Automotive Fire Extinguishers, who has them or knows about them?

[TROLL]

So as I'm putting together the fuel system for the Supra I'm thinking about getting a small fire extinguisher to keep in the car, just in case.
I just have a nightmare about a fire starting and burning slow but steady, and there's nothing you can do about it on the side of the road, so you just have to watch it destroy your car for a slow and painful 15 or 30 minutes or more as you stand there helpless.
Anyway, as I am doing my initial research I am learning of all the different types of extinguishers, the two most commonly discussed for cars are Halon and Dry Chemical.

What is a recommended size to keep in the car? Wouldn't want to run out...

And where is a good place to mount it if I don't have a cage? Out of the way but easy to access. I'm thinking just in front of the passenger seat maybe? Could put it in the back but it wouldn't be as easily accessable there.

Here is what I found from both from Jegs' site, but please add more of what you know if you can.

Halon: - ~$120 for a 2.5 lb. bottle
Premium Clean Agent Fire Protection
H3R Performance offers four HalGuard clean agent extinguishers. A ''Clean Agent'' is an electrically non-conducting, liquid or gaseous fire extinguishing agent that does not leave a residue. Clean agents have long been the product of choice for protecting classic automobiles and race cars - not to mention aircraft, computer rooms, and other high tech equipment.
Features:
-No thermal shock to electronics
-No mess or damage to vehicle or surfaces
-Rechargeable
-Liquefied gas extinguishes hard-to-reach fires
-Does not impair operator's vision
-EPA approved
-Listed and rated by Underwriters Laboratories
-Includes mounting bracket

Dry Chemical: - ~$55 for a 2.5 lb. bottle
Proven Dry Chemical Fire Protection
H3R Performance offers four MaxOut fire extinguishers that have a proven track record in smothering the types of fires likely to occur in an automotive environment. In addition to automotive use, these extinguishers are also ideal for the home, garage or office.
Features:
-Listed and Rated by Underwriters Laboratories
-Rechargeable
-Made in USA
-High quality steel cylinders
-All metal valve construction
-Compact, lightweight, easy to use
-Includes mounting bracket

[underpressure02]

I have a full firesupression system in my car. I purchased it from safecraft and they were great. I will write more tomorrow I am half asleep right now. I don't think you are looking for a full fire supression system though.

[05OCsrt-4]

dry chemical is preferred in shops so i would use that, just don't use alot of it because it can cause more damage than it prevents if used too much

[Nors]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wADwOb-wGOc


Makes me want to get one ASAP. Also I had a fire in my old accord once, good thing there was someone with a hose very close by. Still caused over 1 grand in damage.

[TROLL]

Yeah I know there have even been a couple guys on here who have posted about their cars burning to the ground... kinda sucks to think about standing there without any way to stop it as your engine bay or entire car slowly burns to ashes. Yeah, I don't even want to think about how horrible a feeling that would be.
I was thinking the Halon would be more ideal because of how 'clean' it is, but I dont know which is why I posted here...

I dont know if JnJ or any other vendors deal with this stuff but if so maybe we can do a group buy or something if others are interested...

edit: just watched the vid... yeah that sucks. dude had a mini extinguisher a little ways into the vid but looked like he couldnt get it to spray? i dont know... but yeah if they had one when it first started looks like they could have gotten out of it with just minor damage.

[lagos]

Just get an extinguisher from home depot that's rated for chemical fires. They cost about 10-20bucks, and should be enough to do the job.

[TROLL]

Thats what I thought but as I look into it I see that regular extinguishers can cause as much damage to paint, metals, and wiring as the fire itself can... thats the scary part.

[lagos]

In that situation, my priority would be on putting out the fire first, and worrying about the rest second.
With either one, you would have some clean up/fixing to do after the fires out.

[TROLL]

...unless you get something like the Halon extinguisher I mentioned above which is popular for automotive use because it doesnt damage anything.
I'll try to find where I read it but someone wrote about this stuff saying that if he had a fire burning in his engine and he had this wrong kind of extinguisher in his hand, he would rather just watch the fire burn than spray his car with this wrong extinguisher.

[TROLL]

Ah ok somehow I found it... and interestingly enough its an article written on NSXprime.com...

Article on Fire Extinquisher Mounting: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/DIY/fire_extinguisher.htm

And you can read the article about Halon vs. Dry Chemical here: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Accessories/fireextinguishers.htm
Here is a excerpt:
If you already carry a dry chemical extinguisher in your car, pat yourself on the back for being so safety-conscious, then throw it out and go buy a Halon extinguisher... Dry chemical's great for the kitchen, but PLEASE don't use it in your car if you can help it. The deal is this: The old-style dry chemical will DESTROY aluminum or magnesium. It also eats through electrical insulation and will probably damage most plastic components.
Some modern dry chemical (one has the brand-name "Purple-K") are less corrosive than the old stuff. Nevertheless, it's STILL a bad idea to use them, since the powder is FOREVER, and it gets EVERYWHERE.
Words cannot describe the extent of the damage you'll do... Unless you've seen the results of a dry chemical extinguisher activation inside a car, you wouldn't believe it.
My advice to anyone who's discharged a dry-chemical extinguisher in his car (or in the car's engine compartment), is, "Sell it THIS INSTANT, before the chemical COMPLETELY whacks out your car. Take whatever you can get and cut your losses."
It's IMPOSSIBLE to clean that stuff up; it'll get into electrical connectors, gauge movements, switches, your stereo, air vents, etc. Needless to say, it's unlikely to do much good in ANY of those locations.
With a burning-but-insured car in front of me and only a dry chemical extinguisher at hand, I'd be VERY ambivalent about discharging it.

[Sykopathik]

I work for a company that services, inspects and re-charges fire extinguishers. I personally don't do any of that, I just deliver bottled gas for them. But I will go in and ask the guys, they have a wealth of experience in this field. Something seems to be nagging me that Halon extinguishers are for aircraft use...

Also, while I'm thinking of it, NASCAR uses a new product by DuPont called FM-200. I've seen this product demonstrated, it is quite amazing, though expensive. I even personally had it sprayed in my eye by an over zealous salesman, thankfully to no ill effect (this was about a year ago). I'd seriously check it out if you're willing to spend $125 on a Halon. I believe it's the product you're looking for.

[Nors]

Where are you looking to mount it troll? I have seen a bracket that goes on the passenger side floor, but not sure exactly where.

[Nick 95 6sp]

I just got a small Halon extinguisher to keep in my car...track day tomorrow and I hate doing that kind of thing without proper a proper fire extinguisher.

From what I know, and was mentioned above, the "non-Halon" dry chemical extinguishers will literally destroy every electrical contact and will corrode many types of OEM wire insulation, plus other damage which would be your worst nightmare...IMO not worth it just because you might be too cheap or "can't afford" Halon...that's a very short sighted economic view given you can get the right product for a tad over $100. I don't know much about some of the new chemicals like that Dupont FM-200 but they don't sound like they will be less expensive, maybe just safer for the user and the environment.

[TROLL]

Wikipedia said that older types of Halon are really bad for the ozone and the use of Halon is actually illegal in Australia. Although it is not illegal in the U.S., they aren't allowing any more of it to be produced other than what is already on the market, which doesn't seem to be in limited supply.
However, the newer Halon gases have been reformulated to be much more environmentally friendly. It did say that they are not quite as effective at fire supression as the older damaging Halon, but they still do a good job.

Nick, what size did you get and where did you get it from?

[04 Turbo Spec]

Bryan if you are that worried about fire, then install a halon system into your car.

thats what we run on all three race cars, i have seen then in action and they work well.

You can put the bottle in the trunk and run the lines in such a way that you wont be able to see them.

[Nick 95 6sp]

Bryan,
I got a 1.4 lb. bottle, made by HalGuard. I got it from K&G Speed Assoc. in Broomall since I was there on Saturday and had just realized I didn't have one yet with my track day already tomorrow so I had no time to waste; since I learned more about this subject I was not about to use my old dry chem extinguisher even if it hadn't already leaked which it did. I paid $120 for it...I suspect if you shop around you can save a few bucks but I don't mind supporting K&G by spending a few extra bucks since they're nice and local.

[Keeper1343]

well it is prob cheaper anyway since who ever he oreders offline has to charge him extra for shipping because it is considered hazardous. They charge i think 20 extra

[TROLL]

Greg... unfortunately there is a very sharp line between competitive racing and the budget that goes along with it, and a normal guy in a street car. I'm just looking for a handheld bottle, just in case.

Nick... did they advise you on size at all? I wasnt sure if the 1 lber would be enough for most situations or not, but I guess in your case you'd be on track with emergency services not too far away.

And yeah, Haz Mat shipping is an extra $20 from all the places I've seen.

[TurboTagTeam]

What ever you do.....DO NOT get a dry chem. They will destroy your engine bay more than a fire will.

I had a small Sparco Halon in my FD. I plan on getting on for my 240 as well. Most regulations require them to be within arms reach of the driver. Behind the passenger seat works fine.

A in-car Halon system is HELLA overkill for the street. On the street your major threat is engine fires...not like racing were you are more likely to be hit and rupture a fuel line causing a in-cabin fire.

[Sykopathik]

I think my company in Bristol might have a couple Halons in stock. If ya want I can ask the boss what he wants for one.

[TROLL]

Sure, I'd be interested to know more about the Halons and where the shop is. And in response to before, Halon are used in airplanes very often, for the same reasons they are used in cars.
Another option is to contact K+G about a possible group rate if anyone else is interested.

[Drftpretty]

All I can say is that whatever you decide, Make sure to have two on board. You were wrong.The worst part isnt having a fire on the side of the road and not being able to put it out.

It's having a fire, using one entire extingusher and the fire not going out. Thats why I always have 2 :)

[TROLL]

...or just make sure i get one thats big enough to handle 90%+ of situations i'd encounter, right? dont see the point in carrying 2.

[Drftpretty]

lol If you say so. I have 2 big ones in the Rx7. Thats mostly because I have to reroute the 90psi Mazda pump back to the return because the SBC only sips 6psi. I did run all -6AN lines but it makes me nervous.

I just would much rather be double prepared than think I was covered and find out on the side of 309 that I needed more than one Halo can.

[cburwell]

Another option is to contact K+G about a possible group rate if anyone else is interested.

If you do that, talk to Lynn. If I didn't know better, I would swear he was the only person that works there!

Does anyone know what the useful life of a halon extinguisher is if it just sits around?

[CiZiN]

Subscribing for the possible group buy. I have wanted to get one since 2004 when I seen no less than 10 cars on fire while fleeing FL during one of the hurricanes but that is a totally different story. I have researched them on and off but just haven't bought one yet.

[sherwood]

well concidering i used to work at a fire dept..id go with the dry chem troll..its cheaper and basicly the same thing as the halon but the halon doesnt taste or smell like ass when it blows back twords you...all our extinguishers for car fires were regular dry chem...if halon was that much better we would have used it u know what u mean?

[CiZiN]

well concidering i used to work at a fire dept..id go with the dry chem troll..its cheaper and basicly the same thing as the halon but the halon doesnt taste or smell like ass when it blows back twords you...all our extinguishers for car fires were regular dry chem...if halon was that much better we would have used it u know what u mean?

But there is a difference between the fire department and the owner putting out a fire. The owner has to tow it home afterwards.

[assault187]

I've had one ever since I put the new motor and big turbo on. Its a smaller bottle of Halon i believe, It was pretty pricey by the way

[sherwood]

yea but fire engines can catch on fires to...we had dry chem extinguishes in the front just in case that ever happened....and sorry to say..but a fire engine is worth a lot more than anyones car on here.

[Nick 95 6sp]

This is a good FAQ from the HalGuard I just got: http://www.h3rperformance.com/support_faq.htm