Do cars explode when lit on fire?

Life is good

Automobile scrapyard in my old neighbourhood went up in flames one night and there were multiple explosions that sent flames quite high into the night air. So, offhand, I would have to say yes.

pickmefirstplz

cars will not explode the gas will explode

dazedxconfuzled

if the fire reaches the fuel line or any liquid that is flamable and has a tank...yes it will blow up.

jim

Not often. But some of the stuff inside can explode. A 5 gallon tank of propane that just got filled for the weekend BBQ maybe or many other things will explode when on fire. Most have a safety vent to prevent an explosion, but those some times are defective.

kenbgray

If the fire and heat get to the gas tank, then yes, it could explode. It is best to get away from a burning car and let the firemen handle it.

Steven P

yes but not like in the movies - cars burn everyday

Vince M

Parts of them might. But, even if the fire eats through a fuel line, all it is likely to do is just add more fuel to the fire and burn hotter until that fuel is used up. Interestingly, a nearly empty gas tank is more likely to explode than a nearly full one.

And, you have to distinguish between a true, explosion and just another big fire. A car can become fully engulfed in flame and not explode. Tires, on the other hand, can explode with a loud forceful boom.

It's interesting how often, in films, a car comes flying off of a cliff and explode in mid air. From fright, I suppose.

Vicky S

The cars petrol tank may explode eventually if the petrol in it is heated enough in a fire but the car itself will not explode as they always seem to in the movies.

wayne k

very very,seldom,for real, but always on tv.

Brain Babe

Man, Mike, you guys will argue about ANYTHING, won't you?! The car can become fully involved and if the car gets to the fuel, which could happen via an engine fire, through the carburetor and into the gas line, the gas tank could blow, and the car would go with it...

It could be as wild and dramatic as in the movies, or less involved...but maybe you should write the Mythbusters fellows and let them have a go experimenting with a few junky cars to see how many ways they can get explosions to occur.

If you had this bicker-fest with another guy, buy him a beer and all is well...if it was with a dame, I guess your weekend is ruined, and you are sleeping on the couch! (I am a dame, but don't act dame-like over silly things like this!)

It's cold tonight--better get an extra blanket, my friend!

Alisha

No not at all. What we see pn T.V is total crap. If your car catches fire it will NOT blow up or explode. Once the flame reaches the petrol line/ or tank it will burn a lot quicker but will not explode as such. However if you car has any other gases inside e.g nitros oxide... then that would be another story.

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