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Date:         Mon, 24 Dec 2012 22:25:37 -0500
Reply-To:     John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fire!
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-ds6AAE7AD56308C7205F900A03A0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Dennis,

Thanks for the flash point link. Good information.

My fire started only one mile into my trip to work on a chilly day. I doubt the exhaust manifold had reached 420° or the flash point of motor oil.

It may be that the failed breather o-ring was putting out a fine oily mist at the time. There seemed to be a thick layer of gunk on the top of the engine. I had 220# of sand and salt on my hatch all winter and hadn't done an inspection all that time. Protocol updated ;-)

I'm still blaming a failed (Magnecor) ignition wire.

Happy holidaze everyone!

John Meeks '91 Multivan Stock 2.1

http://www.vanagonauts.com Vanagon Rescue Squad with iPhone and Android apps On Dec 24, 2012 8:24 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/flash-point-fuels-d_937.html > > The flash point of engine is not all that high. The exhaust manifold can > easily vaporize it especially with the engine heavily loaded and at the > edge > of turning cherry red. Then you can even have it reach auto ignition so a > spark or flame is not needed to start the fire. The propylene glycol in > antifreeze can also burn with some help. Oil and antifreeze can make for a > nasty fire as once it gets going the burning is sustained. Gasoline is > almost harder to really burn if there is any ventilation. When it hits > something hot it flashes and disappears rapidly. Once the fuel supply stops > so will the fire until other things start burning to fuel it? Many engine > fires are caused by other things before it becomes a fuel fire but the > gasoline is usually blamed. > > Dennis > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > John Meeks > Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2012 11:39 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Fire! > > Dick ~ Your pix look a lot like my post-engine fire. I replaced the melted > parts with used salvage stuff and took a lot of time replacing the melted > wires. > > My fire resulted from a failed crankcase breather tower o-ring spraying oil > over the top of of the engine. I'm not sure what the ignition source was > but > I suspect arcing from a compromised spark plug wire. > > Bottom line is the repairs made me go through all the components and the > result is a fine running engine. > > I'll state the obvious and suggest replacement of all fuel and coolant > hoses > in the engine compartment. > > Good luck with whatever course you choose to salvage your treasure :-) > > John Meeks > '91 Multivan 250k miles > Stock 2.1 > > http://www.vanagonauts.com > Vanagon Rescue Squad > with iPhone and Android apps > On Dec 18, 2012 10:19 PM, "Dick Wong" <sailingfc@dslextreme.com> wrote: > > > Here are some pictures. Both links are to the same site. > > > > > > > > Fire pictures. > > < > > https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/5823165646 > > 80081 > > 9169?authkey=CKyk1tixnrXNDw> > > > > > > > > > > https://plus.google.com/photos/109269280604562976036/albums/5823165646 > > 800819 > > 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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