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Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion

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cmbb

01-12-2002 18:56:32




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We all know if you store oily rags there is great potential for spontaneous combustion.
Does anybody know if this would also happen if the oil was a synthetic oil like Mobil 1.




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JM

01-15-2002 17:17:49




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 Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to cmbb, 01-12-2002 18:56:32  
It's the "drying" oils that are subject to spontaneous combustion(i.e. paint and varnish stuff). Motor oil (either kind) isn't a drying oil so it doesn't have that problem whether in rags or in an oil can (you don't come back to a partially used can of oil and find it skimmed over on top, even years later). But oil soaked rags are a fire hazard and should be treated with respect. Motor oil soaked rags can go in a container to keep them away from sparks etc. Drying oil (linseed etc) soaked rags should go on a clothes line and be allowed to dry in the open air.

JM

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Red Dave

01-14-2002 08:09:33




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 Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to cmbb, 01-12-2002 18:56:32  
According to an article I read in Fire Engineering Magazine many years ago, spontaneous combustion is caused by heat generated due to the action of bacteria acting on natural oils such as raw linseed, animal fat, cotton seed etc.
It takes a very special set of conditions for it to happen, such as enough oil soaked into the rags, enough air, but not too much, but it can and does happen. In 28 years of firefighting, I can recall only one instance of a fire caused by spontaneous combustion that we could prove. That was rags the homeowner left in a pile when he was finished staining with a linseed oil based stain. As I recall it took something like 18 hours or so to break out in flame.
Again according to that article, mineral based oils would not be subject to that bacterial action.

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Frank

01-14-2002 17:08:04




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 Re: Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to Red Dave, 01-14-2002 08:09:33  
I don't know about the synthetic oil, but I do know of an instance when rags soaked with naptha caught fire. I was just a dumb kid but I wanted to help out in the shop, so one day I gathered up all the dirty rags and washed them out in naptha. After I finished, I neatly folded them and stacked them in a cardboard box and left them on the work bench. I left the shop, proud of myself for doing the "laundry". Less than an hour later one of the hired hands discovered the smoldering remains of the box of rags. Believe me, I was informed to never do that again.

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Dan

01-13-2002 19:35:52




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 Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to cmbb, 01-12-2002 18:56:32  

My understanding about "synthetic" motor oils (as told by a refinery engineer friend) is that they are long chain polymers derived from conventional oil. The long chain polymers give more lubricating performance. I think it would be safe to assume that any synthetically oily rags should be handled just the same as the genuine thing.



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G Taylor

01-12-2002 20:58:27




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 Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to cmbb, 01-12-2002 18:56:32  
Different "oils" are worse then others but fish meal, fish oil,fish scrap,linseed oil,menhaden oil, oiled clothing-fabrics-rags-silk,red skin peanuts,perillia oil,red oil,tung nut meal,varnished fabrics & even wet coal or hay are guaranteed fire. All oily rags need to be stored in a metal can with an airtight lid outside the shop.



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BTD

01-13-2002 13:26:30




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 Re: Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to G Taylor , 01-12-2002 20:58:27  
I have always been told that the most dangerous oils in this regard are the plant and animal based oils, this is becuase they rot and break down over time. Vegetable oil left out will get some pretty good colonies of mold as it breaks down. This break down also gives off good heat. Petroleum based oils are not as bad. I've never see motor oil get molding if left out in the open. The stuff is biologically dead already an really can't break down anymore. But for just plain flammability reasons they are about as hazardous as the other type of oily rags.

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RayP(MI)

01-12-2002 19:11:15




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 Re: Rags + oil = spontaneous combustion in reply to cmbb, 01-12-2002 18:56:32  
I wouldn't take a chance - handle all oily rags as though they were potentially fire traps.



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