I thought new fuel lines would eliminate this risk, but I just read a story of a fuel injector cracking and spraying gasoline all over. So the simple solution is a fire extinguisher in the trunk. Looks like Jaguar offered it as a factory option as illustrated in 'Jaguar XJS - A Collector's Guide' by Paul Skilleter.

 

There is no need to place a fire extinguisher in the car... The reason why: if you care for the rubbers and check them and change thrm regularly, then there is no reason why it should catch fire. If you don't keep the rubbers fresh, then it will catch fire. Obiously.

 

I am a true believer in Murphy's Law.

 

You may well be, but...

Don't prepare for the symptomes (fire), prevention helps (regular rubbers). It is cheaper to prevent than it is to repair. So if it is on fire, the fire extinguisher will just be an extra cost after trying to save doing the hoses

 

Replacing all the fuel line rubber is definitely on my list. Plus steering bushings and new brake fluid. And then I will see what wears out next. My 1988 XJS sat in a garage for 15 years which was great for rust prevention but gunked up everything else. And that is my best one. :-)

 

My car came from an enthusiat BUT the fuel lines were badly perished and in some places bodged... I am lucky they held until I took it apart.

Rubbers will be a regular replacement on my old gal. My XJ8 has no rubber on the engine apart from a couple of hoses. Though these are not perished by heat. They are also really short. Rest is all plastic...

 

Daim,
While I respect your opinion, my old 1993 Range Rover Classic would like to disagree with you. She had a failed fuel injector that caught both of us on fire. The hoses were fine as I had replaced them a few months prior but a cracked fuel injector ended up with my arm on fire and some of her as well.

I include this picture so you can see what my arm looked like the day after. My apologies if it grosses you out but this picture is why ALL my vehicles (including my new ones) have an extinguisher.

 

Awesome photo Thorsen!

I keep a fire extinguisher, jumper cables, tow strap... all for someone else

 

I agree with having an extinguisher IN the car. I needed to have one in my XJR for an event I attend, it is phyiscally attached to the seat frame on my seat, M8 8.8 bolts with nuts, twin steel straps, hopefully only to be used fo another persons misfortune.

 

I agree in part, having rebuilt 7 engine bays so far from engine fire.

Sadly, 4 had extinguishers installed, but in the sheer PANIC of engine fire, running as far as possible was the primal thought.

Cracked injector, of course, NO hose is going to stop that, and I have never seen one, but the usual cause of that damage is a crap mechanic not seating them properly, and tightening the nuts.

When doing your brake fluid, DO NOT forget the hoses, all 3.

 

Of course I carry all this stuff for someone else.
I would even pull over for a Prius on fire. :-)

 

mate, that is some nasty burn and I understand why you keep one in your car. But that is something nobody can really be prepared for. Leaking injectors or better cracked injectors are a rare thing though. Perished hoses unfortunately the common cause of an engine fire.

 

I prefer in front of/under the seat. Forget running to the back of the car and possibly fiddling with keys if the trunk is locked.

Let me not leave out the "aerosol" type extinguishers are only $20 or so, so its easy enough to leave behind/under the front seat if you don't want to mount one in front.