Even though there have been technological advancements in the automotive industry, modern vehicles are not fire-proof. It does not matter their design or construction. It is advisable to look at various parts of your vehicle and check those that can catch fire easily. Therefore, you should have element fire extinguisher in your car at all times. The following are some of the major causes of fires in vehicles.
Fuel Leakages
You should note that leaking fuel can easily cause a fire. Traditional cars have carburetors and can catch fire if the gaskets are worn out. Ideally, modern cars have advanced fuel injectors with O-rings. However, these deteriorate as the vehicle is used, resulting in fires. There are different ways you can use to put off those fires.
Electric Shorts
Another reason for vehicular fires is electrical shorting. In this case, a short circuit overheats the wires. Ideally, the extreme heat results in combustion. The old cars have wirings that can be chafed and exposed. As a result, electricity gets back to the battery resulting in overheating. Also, batteries can be quite problematic, and charging times cause a buildup of hydrogen gas. Ideally, even electric current results in sparks that can ignite fuel.
Engine Overheating
In rare cases, some vehicular fires are caused by an overheating engine. Although the fire does not start at the engine, the resulting pressure buildup can damage seals and joints near the engine. Therefore, when coolant or oil lands on hot parts such as the exhaust.
Issues in Exhaust System
Inner surfaces of the exhaust system can become quite hot. When leaks occur in the system, the heat shields can become discarded or damaged. As a result, the fire starts. The catalytic converters can become quite hot, and if the car is parked near dry grass, it can start the fire.
Spilling Fluids
It is vital to note that there are different fluids used by the car. These include engine oil, coolant, braking fluids, fuel, and more. Unfortunately, all those fluids can easily catch fire. Therefore, there is a need to inspect all tubes where the fluids are running. If these fluids get too hot parts, then a fire is likely to start.
Car Crashes
Some vehicular collisions result in fires. However, this is quite rare because modern vehicles have protective systems for sensitive parts. The extent of the crash matters in this case. For instance, if the crash results in the spilling of flammable fluids, then it can cause a fire.