I would say it salvageable, but that engine and everything in the engine bay is toast! John On 12/22/2012 9:34 PM, Dick Wong wrote: > Added some more pictures today. > > > > <https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/582316564680081 > 9169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw> > > > > > > -Dick Wong- > 78 Scirocco > Original Owner > 87 Syncro 2.5 (slightly crispy) > > Third Owner > > 12 Golf TDI > > Original Co-Owner > > > > > > > > From: Dick Wong [mailto:sailingfc@dslextreme.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 7:18 PM > To: 'vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM' > Subject: RE: Fire! > > > > Here are some pictures. Both links are to the same site. > > > > Fire pictures. > <https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/582316564680081 > 9169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw> > > > > https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/5823165646800819 > 169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw > > > > -Dick Wong- > 78 Scirocco > Original Owner > 87 Syncro 2.5 > > Third Owner > > 12 Golf TDI > > Original Co-Owner > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dick Wong [mailto:sailingfc@dslextreme.com] > Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2012 3:37 PM > To: 'vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM' > Subject: Fire! > > > > 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 > |
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