Are you looking for the best car fire extinguisher? We reviewed the top models by comparing quality, cost, and more! Here you’ll find everything you should know about fire extinguishers for cars, vans, and trucks that we feel are top choices to make sure all the boxes are ticked.
Although no one really wants to ride on a car that’s known to be a fire risk, it’s important to ensure you invest in the best car extinguisher to boost your chances of putting out any fire – small or big – and restrict the damage to your car. Fire extinguishers for cars also help motorists to save themselves, their passengers, and their families. Identifying the best car fire extinguisher can be challenging though. It’s for this reason we’ve delved into everything about the best extinguishers for cars that our motoring fans and the editorial team also have in their cars. This will be of great help to you!
We all know how important car safety is, but there are many drivers who fail to really understand that accidents on our roads do not always involve other vehicles or drivers. Technically, electrical problems or mechanical failure with cars can result in dangerous fires. These can ultimately be very deadly.
Although nobody really wants to think about something bad happening, will you be ready if the car catches fire?
If your answer to this question is a Big No, then you should look out for the top car fire extinguisher. This allows you to control the flames and put out the car fire. It can save your life and the lives of the passengers.
Some countries require every driver to have a fire extinguisher before they can be fully registered even though this isn’t the case in Australia. But for your safety, we strongly recommend that you get one for your car.
Not sure what you should look for? We have created this detailed guide so you can know more about the best fire extinguisher and how you can choose the best.
Who Needs A Fire Extinguisher In Their Vehicle?
Everyone needs a fire extinguisher for their car.
This is because a car fire can easily start at any time and can quickly spread. It’s always important to be safe instead of sorry.
When you have a car fire extinguisher, you may be in a position to put out that fire, or at least use it until help arrives.
While you may have the insurance to pay for the damage to the car. A car fire extinguisher can save lives, something that insurance cannot do. It’s worth your investment.
A car fire extinguisher will not only help you and your passengers stay safe, but you might also be in a position to help other car drivers also. Therefore, if you are passing an accident or even come across a car that is on fire, you can stop and offer some help.
Is It Safe To Have A Fire Extinguisher In Your Car?
Many people think it’s very dangerous to have a car fire extinguisher in the car. Some argue that a fire extinguisher can easily explode at high temperatures. But this is not true.
Car fire extinguishers have been designed especially for storage and are also exposed to extreme heat. Whether you rise in a cold or hot area, you can safely carry a fire extinguisher in your car.
If you aren’t convinced yet, you can take great comfort knowing that standard tests for car fire extinguishers is done at up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. As you can see, there is no doubt that a car fire extinguisher can withstand even the highest temperatures.
Although it’s highly unlikely that a car fire extinguisher could explode, there is little chance that it could also develop a leak. It’s for this reason you should secure it in a fire extinguisher mount to prevent the item from moving around while driving. This reduces the possibility of the fire extinguisher spraying its content around your car.
Best Size For A Car Fire Extinguisher
You’ll be glad to know that you can choose from various sizes. As of today, the best size you can choose is a 1-kilo model, which is perfect for anyone who owns a small to medium-sized vehicle.
However, if you own an SUV, truck, or car, we strongly recommend going with the bigger sizes. Technically, the unit, which costs 4.4 pounds that better suited for the larger car.
However, if you encounter another fire when on the road, a bigger one might be better.
Some drivers even choose to drive with another fire extinguisher in their trunks. This is a great ideal for more peace of mind to ensure you’re well prepared for all eventualities.
Look At Construction
It’s always important to pay close attention to what your chosen extinguisher is made of. This helps make the right decision on the best fire extinguisher for a car that suits you best. You will find many of them are a choice between aluminum and steel.
Each of these materials has its advantages. For instance, steel is a strong metal that you can opt for. Its means it’s tough and durable. Also, it’s corrosion-resistant. As a result, the steel car fire extinguisher will last for several years.
However, one drawback is that steel can be very heavy, so, if you aren’t very strong, it might be hard for you to hold or even operate it in the right way.
The main advantage of aluminum is that although it’s still very durable, it’s even lighter than steel. It means that aluminum will be easier for you to handle and operate than a car fire extinguisher made of steel.
Keep in mind that aluminum is anti-corrosive, so it could also last for years.
You might find some of the top models with a chrome finish. This is aesthetic and more preferred by owners of show cars or performance vehicles.
Fire Classes
Perhaps you’ve done some little research on different types of car fire extinguishers, or taken a fire course through the company you work for on how to use different types of fire extinguishers. If that’s the case, then you understand there are different fire classifications.
Today, there are 4 classes of fire: A, B, C, and D. All these have different fuel sources.
This is very important because some fire extinguishers might not be able to deal with all four classes. It always important to understand different fire classes, the best way is to protect yourself in different situations.
- Class A Fires – Flammable and combustible materials, like plastics, trash, paper, and wood, usually start these. If the car has any of such materials on the inside, this runs the risk of Class A fire.
- Class B Fires – These are usually started by gas or flammable liquid. This includes sources like oils and gasoline with petroleum or even butane or propane. The Class B fire is pretty common in trucks or cars.
- Class C Fires – These fires are usually caused by faulty wiring. Moreover, this can occur at any place in the car mainly because there are different types of electrical components. A small electrical fault in your car can result in a Class C fire.
- Class D Fires – These are the flames, which are often started by combustible metals like potassium or magnesium. The class D fire is not something you should worry about in a vehicle.
Therefore, what type of fire extinguisher car do you need for your car?
We recommend you choose types A, B, and C because such fire extinguishers can work on all fires that are most likely to take place in a truck or car.
Extinguishers For Different Types Of Fires
As you may have guessed, there are different classes of fire and the same applies to fire extinguishers, there are different classifications for you to choose from, this could put out certain classes of fires.
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some fires you may expect in your vehicle and the different types of car extinguishers that you’ll need to handle them.
Some car fires might start as a result of a collision or accident. This is true particularly if the gas tank is hit. However, problems with electrical wiring could also start a fire, such as a heating system or batteries. A frayed wire might be the cause.
Your car engine might overheat. This might result in the ignition of the car coolant and oils that could lead to a fire. Many substances in the car are pretty flammable, especially under the hood.
Moreover, are you a regular smoker? If you’ve ever lit a cigarette in your vehicle and also dropped it or perhaps you threw the stub of the window only for the wind to blow it back in. Incase this lands on the flammable upholstery or a pile of many papers, it can even start a class A fire.
The ABC fire extinguisher we recommend here utilizes something that’s known as the ABC powdered. This is specially made from mono-ammonium phosphate powder. Although this could be messy, it’s pretty effective to fight against classes A, B, and C fires.
Ease of Use
A few of the most essential things you need to consider when choosing the best fire extinguisher is how simpler they are to use. If you are in a road emergency, you need something you can use immediately. This is without a doubt not the best time to be struggling with sophisticated apparatus.
In case there is an emergency or accident, it’s normal to panic. This is a natural response, even though it might be hard to think straight. It’s for this reason you need to find one that’s easier to use.
Check out the models with labels that have easy-to-follow instructions. This will support you if you might be panicking or even not thinking straight.
Fire Extinguisher Mounting
Essentially, you want the best car fire extinguisher that can be easily accessed in your vehicle and not stored away from reach. Also, you want it to be well secured in a good place so that it does not just move around, accidentally spray or become damaged when you even don’t expect it.
It’s, for this reason, we strongly recommend mounting the car fire extinguisher and then secure in your trunk or inside the car. The most popular place is mounting it under the car passenger seat. This is very close to reaching for the passenger and driver alike and can be easily unmounted.
Having the car fire extinguisher in the amount prevents it from being thrown around or rolling during an accident or sudden stop. Also, it stops it from being accidentally activated. The car fire extinguisher must not be left just lying loose.
Also, you can check out whether it can fit in your glove compartment to see if it fits.
Another great option is to keep another extinguisher in the car trunk. Nevertheless, because it is not easily accessible when there’s an emergency, we recommend keeping it inside your car. Only use the car trunk for the extra fire extinguisher.
But even after you’ve kept it in the trunk or glove compartment, it should be well fixed to prevent it from moving. Regardless of where you keep the car fire extinguisher, always ensure you have securely mounted it in place.
Final Thoughts
Although we all never want to get involved in a car fire, it’s always important to make sure you’re always prepared. It’s, for this reason, we strongly recommend investing in one of the best fire extinguishers that you can keep inside your car. Also, we recommend that you keep an extra fire extinguisher in your car trunk.
The best car fire extinguishers are those that can easily fight against class A, B as well as C. these are the fires, particularly C and B that are highly likely to happen in your car. When it comes to construction, aluminum is a light, but a very compact option.
Don’t Use An Aerosol Fire Spray
Technically, car fire extinguishers tend to be more expensive, but there is an option to the fire safety equipment – especially the aerosol fire spray.
The aerosol fire sprays are most cost-effective, locally available, and easier to use. Therefore, you may be tempted to get one for your car.
However, we suggest that you avoid such types of fire extinguishers. There are several reasons that you should avoid aerosol fire spray.
For starters, there have been few reports of the fire spreading rather than diminishing from utilizing the aerosol fire spray. They can be very dangerous pretty quickly.
Again, many aerosol sprays do not have any pressure gauge. Therefore, you don’t have a sure proof way to know whether or not it’s ready for usage.
Moreover, another downside to such types of fire extinguishers is that they don’t have a long-term shelf life.
Dry chemical fire extinguishers usually come with between 6 and 12 years of lifecycle. However, the aerosol fire sprays usually come with between 1 and 3 years of lifecycle only.
In simpler terms, you shouldn’t use aerosol fire spray extinguishers.
Best Car Fire Extinguishers FAQs
What causes a vehicle to catch fire?
Vehicles are sophisticated machines, so, there are many things, which can cause a fire. Causes include accidents, overheating, fuel leaks, electrical shorts, and even more. It’s important to protect your car and yourself from a wide range of issues.
Must I carry a car fire extinguisher?
Although keeping a good fire extinguisher in your vehicle is not a must, there are many benefits to having one. Having a car-mounted fire extinguisher keeps you safer incase of an emergency and does not affect your driving needs.
Where should one keep a fire extinguisher in the car?
You need to ensure that incase of an emergency, you can quickly get to the fire extinguisher. Presuming you do not want the fire extinguisher out every time, the best places to keep it are under the passenger’s or driver’s seat.
What must I do incase my vehicle catches fire?
If you smell something burning or see smoke, it’s essential to stop and turn off the car. It isn’t worth the risk to continue to your planned destination and turn off the car to help reduce the risk of the fire. Technically speaking, if there’s a smoke or small flame, you can utilize the fire extinguisher to smoothen the fire. Also, you can keep a safer distance to avoid opening the car’s hood and get in touch with the emergency services.
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