I have a small fire extinguisher for my car that is insufficient and I am looking for a recommendation for an immediate upgrade to a highly effective extinguisher(s). What type do you recommend : Dry Chemical, Sodium Bicarbonate etc. ? What size extinguisher is reasonable ? Do you keep an extinguisher inside the cabin as well as one inside your trunk ? I want to be well prepared in case of a bad situation.

 

My thought is if you actually need to use the extinguisher, what will you have afterwards? With a dry chemical extinguisher there will be a mess that may be worse than the fire itself, but in any case it will be a huge mess that is very difficult to clean up. Years ago I reaalized that the mess of a dry chemical extinguisher could be as bad or worse than the fire, so I bought a CO2 extinguisher as there is zero mess with that style. Also, the previous homeowner left a halon extinguisher in the garage, and I transferred it to the Cutlass. Again, zero mess but not really the best extinguisher for an open area, but better than nothing.

 

I prefer a good insurance policy; chances are by the time you see the fire and get the extinguisher it's already too late.

 

An idea...no personal experience with the product.

https://www.duluthtrading.com/elemen...BoCaQEQAvD_BwE

 

Never heard of that kind of fire extinguisher, pretty impressive claims if they are true then good for them.

 

I have an element extinguisher like the one in the link, but have not needed to use it so far so I can't comment on how well it works.

 

Hi,

Yes dry chemical is a tad messy but saved my Buick when I installed dual quads with a bad float, only lost the wire to the points.

Co2 never used but not sure it's effectieffectiveness on oil and gas fire,, but sounds cleaner. .

Halon is for electrical and toxic to breath..

Regards,,
Jim

 

https://www.firetrace.com/fire-prote...uable%20assets.

Halon Gas Effect on Humans

Overall, Halon is safe around humans and can be used in occupied spaces. Halon suppression systems became widely properly because Halon is a low-toxicity, chemically stable compound that does not damage sensitive equipment, documents, and valuable assets. Halon fire suppression systems are still used in places like computer and communication rooms and in several military applications, including on ships, aircrafts, and tanks. The FAA also continues to recommend Halon fire extinguishers for aircrafts because of its effectiveness and ability to be used in closed spaces.

 

FWIW I have a Halon, should the need ever arise. Made the choice by available size and lack of damage/mess.

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Any fire extinguisher is better than a fire. You can clean up the mess any of them make but you can't clean up a car that has burned to the ground.

 

Preach.

 

If there is something out there that will give me a fighting chance in case of a fire I’m going to take full advantage of it. I probably wouldn’t risk my life but I might risk a limb.

 

This reminded me of the only time I experienced a vehicle fire. Going camping in my brother-in-law's 1968 GTO and the alternator failed, which caused the ammeter wire under the dash to overheat and catch fire. We stopped on the side of a desolate 2 lane highway and extinguished the fire by vigorously shaking some cans of barley pop and directing the spray under the dash. Afterwards we drove an hour back home with the headlights off as much as possible to conserve battery power, turning the lights on only when we saw an approaching vehicle. That was a memorable night.

 

In your opinion, are the newer Halon based extinguishers worth the high price and should a 2.5 lb. bottle do the job of extinguishing an engine fire on the side of the road ?

 

Hi again,

Use to work in aviation and was always told halon wasn't used in places occupied by people, may depend upon type of halon as seen your quote and this.

From internet:

"Is Halon safe to breathe?
Inhalation: Halon 1211 is a simple asphyxiate. May cause coughing, dizziness, headache, dyspnea, unconsciousness and death. If symptoms appear or respiratory distress occurs, remove victim to fresh air. Seek medical attention immediately."

Regards,
Jim

 

Yes, in a closed area it will displace oxygen and cause asphyxiation, but it is not toxic. That is exactly what would happen with CO2 or nitrogen in the same closed area.

 

I carry quick access halon bottles inside the cabin. In the rare event that I’d need to use it, I won’t be overly concerned with the residual health risk. Good insurance is also a very good idea.