Is it possible for a cigarrette lighter to break or explode in a hot car?

Answer 1

Possible, but probably kind of unlikely. I've never heard of it happening personally. My boyfriend and other smoking friends leave lighters in their cars by accident all the time and nothing happens. I think it says on the package to store them at less than 150ºF, and most cars don't get to be much more than that no matter what the weather is like (unless you live in Nevada or someplace extremely hot and sunny). I guess it might depend if it was a cheap plastic one, or an over-filled zippo, or something like that. If anything it might just split and the lighter fluid would leak onto the seat/rug. It would need some kind of spark in order to actually ignite. Although if it does leak, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to smoke in the car until long after it's cleaned up and aired out.

I see other people saying that it's happened to them and all, so it would probably need to be under very precise conditions in order for it to actually happen. If it fell under the seat and it's only 80ºF out, probably not. If it's right smack in the sun on the dashboard and it's 110ºF of pure blazing August sun in Miami, maybe.

Just remember to take it with you just to be on the safe side. Just stick it inside the cigarette pack so you don't forget it or drop it :-)

Answer 2

Yes its possible but would likely be a full lighter, reason being is the flammable liquid needs to expand due to heat and rupture the container, now the next step is the ignition it then has to have an ignition soure to light up but remember the liquid itself is not flammable it the ratio of air to liquid vapor that causes flammablity. Again it is a possibility but unlikely unless there was a reaction that cause something to spark.

Answer 3

yes it is,,i know of a few cases that it has actually happened,,one guy i know lost his car because of a cricket lighter,,the temperature got hot enough i guess to cause a rupture in the housing of the lighter ,,any way,,he lost a good car over it,,but yes it can happen,,temperature,s in a car can reach over 180 degrees if setting directly in the sun for a long periods of time,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

Sure it is, the heat can make the lighter fluid gas expand and break or explode from the incredible amount of heat.

Answer 5

OH Yeah. Had to pay 200 bucks for a new windshield once. But it was laying in the window ( yeah I was not real bright back then) and it was very hot outside.

Answer 6

Indeed they can.
Especially if left in direct sunlight-say on the dashboard.
I left a lighter on the porch one afternoon-snap!
My Bic was defintley flicked!

Answer 7

I don't see why not.

I don't think it would be a fireball type explosion, but it would certainly burst.

I mean hell... I've seen windows shatter from a car being too hot and the preasure being too much on the inside.

Answer 8

because when you use the cigarette lighter it gets hot and expands the coiled metal in the center and it forces it out of the lighter socket and most of them have a little spring in them to help assit in popping out but its all basic heat principal of things expanding with heat

Answer 9

Yes, I've seen them explode at concerts when they've been lit for too long.

Answer 10

i heard about a welder who was welding and a spark landed on his pants burned thru his pocket and exploded his cigarette lighter and blew his leg apart..i dont know if this is true..but its just what ive heard.