RELATED: This Is the Most Unreliable Car in the U.S., Owners Say. A rapid change in your engine temperature is a major warning sign that your car could catch on fire or that it already has, says David Clelland, an automative expert and director of Infiniti Tracking, a vehicle tracking systems company. Your engine temperature is indicated by the temperature gauge dial on your dashboard, which is usually situated in the center. Ideally, your car engine should be running at a temperature of 195 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the experts at Auto Warehouse. Once the meter starts to move towards the hot side of the dial, your engine is starting to overheat—and if this happens quickly, it’s the sign of a fire that could erupt momentarily or has already started. “A rapidly rising temperature gauge could be a sign that a fire has already started,” warns Ian Lang, the resident car expert at Bumper. “When you notice or observe this, it’s best to leave your car alone and call someone to help you out,” Clelland says. A car fire can get out of hand quite quickly, so it’s important to exit your vehicle right away. RELATED: This Is the Deadliest Car in the U.S., According to Data. Alongside a rapid change in your engine’s temperature, Lang says you may notice more obvious signs of a car fire, like the smell of smoke coming through the vents or you may even see smoke coming out from under the hood. Mark Beneke, the co-owner of two used car dealerships in Fresno, California, says the smell of burnt plastic or rubber is also a major indicator that your car is either about to catch on fire or already has. “The chassis is small and flames can reach you very quickly, not to mention the smoke that gets trapped in there as well,” Beneke warns. “If you notice any type of flames, turn off the vehicle, get out immediately, and get as far away as you can.” For more safety news and tips sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. From 2014 to 2016, there were an average of around 171,500 highway vehicle fires each year in the U.S, which resulted in 345 annual deaths and 1,300 injuries on average, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The agency says that 62 percent of these fires had originated in the engine area of the vehicle, with mechanical failure being the leading factor. “Fires that originated in the engine area were by far the deadliest, accounting for 35 percent of all deaths,” FEMA also stated. The engine temperature gauge is not the only thing you’ll want to watch on your dashboard; you should also pay attention to your fuel gauge. Julie Bausch, an automative expert and managing editor of Car Talk, says that an abrupt change in fuel levels is often a sign of a significant leak, which can also result in a fire. “If you get in your car, and the fuel level is much lower than it was when you last drove your car, get out and look underneath the vehicle. Chances are, you will see a puddle of fluid,” Bausch says. “Do not drive the car at that point. The leak could be anywhere, and it could mean a dangerous set of circumstances.” She says you should call your mechanic instead. A leak from the fuel system can be very deadly because “gasoline is the most corrosive and flammable fluid a car carries,” according to the legal team at Thomas Law Offices, which is in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri. “It can quickly catch fire from a single spark.” RELATED: This Is the Least Trusted Car Company in the U.S., According to Data.
