SUPERCARS THAT CAN GO SUPERNOVA IF DRIVEN TOO HOT
GCC heat can push top vehicles to their limits, says road-safety expert
At very high temperatures, even the alloy wheels can burn, as well as the paint if it comes into contact with vapourising burning fuel ROBERT HODGES British road safety expert
A combination of high temperatures and plain old showing off are largely to blame for supercar fires, experts say.
The summer heat and too much fuel and revving can all contribute to turning a million-dirham car into a burntout shell quicker than you can spell Lamborghini.
Over the years there have been several incidents of ultra-fast, expensive vehicles catching fire, the most recent being one that lit up at an Adnoc filling station in Abu Dhabi this month.
Luckily, vigilant pump attendants were on hand to put it out quickly.
Two years ago, a driver revved a Lamborghini Aventador in Dubai Marina so much that it burst into flames and was left a charred wreck.
Experts say that supercars are often driven fiercely by their owners and the mechanical parts can become extremely hot.
“Many supercars are often driven very hard and at high revs, and the drivers zoom into petrol stations with their engine very hot indeed,” said Robert Hodges, a British technical and road safety expert. “In some cases their exhaust outlet manifold can be glowing red with heat.
“It is always better to plan a stop in a supercar during the summer months, and to deliberately drive for the last couple of miles at a slower, more gentle speed to let the vehicle’s cooling systems get the engine bay a little cooler to prevent damage before stopping.
“We also live in a very hot climate in the UAE during the non-winter months, and so often high-performance cars are working at the extreme end of their engine and component capabilities.”
Many supercar fires are caused by poor or careless filling, with petrol coming into contact with hot parts, Mr Hodges said.
“Many service station attendants tend to overfuel cars by topping-off fuel tanks until they almost overflow,” he said.
“Loose fuel hoses and connectors, or where engine bay fuel lines have been modified or tampered with, often leak raw fuel on to very hot engine parts and an explosive fire can easily start.
“I have also seen many people not turn off their engines while the car is being refuelled so they can run the air conditioning. This is a very dangerous practice, rapidly leading to the engine overheating.”
Supercars are often worked very hard, at the limit of their performance, so they need to be looked after carefully and all regular servicing must be completed on time.
Mr Hodges said that manufacturers design and build cars to very high safety and performance standards, but the way in which they are used is outside of their control.
“At very high temperatures, even the alloy wheels of a car can burn incandescently, as well as the paint if it comes in contact with vaporising burning fuel,” he said.
Later modifications can also cause problems unless they are carried out by highly reputable specialist workshops, Mr Hodges said.
“In general, any after-market modification that would invalidate the vehicle’s original warranty should not be fitted,” he said.
“Increasing the performance of a car, such as improving brakes and adjusting suspension, without attending to other factors will often cause a problem and the most common one is causing the engine bay to overheat.
“Manufacturers of supercars spend a long time developing their cars to be safe and reliable as well as enjoyable.
“Unintended after-market modifications can often negate all of the built-in safety and reliability.”
Another factor that can create problems is using non-GCC specification cars, which are not built for the harsh environment in the region. “The manufacturers usually supply Gulf specification cars to our country. However, some purchasers import grey market cars that are not built to Gulf specs and which are more likely to overheat,” Mr Hodges said.
“Any supercar owner should realise that the summer climate in our region can present real problems if you use a supercar to its limits during daytime hours.
“Drivers should exercise what I call ‘vehicle sympathy’ and realise that even expensive cars can be broken by extreme use and temperatures.”
His advice to motorists is to drive sensibly, ensure radiators are topped up with the correct coolant, let the engine cool-off before stopping by driving more slowly for the last couple of kilometres, and ensure the car is serviced regularly to the maker’s specifications by an approved service agent.