Can C4 be set off by ENGINE HEAT?

Composition 4 or C4 is a mixture of RDX, motor oil, and plasticizers. It is a very stable secondary explosive that requires a lot of heat, shock, and friction for a detonation. Generally it requires a blasting cap or detonating cord for detonation. I have however personally lit a small amount of C4 on fire and when I hit it with a hammer, it detonates.

A cell phone by itself will not cause C4 to detonate.

A major advantage of C4 is that it can easily be molded into any desired shape. C4 can be pressed into gaps, cracks, holes and voids in buildings, bridges, equipment or machinery. Similarly, it can easily be inserted into empty shaped charge cases of the type used by military engineers.[citation needed]

C4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. C4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. It does not explode when set on fire[3] or exposed to microwave radiation.[4] Detonation can only be initiated by a combination of extreme heat and a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired.

Did play with it outside of the military once. A Reserve 1st Sgt was on the SFPD Bomb Squad, he explained the stuff. Was out in the boonies with some guys that were licensed to use it later on. You can ball it up and play catch....I let them do that. Have also been in contact with sweaty dynamite. My Grandma's cousin had the stuff for stump removal from before it being a pain to get. He was moving slow with that box..and we were sent far off into the avocado orchard.

Edit: EODbot has bowling balls. I feel safe sticking my hands into equipment with 25Kv floating around cuz I know how to do that.

Nope fire, nor will shooting set it off. Needs an electric charge and a detonator I believe.

C-4 can only be triggered by a detonator/blasting cap. That shít is so stable, it takes more than an accident to set it off.

You can light it on fire and heat food on it. You can also (contrary to popular myth) stamp out the fire afterward and not blow your foot off.

@EODbot: Wasn't aware that a hammer strike would do that. I was shown that the foot stomp didn't cause it to explode, though. Thanks for letting us know!

It shouldn't. Should we ask why you are asking this question?

yes.

a high powered bullet will work