Will Alcohol Left in a Car Self-Ignite in Summer?
3 Answers
Sealed medical alcohol stored in a car will not self-ignite, but there are still certain safety risks. It is best not to keep alcohol in the vehicle. Here are some considerations regarding storing alcohol in a car: From a safety perspective: It is not recommended to store alcohol in a car because its ignition point is only 20 degrees Celsius. If the temperature inside the car gets too high, it may cause combustion. From the perspective of car interior usage: If the car's seats or steering wheel are made of genuine leather, spraying alcohol directly onto the leather can cause damage. From a usage method standpoint: For genuine leather interiors, you can spray a small amount of alcohol onto a cleaning cloth and wipe the surface, then quickly dry the wiped area. If disinfection is not frequent, this method can be used.
Storing alcohol in the car during summer does pose a risk of spontaneous combustion. Last time, my friend's car almost had an accident. Alcohol can ignite at around 12 degrees Celsius, and the temperature inside a car can soar to 60-70 degrees Celsius in summer. If the container isn't sealed properly, the alcohol can evaporate and accumulate as gas inside the car. At this point, just a static spark or the ember from a cigarette lighter can immediately ignite it. I've personally seen an experiment video where a lighter held dozens of centimeters away from evaporated alcohol vapor could cause an instant fire. The plastic parts and seats in the car are all flammable, and once a fire starts, it can consume the car in just a few minutes. So, never leave disinfectant alcohol on the dashboard for convenience, and always take it with you when you leave the car.
I remember a news report one summer about a car owner who left a 75% alcohol spray bottle in their car. After parking in the open sun for two hours, the internal pressure became too high and the bottle exploded. Although there was no fire, the entire interior was corroded, costing seven to eight thousand yuan in repairs. High temperatures can turn alcohol bottles into time bombs, with metal containers being even more dangerous as internal pressure doubles when released. Storing them in the trunk is slightly better, but the trunk temperature can still reach 50°C after prolonged sun exposure. If you really need to carry alcohol, it's recommended to use individually sealed small packages and remove them immediately upon arrival. This is more dangerous than a lighter, as a lighter burns out in an instant, while alcohol spreads much faster.
