Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:01:08 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Fire!
In-Reply-To: <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAOt/xdRkfLlAqIF53JVUnbzCgAAAEAAAAClXw/VYOJJLjlau8VUQZJcBAAAAAA==@dslextreme.com>
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Fire extinquisher ??
I sure expected to read that you ran back there with your fire extinguisher.
there's a low you know..
on 20 + year old VW's people should carry TWO fire extinguishers.
Probably mare VW vehicles..
particularily rear-engine vans have caught on fire than any other brand
or configuration of vehicle.
Pretty dang lucky about that coolant putting out the fire.
First example of that I have ever heard of..
so that went in your favor !
a totally burnt up to nothing interior is not unusual in vanagon engine
fires.
it would be interesting to see how your fuel hoses and lines look.
I wouldn't expect a little brake fluid to cause a very big fire...
gasoline fires are fairly commonon vanagons unfortunately.
since you may need another engineanyway , .
have you been following that thread about how inline 5 engines in Syncro
Vanagons are eating transmissions ?
it's on the Syncro list.
glad you're safe !
scott
www.turbovans.com
On 12/16/2012 3:36 PM, Dick Wong wrote:
> I'm okay.
>
> Early November I bought my first Vanagon. 1987 GL Syncro with a Audi/VW
> 2.5L I5 conversion.
>
> Today I had an engine fire.
>
> Coming to a stop on a freeway off ramp the clutch pedal goes to the floor
> without disengaging. Step on it again and same results. Van is lurching
> forward because the clutch won't release. Hitting the brake slowed it but I
> can feel the engine pushing forward. I shut off the ignition to bring it to
> a stop. I look in my mirrors and see smoke coming from the rear air
> intakes. I hop out in the middle of the road and run to the back hoping it
> might only be steam. No luck, it's stinky smoke and starting to turn black.
> I get my cell phone and dial 911. I stand there and watch flames starting
> to come from the bottom of the engine. More black smoke. I think to
> myself, I am going to watch my "new" Syncro burn to the ground. All of a
> sudden there is a loud hiss and the smoke turns to white steam and water is
> streaming from the engine. The coolant tank melted and sprayed coolant on
> to the fire and put it out. Shortly after an highway patrol pull up. A few
> minutes later the fire truck arrives.
>
> Not a nice day.
>
> My theory is: Clutch hose or the slave had a catastrophic failure and when
> I stepped on the clutch, the brake fluid sprayed out on to the exhaust
> piping (exhaust runs forward on the driver side). The fluid flashed and
> started burning.
>
> It's sitting in my driveway now. I'll start looking at the damages another
> day. I'm too depressed to do anything now. Fireman said that it might be a
> total loss.
>
> -Dick Wong-
> 78 Scirocco
> Original Owner
> 87 Syncro 2.5
> Third Owner
> 12 Golf TDI
> Original Co-Owner
>
