The easy way to safe guard yourself against engine fires
Why does it seem more cars are catching fire?
Around two cars out of every thousand registered in the UK catch fire each year.
Fuel leaks:
Fuel leaks from ruptured fuel lines also can rapidly ignite, especially in petrol-fuelled cars where sparks are possible in the engine compartment. Since 2011, suppliers have been blending a gradually increasing ethanol content into UK fuel – reaching the level around 5% known as E5 early in 2013. Official approval already exists to continue raising the proportion to 10% – the E10 level, and quite simply, none of this is good news for classic vehicle owners, for old car fuel systems and Ethanol were never intended to meet.
What is Ethanol?:
Ethanol is not a pleasant substance, being acidic, somewhat corrosive, a solvent, and also hygroscopic – it absorbs water from the atmosphere. Over time, water and ethanol form a mix denser than petrol, and in a process known technically as “phase separation” this pretty aggressive cocktail sinks to the bottom of the tank. With E10, the process starts with a mere 0.5% water content in the fuel. Because on cars built before 2000 the components such as fuel pumps, fuel hoses, carburettors etc were not designed to allow for the acidic nature of ethanol, they now break down the rubber components, causing leaks and failures and potentially fires.
Damaged car electrics:
As electrical components become old and often cabling has been added to, these too can cause an electrical fire, which will spread rapidly if fuel components then melt and fuel is added to the fire.
Incorrectly fitted fuel hose and filters:
Today you should only be using fuel hose that is rated to cover R6, R7, R8, R11, this will be clearly printed on the hoses. Often when changing hoses owners or garages do not correctly refit the hose clips. An over-tightened hose clip can cut into the hose. And a loose or missing clip can cause the hose to leak or worse fall off. Do NOT fit fuel filters over distributors, you are introducing two extra points where a hose could leak, straight over a component that makes sparks.
What to do if you are unlucky enough to have an engine bay fire:
- Switch off engine
- Release bonnet – Do Not Open
- Get everyone out of the vehicle
- Get far away from the vehicle and stay away, keeping onlookers and others away
- Dial 999 and call the fire and rescue service
- Warn oncoming traffic, if safe to do so.
Where to buy?
We tested lots of different fire safety systems, with real-life fires and the Engine Fire Fighter came out TOP for our tests.
We have imported them directly and set up “Engine Fire Fighter” so fellow “Petrol Heads” could keep their cars safer too. Find out where you can get them from the link below.
Other uses for the Engine Fire Fighter?
The Engine Fire Fighter has many applications, these include:
- Boats, both inland waterway boats and sea going vessels.
- Over cookers / deep fat fryers in commercial kitchens
- Used in IT server rooms, as the FM200 does not damage hardware
- In Boat Kitchen areas
- In stand by generators
- Above Biomass boliers