https://youtu.be/p87sZMeiC2U

That what gauges are for... Keep things from getting too hot.

Lots of fires can be started that gauges will not prevent, actually most of the vehicle fires I have seen first hand gauges would have had no effect.

Just now, Wild and Free said:

Lots of fires can be started that gauges will not prevent, actually most of the vehicle fires I have seen first hand gauges would have had no effect.

Like fuel leaks, etc. Yes, that is true. But it amazes me how many people towing heavy trailers and don't even have gauges and assume it will never get too hot. Out here the common fire place for vehicle fires is Whitebird grade. Going up people burn them down from excessive heat (gas or diesel). More so common with modified diesels. Like the last one I was called to was a Ford with a 12V Cummins without gauges and towing a gooseneck with a Chevy on the back. Then on the way down the truckers typically ride their brakes till they catch fire another common fire call for us.

But the basics is you heat or ignition source for a fuel to burn. Be it actual fuel (gas or diesel) or maybe a different fuel like plastic or other burnable materials. Typical engine fires either liquid fuel got to something very hot or something very hot got to the fuel. Fuels (anything burnable) is typically harmless till there is a source of heat and/or ignition.

The burn jobs I see are from leaking fuel lines under the hood, or a transmission cooling line spraying ATF on the head pipe, or an unfused hot wire shorted to ground.  Had one customer who had a short in the wire for the tail light. The circuit was rated for 8 amps. He burned his car down when he installed a 25amp fuse.