Vehicle Fires Are Always Unexpected
Author: Aydan Corkern

Sometimes even when you have a vehicle that is brand new or nearly new, you can still have things go wrong with it. It might have a defect from the factory that will not show up until after you have driven it a month or two. This is always disheartening because you just do not expect to have problems right away. Now, when you drive an older car that had already been around the block a time or two, then you are not surprised when little things malfunction or wear out and even the big ones are not so shocking.

One thing that no car owner is ever prepared for, no matter the vehicle, is for it to catch on fire. This does not happen that often unless you are involved in an accident, cut it can happen. When a car has an oil leak under the hood, it might catch on fire when you start it up because of a spark from your battery cables or spark plugs.

Another serious fire starter is having a leak in your fuel tank. When you are driving down the road, just one small spark from running over something metal, dragging your tail pipe on the ground, or a cigarette thrown out the window can cause a fire or an all out explosion. Fuel leaks on your gas tank or under the hood is a dangerous issue not to be ignored.

It is easy to avoid having a vehicle fire such as these just by making sure your car is properly maintained. Inspections are critical if you want to get the best performance out of yours and if you want it to last for years to come. Not changing the oil and transmission flood as recommended can cause the old oil and fluid to become thick and gooey and this will make your vehicle run less smoothly and gunk up your parts.

Never run your car on a rim when you have a flat tire. This has been known to start a vehicle fire too. Always make sure you have a spare tire and a jack so it will not be necessary to try to limp into a gas station to have it changed, even if you could find one that does that anymore. A repair shop will likely be your only hope and they are never open twenty four hours a day.

Always carry a fire extinguisher in your car if you want to be prepared for the worst. Just remember though, if you have a fire under your hood, the second you open it, it could blaze up on you as soon as fresh air hits it. So do this carefully or not at all.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1489016