Car fires

Ultrasonic

OddballJamie wrote: »

Maybe the correlation is to do with people driving further to go away for the week/weekend in this weather too. I'm tempted to drive to the coast this weekend.

Fair point. I've got a longish trip planned tomorrow that has nothing to do with the weather being good, but I'm not looking forward to how busy the roads are likely to be...

OddballJamie

Difference is in Spain they get to have a nap in the middle of the day.
Sounds good at the moment, wonder if the boss will mind.

interstellaflyer

Ultrasonic wrote: »

Do you have a source for that?

If true the weather would certainly seem the likely cause.

I was an observation made by one of the Radio 2 traffic reporters, might have been Sally Traffic, she was reporting a car fire and mentioned that there had been a lot this week.

anotherbaldrick

OddballJamie wrote: »

Difference is in Spain they get to have a nap in the middle of the day.
Sounds good at the moment, wonder if the boss will mind.

Yes , in Spain they have a mid day siesta but afterwards work to 8 pm

Weird_Nev

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm convinced it's just the media trying to get us all into panic over a bit over warm weather.

Like this gem from yesterday http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23355833

Currently at "level 3"

Then this image:


OMG IT'S ALMOST A NATIONAL EMERGENCY!!!!!

I mean seriously, it's no hotter than Spain and the Greek islands are during the Winter/Autumn/Spring.

Reminds me of the Australian Bush fire alert scale:

That's what happens when you start your risk level with "high". :rotfl:

Higher ambient temperatures WILL help cars overheat, and WILL make it easier for things to reach combustion temperature. I can't imagine there's a massive increase though - I'm thinking it's probably reporting bias. It's hot, ergo fires get bumped up the level of importance.

anotherbaldrick

Originally Posted by Strider590
I'm convinced it's just the media trying to get us all into panic over a bit over warm weather.

The big problem is as the air temperature rises, the temp differential between air and engine decreases reducing the cooling efficiency. This is worse in older cars with gunged up rads, blocks and rotten hoses.
On the A3 up to the Hogs Back this morning several cars had brewed up on the incline bringing all other traffic to a crawl on the hill with drivers having to slip clutches to maintain drive.
Still stuffed on the way back 3 hours later.

ianders

Strider590 wrote: »

I'm convinced it's just the media trying to get us all into panic over a bit over warm weather.

Like this gem from yesterday http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23355833

Currently at "level 3"

Then this image:


OMG IT'S ALMOST A NATIONAL EMERGENCY!!!!!

I mean seriously, it's no hotter than Spain and the Greek islands are during the Winter/Autumn/Spring.

I saw this and thought it was quite good:

UK heatwave level warnings; simplified:

Level 1) It's raining.
Level 2) You'll be a bit sweaty. Get your deckchairs out and make the most of the sun. It won't be here long
Level 3) It's too hot to sleep. Remember to update your Facebook status telling all of your friends that you can't sleep because it's too muggy.
Level 4) After just 2 minutes in the sun, you'll resemble a pork scratching. Some people will get so sunburnt, they'll bend over to tie their shoelace, and will end up snapping clean in half.

forgotmyname

Extra couple of degrees maybe enough for rubber turbo pipes to decide this heat and pressure is too much.

All you need then is a bit of oil vapour to collect and drip onto the exhaust /CAT / DPF etc.

Strider590

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

[/I]

The big problem is as the air temperature rises, the temp differential between air and engine decreases reducing the cooling efficiency. This is worse in older cars with gunged up rads, blocks and rotten hoses.
On the A3 up to the Hogs Back this morning several cars had brewed up on the incline bringing all other traffic to a crawl on the hill with drivers having to slip clutches to maintain drive.
Still stuffed on the way back 3 hours later.

My parents spend every Autumn in the south of Spain, it's regularly 38 degree's in the shade. No problems with the car and have never heard of one going up in flames other there.

TradePro

interstellaflyer wrote: »

360 dci

Aah, yeah, that particular spec is totally fire-proof