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Beginning in January 1996, premium unleaded fuel was introduced into New Zealand to replace 96‐octane leaded petrol. On about 7 March the news media reported failure of engine parts in a home‐made aeroplane that had been using the new fuel, raising apprehensions about its safety. Within a short period, many claims of car fires and fuel line failures associated with the new unleaded petrol were reported.
As anecdotal reports are unreliable, we collected and analysed vehicle fire data that had been collected without regard to the recent publicity. Data were obtained from the New Zealand Fire Service and three major vehicle insurance companies.
Our analysis showed that the overall numbers and rates of car fires in the first quarter of 1996 had remained fairly consistent with what would have been expected on the basis of data from previous years. However, in the Fire Service data, the proportion of fires in vehicles more than 10 years old during the month of March 1996 was higher than for any month in the previous 11 years. On the other hand, no corresponding increase was seen in the insurance company data for the same month, and the proportion dropped sharply in the Fire Service data for April.
On balance, it seems unlikely that there was a general increase in car fires related to the introduction of premium unleaded petrol into New Zealand in early 1996. However, the available data were insufficient to eliminate the possibility that there was some increase in the rate of fires in older vehicles. Analysis of data covering a more extended period might allow a definitive conclusion.
Notes
Epidemiology Group, ESR: Kenepuru Science Centre, PO Box 50–348, Porirua.