Fire Extinguisher Anyone?

[Jordan]

I know many of you no doubt carry a small fire extinguisher in your car, just in case.  I am curious as to what type of extinguisher others are carrying.  I ask because I have read many a discussion that the standard dry chemical extinguishers can make an absolute mess of your car and are almost impossible to clean, not to mention what it can do to your engine if the dry chemical gets inside your engine block.

Halon gas extinguishers are no longer available, at least not here in Canada, and Halotron are going the same way if they haven't already so both of those options are off the table.  Is anyone carrying CO2 extinguishers?  Amerex has started producing 2.5 lb CO2 extinguishers, which are an ideal size to carry in a car.  Is there any danger in using CO2, maybe super chilling a hot engine will do as much damage as a dry chemical, I don't know.

I understand many will say that so what if dry chemical makes a mess, at least it put out the fire.  That may be so but if you can't clean it up and it ruins your engine, you still end up with a mess.

Anyway, I have started doing some research as my extinguishers are dry chemical at the moment but I am looking for an alternative, something that will put out the fire and not ruin everything in the process. 

[Cees Klumper]

Interesting question. I once had an electrical fire and no extinguisher, and it got pretty bad until an onlooker walked up with his water bottle, which did not have much content left, threw it over the fire, putting it out instantly. So your question has me thinking maybe it's just better to carry a gallon of water in a plastic bottle and forget about the fancy stuff? After all if it's good enough for the fire department, why not. Probably it won't help you if you have a real blaze, but then again it sounds like with the CO2 or what have you you're just creating a different big problem?

[Bonnyboy]

I have a dry extinguisher and wouldn't go anywhere without it.  If there is a fuel fire it will put it out.  If it makes a mess I will clean it.  A pressure washer cleans it up pretty well followed by a brush, steel wool and then que-tips.  I even have a bag of baking soda in the tool kit of my harley and my triumph just in case.  Water generally just spreads the petroleum flame around even more. 

When I was 17 I bought a truck from an auction and it had this powdery stuff all over the engine.  I was young and didn't know what it was.  After my first week of ownership I realized what the powder was - I didnt have an extinguisher and watched the engine burn up.  That was my first engine transplant and the last time I ever went without a fire extinguisher.  Have never needed the extinguisher for my own vehicle but it did come in handy with a lotus elan that was flaming from a leaking carb.  I should have let it burn - the ungrateful owner never even bought me a new extinguisher.

   

[hauser]

This is what I carry in my 280sl.

https://www.safecraft.com/products.php?category=23&master_cat=motorsports

[Jonny B]

Hauser, how/where did you mount it?
I carry a dry chem.

Another issue with the dry chem, is that they will tend to settle from the vibration etc of driving the car. You need to shake them back and forth every so often (part of spring ritual) and you can tell by the feel if the chem inside is flowing.

[Jordan]

Just found this youtube video on CO2 extinguishers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlIJlvMxG0Y.  Personally I'd want a larger extinguisher but the idea of having a seat belt cutter and something to break windows would be handy.  I also saw a video about using CO2 extinguishers on one of Leno's garage series.  You can also recharge a CO2 extinguisher.

[Richard S]

I had a gasoline fire in my 280SE 3.5 a few years back.  The dry extinguisher put it out zip-quick.  There was a bit of mess from the hood pad melting onto the engine but the dry power came off with little problem.

[hauser]

Johnny, I mounted it behind the drivers seat and attached it to the parcel shelf.  I got the mounting idea from Mike Salemi.

[Garry]

And if you have a CO2 extinguisher in the car they are great for cooling the beer in an emergency as well

[Paul & Dolly]

When I was in the Merchant Navy many moons ago, we used to use CO2
if we ran out of cold beer and wine on party nights.

I remember one junior engineer being told off  -  for getting it wrong, one night - as he was left just holding the shattered top of a wine bottle, having been too enthusiastic with the CO2 valve !

Keep well

Paul

[joes]

Hi Jordan,

I guess fire extinguishers are one of those things that you need but hopefully will never use.  I don't have one in my 280SL but have one in my other toy.  I bought it in Vaughan just north of TO and it was a Badger fire extinguisher.   Halotron 1 and 2.5 lbs  The company I purchased it from was Crownfire and they were great to deal with.  Not cheap.  That was 2 years ago so maybe they have phased them out but do give them a try.

Stay warm,
Joe

[zoegrlh]

I show my car in AACA meets and they require a fire extinguisher to be present with your car on the show grounds and also visible to the judges (most of the thie placed under the left front tire).  I have a Euro spec 280SL and wanted to keep the european look to the car, so I opted to forgo the USA made extinguishers for a German one (thanks to Joe Alexander).  I have a Minimax 2kg-Halon, type HN 2 M.  This extinguisher was used in German MBs of that era and was attached to the driver's seat under legs. Attachment was included.
Bob

[71Beige280SL]

Can anyone send pictures of where you are mounting them. I was at a car show back in the fall and there was a beautiful 356 Porsche with a small chrome fire extinguisher mounted on the passenger side, upper right. Looked great.

[mmizesko]

I just purchased a vintage Gloria fire extinguisher for my 280SL.  Looks like the one below.  Not sure how to mount.  Old and probably not operational, but i think it is correct.  Any feedback?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Some time ago I asked my neighbour wise down the street to ask her husband a question (he is a fire chef in one of our neighbouring towns). "What he considers the best fire extinguisher to care in a older classic car." She must have forgotten to ask him, or he must have been to busy. Anyway a few weeks ago he called me over to his house "Dieter you have a minute?"  As I went over to his house he presented me with this gift and said "This is the type you should cary the smaller ones simply have not enough capacity to put out a fire" I will install this baby in my trunk before venturing on the trip to PUB 2015.

He presented this to me as a gift since I cleaned his drive way during the winter several times when we had heavy snow and he was on duty in the neighbouring town, nice to live in a nice neighbourhood  

Now I don't mean to say what you may have in your car is no good, I am just passing on what the Fire Chief told me Let us all hope we never ever have to go and use it on our car.

Speaking of fire, I read over the weekend that there is a fire recall on the E350 mine is a coupe, I have to check with my dealer if mine is to be recalled as well http://wemakeitsafer.com/vehicle-recall/Mercedes-Benz-E350-Recall-6879269

[pj]

It's a nice suggestion, Dieter, but that looks like rather too large an object to burden us. Can't blame a fire chief for suggesting it, though. "When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Peter, it only is 9 pounds and I can well afford to carry it (remember safety is number 1), besides in 2013 before my trip to Williamsburg, VA I removed 23 pounds of dead weight from my car (the A/C was removed some time ago when imported to Canada) I removed the compressor / blower that was only dead weight to me.

[Peter van Es]

For rally drivers an extinguisher is mandatory. And it must be accessible quickly. I'd recommend not putting it in the trunk. I have mine mounted just forward of the passenger seat, so that I can get at it without getting out of the car.

Peter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Good point Peter, show us a picture please (in your Pagoda or your Rally car?)

[ejboyd5]

35 years in the fire department and I'll make the same comment I do every time this topic arises:  Although there may be some greater difficulty in the clean-up after use of a dry chemical extinguisher there will at least be something left to clean up.  That is not something you can always say about the use of gaseous extinguishing agents, particularly in the hands of those who may lack experience and practice in the area.  I only carry dry chemical extinguishers in automobiles and boats.

[jameshoward]

I carry quite a large military powder extinguisher (I assume it's a dry powder type). I'd say it's maybe 4-5 kg but will check. I have it 'mounted' to the cross member to which the front of the passenger seat is attached. I put it there because it's easy to reach when you need it and anyway its in dead space ie, most people put their feet forward in the footwell rather than attempt some yoga-esque leg folding position. The rear shelf doesn't seem as good an option because it isn't dead space. I dump stuff there. I don't think the boot is a brilliant place to keep the extinguisher given that you may need it having been rear ended. Also, trying to unlock the boot and rifle through it to get to the thing will burn time (see what I did there ).

My extinguisher has a mounting bracket with a quick release clip. It's lose at the moment and I'm going to look at using rivnuts to mount it permanently.

[JamesL]

I've one of these (in a chromed/polished finish) slung in the same position as Peter has his