can cars spontaneously combust?

Question

Hi I had a old F reg Polo and the other night it caught fire in the engine bay, I thought cars couldnt catch fire if the engine was not running, could of it been engine trouble or arson?

Answer 1

There is electrical current in the battery, and in some of the wiring, even when the engine is off. You do not say how long the car had been parked prior to the fire. If it had been running, and a fuel line leaked onto a hot surface, the car could catch fire. An electrical short can catch fire even if the car has been sitting for a long time.

Once there is fire burning, there is a lot of thinks in the engine bay that will add to the fire. Rubber in wires and hoses, oil residue, and plastic components all will burn rather quickly. The fire will grow, and spread!.

Arson fires usually start in the passenger compartment. It is easier to get the seats and carpet to burn, then to start a fire in the engine compartment!

Answer 2

Sometimes they can. If there is loose oil on the engine block or a fuel leak the excess heat after driving can cause a engine fire. It does not happen often because there are a lot of redundant features built in to keep everything cool, but if you suspect something contact yourr local authorities to investigate.

Good luck!

Answer 3

My friend had a VW which she bought from a local garage. A week after she bought it, it caught fire underneath. On closer inspection, it was the newspaper the dodgy seller had stuffed under the exhaust to stop it rattling. Beware cowboy car dealers.

Answer 4

It's not unheard of. One reason this can happen is a shorted alternator diode. This would allow the battery to heat up the stator, just like a toaster oven.

Answer 5

Yes they can i thappened to me with a Rover which had an oil leak and i had just come home after a 150 mile trip and it blew. LOL bad luck really i suppose.