Car fires blamed on sub-standard fuel

Low-quality gasoline has been cited as the main reason that caused numerous motorbikes to suddenly catch on fire in the last few years, according to a news report.

The official results of the investigation will be announced in a few days, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said yesterday.

The investigation was conducted by scientists from the Refinery and Petrochemical Technology Research Centre and HCM City University of Technology.

The research was chaired by the city's Department of Science and Technology.

Based on experimentation and analysis of the many cases of vehicle fires in the city, researchers concluded that there were three main causes for the incidents.

Poor-quality fuel, including fuel that was improperly blended with low-quality additives such as methanol and ethanol, was the chief cause.

This kind of fuel can lead to petrol leakage caused by damaged ducts or high gas pressure, according to the report. Petrol leakage can also be caused by human error.

When flammable materials catch fire, the main cause is sub-standard gasoline with a low-octane index such as petrol A82 or petrol that is improperly blended with poor quality methanol or ethanol.

This is incompatible with the motorbike's engine, creating a source of heat and a higher risk of motorbike fires.

If motorbikes use petrol with a low-octane index or petrol blended with poor quality methanol or ethanol, the temperature of some components or areas on the motorbike could increase by 10 – 20 degrees Celsius.

Recommendations

The research team has asked concerned agencies to create more requirements for the composition of petrol A92 and A95, and check on the presence of methanol and ethanol in petrol during gasoline-quality inspections.

The team requested a ban on the sale of petrol A83 with a low-octane index, which is not suitable for the modern motorbike's engine

In addition, there should be further research on technology criteria governing the use of fuel in Viet Nam's differing weather conditions.

The team also recommended that consumers use high-quality petrol with an appropriate octane index, under the guidance of the motorbike producers.

Consumers should never use petrol without knowing about its origin or standards, they said.

They also said that flammable objects like perfume or lighters should not be placed in the motorbike storage box.

Producers of motorbikes should take more care in guiding consumers to prevent their motorbikes from catching fire.

Motorbike makers should also modify their products so they are more suitable to Viet Nam's climate.

The research team plans to conduct research on the cause of fires in automobiles that use either petrol or diesel oil.

According to Colonel Nguyen Van Tuoi of the Ministry of Public Security, 324 motorbike and automobile fires have occurred in the country in the last two years.