Do you keep a fire extinguisher in your Defender?

simondance · Oct 10, 2022

I had a look inside a parked 110 and noticed a fire extinguisher above the cubby box. It stuck me that this is probably sensible, especially for the low cost (£15-20 for a 1kg Dry Powder) for peace of mind.

The "AA Lightweight ABC Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher" even comes with a mounting bracket.

After searching around, it appears fixing to the seat box is a popular spot. (attached photo not my own).

HOWEVER, I read that the dry chemical fire extinguishers can be corrosive to metals - but surely the options are (I) a fire and potentially no car or (II) more corrosion to deal with, in a car with corrosion.

So, before I add this to the shopping list - do anyone have any wisdom that I've not considered?

doriz · Oct 10, 2022

Get the dry powder and fix it to the dash above the fuse box cover. Forget the fact DP is corrosive, you want an extinguisher that will put out a fire quickly, the damage inflicted by the powder is inconsequential.
Just be mindful a cheap extinguisher will only last a couple of years without service intervention @Firebobby1

MJE · Oct 11, 2022

I've always kept one in my Land Rovers - Defender 90, 110, Discovery 2. Not the non-Land Rovers though. Can't think why.

miktdish · Oct 11, 2022

Have you ever let a dry powder extinguisher off ?
What a mess .....
CO2 would be better IMO

I don't carry one although I do have a couple in the workshop.

MJE · Oct 11, 2022

Not me, except on fire training courses. I'd prefer CO2, Halon or BCF but you can't seem to get these anymore. I've got a big old beast of a CO2 from the 70s in the house. No idea if it would still work if needed, so I've got a little toy powder one from Lidl next to it.

Colthebrummie · Oct 11, 2022

Ive got a small powder extinguisher in my series but its been there for about 3 years. The pressure guage shows its good but with older extinguishers there is a.possiblity the powder could clog up the discharge nozzle. And they are use once only so if ify you are tempted to give it a quick squirt to see if it works, thats the end of it.

Col

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

miktdish said:
Have you ever let a dry powder extinguisher off ?
What a mess .....
CO2 would be better IMO

I don't carry one although I do have a couple in the workshop.

If you buy a system with a robust pin then no issues. Having been in the business for over 30 years I’ve seen many go off in vehicles by accident, usually because the pin has vibrated out. Still the best value imo.

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

Colthebrummie said:
Ive got a small powder extinguisher in my series but its been there for about 3 years. The pressure guage shows its good but with older extinguishers there is a.possiblity the powder could clog up the discharge nozzle. And they are use once only so if ify you are tempted to give it a quick squirt to see if it works, thats the end of it.

Col

It’ll still work. We used to have 100kg systems on the vehicles they never failed to operate.

kermit_rr · Oct 11, 2022

From what I've seen and heard, damage from a DP isn't inconsequential. It makes a real mess that's hard to do. My auto correct even tried to change mess to mrs, so that should give you an idea.

In my opinion, they are 'last resort', ie in a motorhome where all your valuables might go up in smoke.

I've also heard that over time the powder can settle. I don't know if you can unsettle it ie give it a shake every now and then

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

kermit_rr said:
From what I've seen and heard, damage from a DP isn't inconsequential. It makes a real mess that's hard to do. My auto correct even tried to change mess to mrs, so that should give you an idea.

In my opinion, they are 'last resort', ie in a motorhome where all your valuables might go up in smoke.

I've also heard that over time the powder can settle. I don't know if you can unsettle it ie give it a shake every now and then

It does settle and even the best systems allow moisture in. Cheap DP May or may not be charged with nitrogen.

kermit_rr · Oct 11, 2022

To add, the deployed powder forms a residue to separate air from the fuel, is hard to get off, is caustic, bad for electrics and bad for your lungs. But they are effective

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

I have several old DP sat about and although they might be useful against your own LR fire (most likely turbo runaway, other ways to deal) its what do you do if you happen across a remote RTC somewhere?

kermit_rr · Oct 11, 2022

doriz said:
I have several old DP sat about and although they might be useful against your own LR fire (most likely turbo runaway, other ways to deal) its what do you do if you happen across a remote RTC somewhere?

CO2 would be better for runaway?

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

kermit_rr said:
CO2 would be better for runaway?

I would have thought stuffing a rag in the intake. The intake is the only way to shut it down. Rightly or wrongly I have a Stanley knife and a rag for such an emergency.

kermit_rr · Oct 11, 2022

doriz said:
I would have thought stuffing a rag in the intake. The intake is the only way to shut it down. Rightly or wrongly I have a Stanley knife and a rag for such an emergency.

Yootoobas have done videos on that with mixed success and epic fails
Apparently there are automatic 'butterfly' valves you can put inline that monitor engine speed and seal off the intake for you

Shippers · Oct 11, 2022

doriz said:
I would have thought stuffing a rag in the intake. The intake is the only way to shut it down. Rightly or wrongly I have a Stanley knife and a rag for such an emergency.

Stick it in first and drop the clutch with foot on brake and handbrake yanked on hard...did it to a mates Corsa estate when I found him panicing at the side of the road...

Stanleysteamer · Oct 11, 2022

Colthebrummie said:
Ive got a small powder extinguisher in my series but its been there for about 3 years. The pressure guage shows its good but with older extinguishers there is a.possiblity the powder could clog up the discharge nozzle. And they are use once only so if ify you are tempted to give it a quick squirt to see if it works, thats the end of it.

Col

+1^ and yes you need to shake a dry powder one fairly vigorously from time to time to ensure it don't clog.

lynall · Oct 11, 2022

As I understand it insurance wise if you put the fire out thats it is is your issue to repair it, but if the car burns to the ground you are covered, how true that is I have no idea, but certainly food for thought.

doriz · Oct 11, 2022

lynall said:
As I understand it insurance wise if you put the fire out thats it is is your issue to repair it, but if the car burns to the ground you are covered, how true that is I have no idea, but certainly food for thought.

Sounds like snake-oil to me @Adrian Flux

Stanleysteamer · Oct 11, 2022

lynall said:
As I understand it insurance wise if you put the fire out thats it is is your issue to repair it, but if the car burns to the ground you are covered, how true that is I have no idea, but certainly food for thought.

First thought is that it is unlikely to be true as you are not only preventing further damage, i.e. the need for them to pay out more and also protecting others from collateral damage.
The only time I was driving a car that caught fire it was a Kit Car belonging to the wife that I was delivering to the punter who bought it, down in Cornwall. I had no fire extinguisher on board but I did have a gallon of water, which I poured over the fire and put it out. (Caused by a damp distributor of all things.) the parts needed replacing, a new fibreglass bonnet had to be made and paintwork had to be done. The insurance never batted an eyelid they just paid up without asking, "Well, who put it out then?"

Do you keep a fire extinguisher in your Defender?

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