Date:         Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:01:09 -0500
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fire!
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Wow that's a weird one.  Maybe we should all put a spray nozzle on
the coolant tank with a pull cord to release coolant onto the engine
in case it catches fire.  (just kidding)  Yes, you need to have a
fire extinguisher, or 3 like Jim.  It's a horrible experience to sit
helpless watching your beloved vanagon burn.  My '71 camper caught
fire when the fuel line came off the carb.  By the time my brother
got back there, opened the engine hatch and told me it was on fire, I
was ready with the extinguisher.  A few roadside repairs and we
continued our trip!   Can you tell if fire got into the interior?  As
someone else said, it may be totalled by insurance but it probably
still has a lot of value.  If not to you, to someone else looking for
a project.

Edward


At 06:36 PM 12/16/2012, you 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