Charcoal burning in car

[Gounique59]

is it necessary to tape up the car, thinking that car is pretty air tight already. Buying a co2 monitor and plan to put coal into a big wok, and once flames have died down put it in the car, placed on bricks. Let the gas accumulate, do a test, take sleeping meds and step into the car. Any thoughts?

 

[locked*n*loaded]

I'd block off the vents at least. What type of CO "monitor"? Just one of those off-the-shelf ones that alert to the presence of CO by beeping? If so, that's not going to tell you anything about the actual environmental CO level in the vehicle. How much charcoal? Why type? All of this matters.

 

[Forveleth]

Cars are nowhere near airtight. You need to tape every vent, every window, every seal, every door, everything.

CO2 = carbon DIoxide, not what you want
CO = carbon MONoxide, this is what you are after.

 

[Gounique59]

I'd block off the vents at least. What type of CO "monitor"? Just one of those off-the-shelf ones that alert to the presence of CO by beeping? If so, that's not going to tell you anything about the actual environmental CO level in the vehicle. How much charcoal? Why type? All of this matters.

No a monitor which can detect how much is present. Though Amazon only sell the ones which measure up to 1000, however I read on here that they can detect higher. I haven't calculated quantity of charcoal as yet for a ford fiesta. Thinking lump charcoal.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

No a monitor which can detect how much is present. Though Amazon only sell the ones which measure up to 1000, however I read on here that they can detect higher. I haven't calculated quantity of charcoal as yet for a ford fiesta. Thinking lump charcoal.

Last time I checked, Amazon does sell the same one I purchased that detects CO levels up to 10,000 ppm, although I bought it direct from the manufacturer for a significantly lower price. Lump is good. Whatever you calculate the amount of charcoal to be, use 3, or 4, times that for assurance. When all charcoal is burning red-hot, that is the time to move them into vehicle and let CO accumulate for a bit.

 

[Gounique59]

Thanks for your response

 

[sanction]

I'm guessing when you decide to step in the car, and open / close the door, that will let out some of the CO?

So after you get inside, and close the door, will need to let CO build up and re-accumulate again? But that's probably common and something unavoidable

 

[tiredash]

If you buy a CO detector, make sure its ONLY CO. There are CO2 detectors that "also" detect CO, but they are very inaccurate.