How does it work? When it does not work?

 

Oily rag, on a corner, no ventilation, hot weather...

 

What if not a rag, but a newspaper, or a soaked piece of wood with transmission fluid instead, or wet with vegetable oil, or not hot, or breezy ?

 

Is there critical key conditions for this? Is it consistently reproducible under controlled conditions?

 

Miguel

The BBC did an experiment. Along time ago when the BBC were actually good at making programmes for TV

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion

3 things required in the Fire Triangle: Fuel, Heat and a suitable Oxidiser (usually Air, but Chlorine is good too for example).

 

meet all 3 conditions sufficiently and you will have your combustion