BBC reporting not to leave hand sanitiser in cars!

[Ari]

Interesting comment on the BBC news tonight saying that people should not leave hand sanitiser in their cars as the hot temperature of the interior of a car left in the sun could cause it to catch fire due to the alcohol content.

Now I'm no scientist, but just how hot does the temperature have to reach before alcohol ignites spontaneously? I'm guessing hot enough that your more immediate concern would be the dashboard melting!

Any scientific types care to venture an opinion?

[anonymous-user]

I have 99.99 per cent IPA in the garage right by the door. It's never caught fire. Usual click baiting.

[21st Century Man]

What about that big tank thing at the back of the car with gallons of a highly volatile liquid in it?

[kambites]

It's not going to ignite due to ambient temperature. I suppose if a piece of curved glass/mirror focussed the sun onto it, it probably could.

In direct answer to your question, the autoignition point of ethanol is about 400 degrees C.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 24th June 19:21

[can't remember]

flashbang said:

I have 99.99 per cent IPA in the garage right by the door. It's never caught fire. Usual click baiting.

Your user name doesn't fill me with confidence in that statement to be honest.

[Nickbrapp]

Global company today (mine) issued a health and safety buliten not to as they may catch fire

It’s part bottles left in the sun, the booze evaposates And sets fire to the car

[Magooagain]

I live in a warm part of France and the sanitizer is expanding in the bottles within the vehicles.

One went all over the car when it was opened. So if you have a fag on at the time you may need to beware.

[davhill]

We all know that hospitals burst into flames with
monotonous regularity..

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I left my car parked in Siena Italy on a hot day (they have plenty).

As we were returning after a lovely day I could hear the car alarm & see the lights flashing. As we got there I thought the car had been attacked with some fluid outside.

Nope, a can of Pepsi had exploded, and you have never seen (or sat in) such a hideous sticky mess.

We were staying here at the time:

https://www.villalamassa.com/en

The concierge couldn't believe the mad Brits asked for a bucket and sponge!

[21st Century Man]

Just googled it, autoignition point at 365 degrees Celsius, well past vapourisation and flash point.

tts.

[anonymous-user]

can't remember said:

flashbang said:

I have 99.99 per cent IPA in the garage right by the door. It's never caught fire. Usual click baiting.

Your user name doesn't fill me with confidence in that statement to be honest.

Where's your sense of adventure?!

[Imad]

My car is full of sanitizer in Saudi (one of the few sources of alcohol available...) and we are heading towards 40 and soon to be 50 degrees and direct hot sun - so hotter inside the car. No problems here. Now, while the UK has had a hot day, I can’t see any reason to panicked just yet....

[Ari]

21st Century Man said:

What about that big tank thing at the back of the car with gallons of a highly volatile liquid in it?

I'm not sure what you drive, but mine's not inside the car in the passenger bit!

[Ari]

Nickbrapp said:

Global company today (mine) issued a health and safety buliten not to as they may catch fire

It’s part bottles left in the sun, the booze evaposates And sets fire to the car

How does the evaporated booze catch fire?

[anonymous-user]

I've got loads of half empty vodka bottles in the car. Some of them were full before I drive.

Should I be worried?

[Riley Blue]

This story was debunked recently by Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hand-sanitizer-e...

and by many others previously. The BBC has been suckered.

[Teddy Lop]

I've had mini bottles of hand sanitizer in the van for years...

[jurbie]

This seems have been doing the rounds, no idea if it's real or not but the same as others I've also carried hand sanitizer in my car for years without any problems at all. I'd go with the hoax theory.

[CoolHands]

jurbie said:

This seems have been doing the rounds, no idea if it's real or not but the same as others I've also carried hand sanitizer in my car for years without any problems at all. I'd go with the hoax theory.

The actual pic of the fire in the passenger door used in that made-up newsletter, was doing the rounds on Facebook a while ago. That’s how you know it’s total bullst. Bbc are dheads

[hidetheelephants]

As everyone else has already noted it's bks. A part-used bottle in a hot car interior might give you a surprise when you open it, but it isn't going to set fire to your motor without an actual source of ignition.