tank, where you can reach it easily. (also does double duty as a theft prevention device).
And to help prevent a fire: If you have an electric fuel pump make sure it is set to deliver the proper line pressure. Never park over dry grass, leaves etc.
And I gotta get me a new PS hose.
Sparky
Real smart to do is also to put in a tilt switch... shuts off the fuel pump if you roll the car or tip it. |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | And, hope to Hell-O that you've got Comprehensive insurance coverage on your car.
Funny, now that the economy's gone to Hades, a lot of (insured) cars are catching on fire, or getting stolen (and then getting torched).
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what to do if your FL catches on fire
