New-York tribune., 1921-06-12
Automobile Fires:
Causes and How
To Prevent Them
Baek6ring, Superheated EN-
haust Pipes, Short Circuit
Are All Things That May
Lead TO Destructive Blazes
BY II. Clifford Brokaw

Technical Director, Vest Sidc Y. NJ.
c. A. Automobile Schools
Every automobile owner and driver
oueht to know what to do in case the
car begins TO burn up.
The principal cause of sueh fres is
sring is too lean mixture fed to the
cylinders. When there is back fire
sheet of fame comes from the air in
take of the carburetor. If there is
snything infammable near by it is very
apt to catch on fire.
Gasoline vaporizes so rapidly that if
there is gasoline In the drip pan there
Is almost sure to be sufficient mix
ture around the carburetor to make
trouble. Therefore, keep the drip pan
free from gasoline. See that there is
no leak in the supply pipe or in the
eannection to the carburetor. Also see
shat there is no overflow coming from
the carburetor due TO poor seating of
the foat valve.
Speed Driving May Do 1t
Running car at high speed for &
long distance may cause the exhaust
ripe to become hot. If it is next to
any wood this may cause fire, espe-
cally if there Is an accumulation of
grease and oil on the woodwork. There
fore minimize this danger by driving
8 little slower than top speed and by
keeping the woodwork free from grease
and oil.
The exhaust pipe also heats UP when
the engine is run with greatly re-
II ! L.
come red hot and set the woodwork
on fire.
Fires have been known to catch by
opening the muffier cut out in start
ing up. This danger is greater inside
the garage than out of doors, since
there is usually more or less of spilled
grease and gasoline on the garage
floor.
Another cause of fire comes from
short-circuiting of the ignition of
lighting systems. A short circuit may
heat one of the wires red hot and
burn off the insulation. If there is any
accumulation of grease or oil or gaso-
line by, fire may start.
Static electricity is sometimes q
cause Of fire. This is generated when
gasoline is filtered through chamois
under certain conditions. Some tunnels
have a chamois strainer. If such a
1annei doeS not tcQch the gas tank
static spark may cross the gap and set
fire to the volatizing gasoline.
Protection Is Advised
1t is taken for granted that the
owner of car has insured it against
loss by fire. His car is much more apt
TO burn than his residence, and practi-
cally every one nowadays protects his
home through fire insurance against
loss by fire. Another form of fire in
surance protection which ought to be
part of the equipment of every car is
one or two fire extinguishers. Some
ire insurance companies insist that
there be extinguishers on all cars they
insure, and most insurance concerns
give reduced rate to cars thus
equipped.
Having taken precaution to prevent
your automobile catching on fire, you
may be surprised some day to find it in
flames. When you attend the theater
you note the various exits and figure
out what you would do in case of fire.
1t Is worth while TO have in mind what
TO do on finding your car on fire. The
time required to figure this out after
a IRE has started may mean heap of
twisted ruins instead of an automobile.
Grab your fire extinguisher. Locate
the position of the fire, and work the