Fire Extinguisher

I use a regular dry chemical extinguisher in a padded bag behind my seat. Walmart for approx 12 bucks.

I'd prefer to use a CO2 extinguisher as it doesn't leave any residue that can be a pain to clean up.. better yet a built in suppression system like they have in boats.

In the end anything in the car is better than nothing.

 

Fire chief told me 2 1/2 lb fire extinguisher will barely extinguish a car fire. He said the 1 lb ones are about useless.



Ago

 

This kind!
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I like the cover, I have a dry chemical wal-mart type in the front bonnet.

 

Halon is what you want and what I have in my cars, strictly for insurance purposes.

To be honest, If I had an engine fire I'd probably just let the car burn to the ground.

 

Halotron (the modern version of Halon). Min 2.5 lb (5 lb better). I actually have used this for a fire, and worked like a champ. Available at Griot's, but I paid about half that at a local fire extinguisher place.

 

+1. I have a couple of Halon extinguishers, but if I were buying now, I'd definitely go with the Halotron, in the largest size I could reasonably fit in the car. Mine are 2.5 lbs., but a 5 would be better, if there's room to mount it.

 

I just purchased two for my 355. One for the for the interior and an automatic unit for the engine bay. Got the automatic one for the engine bay, in case I am knocked out or injured enough that I can't get out of the vehicle fast after an accident. Figure better safe then fried.

 

Where did you buy yours from? do you have a link?

 

Are you guys NUTS?

Dry chemical won't hardly do a thing to a gas or oil fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are correct: this subject has been discussed before about a dozen times on here (search?), you need an extinguisher specifically loaded with a chemical for gas and oil fires, or Co2 or a Halon, but the best is 'Purple K'. Google it.

I don't know too many folks that travel down the highway and have their padded seats burst into flames, hence load up for a gas/oil fire. And even at that, you have to have enough of an extinguisher AND [AND] be able to open the bonnet (hood) to be able to get to the fire to put it out.

 

I have not got the automatic unit yet. I purchased one from the UK a few months ago and they have gone out of business (sheesh my luck) so on my second try. I will post install and where to get after I am successful.

 

I have a 5 pound halon extinguisher in the trunk of my 308, (4 webers) and a 2 pound halon unit strapped to the floor behind the drivers seat.

Fires are quick and easy to put out if you get to them RIGHT AWAY. If the fire goes for a few minutes, everything is so hot that the fire will relight as soon as the halon or powder go away, so you need the extinguisher to be quick and easy to get to.

The baking soda in the dry chemical extinguishers will damage aluminum and some wiring, so you need to get things cleaned off right away if you use dry chemical.

Halon and maybe halotron can be purchased from fire extinguisher service businesses, or probably welding companies that service extinguishers. If you go through the high end catalogues, you will likely pay a substantial premium.

Rember all extinguishers need to be periodically checked and recharged. I haven't enough experience to authoratatively tell you which ones are ok for how long. get some good advice.

hopefully someone with a lot of experience will chime in on how effective/messy/costly the various types are.

Yes, you can step back and let it burn, then fight it out with the insurance company, BUT you are unlikely to replace your customized hand polished old timer.

Best advice: stay on top of the fuel hoses, get the best, (Scuderia Rampante is head and shoulders above the auto parts store stuff and even better than the factory hoses).

end of rant,
Good luck,
chris

 

we carry a 5lb halotron in whatever is being driven at the moment. The hard part is remembering it!

halotron is safer than regular halon.

 

Thanks, I feel torn as to if I should use the extinguisher or just collect the agreed value in case of fire, even though I know I'd feel bad just watching it so I probably should get something better than what I have.

 

My concern is not for the car but my ability to survive in the event of a fire.

 

What about those Sablife extinguishers? How do you guys bolt them onto the floor board on the passenger side? Drill through?

 

Very true! Good point. The one I have in the front bonnet probably wouldn't do me much good unless it was for something getting hot and not a big fire, I really need one mounted in the passenger compartment or like you are looking for an automatic fire suppression system.

 

In europe you don't get Halon extinguishers anymore due to regulations, so the best choice here is a AFFF foam based extinguisher which can be sourced from race shops. Lifeline is one of the bigger manufacturers of AFFF based extinguishers and fire suppression systems.
A dry chemical extinguisher is not very effective as posted before and it will do bad things to the aluminium parts in your engine compartment.