Caught fire today

[airhead04]

So I was on my way to work today and was driving the car like normal. Not pushing it to hard. I stop at the light right before my work and smell something burning. Well me being so confident in my car, I just started looking around seeing if something on the side of the road was burning. Then i noticed a little puff of smoke from under my car. I immediatly pop the hood and see that the heat sheild on my turbo is on fire. I rip my shirt off and luckly it was raining, so i threw it in a puddle and tossed it over the flame. Well come to find out there was oil on the sheild and it caught fire due to the heat.

The oil is coming out of the 3000 pipe and the hard pipe with the cuppler on it. So does anybody ave any ideas on how to get the oil to stop coming out of the pipe? Or for the matter any ideas on what I should do at all?

Any help is appreciated. Ill post a pick of the part that caught fire in a few.

 

[jdub]

One reason is a PCV system that's not working properly...specifically, the TB orifice is blocked. You might want to remove the IC and wash it out...I'll bet it's loaded with oil.

Take a look at the coolant lines to the turbo for any damage.

BTW - you're lucky

 

[airhead04]

One reason is a PCV system that's not working properly...specifically, the TB orifice is blocked. You might want to remove the IC and wash it out...I'll bet it's loaded with oil.

Take a look at the coolant lines to the turbo for any damage.

BTW - you're lucky

how could it be blocked though, the engine was just rebuilt.

Yea Im extremely lucky

 

[jdub]

You cleaned the TB orifice before you put it on?

Oil that far up in the IC piping on a fresh rebuild is not normal...unless you IC was not cleaned out (like I said) and your pumping it through the piping under boost.

 

[IJ.]

I'd guess the IC is full of oil from the old dying engine...

Still doesn't explain why it's leaking at the 3000 pipe though, time for decent couplers and clamps.

 

[airhead04]

I'd guess the IC is full of oil from the old dying engine...

Still doesn't explain why it's leaking at the 3000 pipe though, time for decent couplers and clamps.

I wouldnt doubt that the intercooler is filled with oil. Its the stock intercooler, and i went and looked at it through the front of the car and there were cob webs ALL over the IC. So possibly cleaning the IC would make this stop?

 

[IJ.]

I wouldnt doubt that the intercooler is filled with oil. Its the stock intercooler, and i went and looked at it through the front of the car and there were cob webs ALL over the IC. So possibly cleaning the IC would make this stop?

I'm resisting the urge to make fun of this post so here goes (can't promise)...

Looking through from the front of the car gives NO INDICATION of the oil content inside the IC, Cobwebs aren't going to affect the oil INSIDE the IC.

Ideal situation see's the IC tract sealed from the Turbo Compressor outlet all the way to the Throttle body, any leaks will be seen as boost leaks.

You drive the car with a tired motor and in time the blowby sends Oil vapour through this tract where it slows and condenses back to liquid in the IC, most times it will sit where it is in the bottom of the IC.

In your case it looks like there's enough collected to be pulled back into the airstream under boost where it's travelling up the IC pipe and leaking out at the 3000 pipe coupler onto the exhaust and catching fire.

 

[airhead04]

I'm resisting the urge to make fun of this post so here goes (can't promise)...

Looking through from the front of the car gives NO INDICATION of the oil content inside the IC, Cobwebs aren't going to affect the oil INSIDE the IC.

Ideal situation see's the IC tract sealed from the Turbo Compressor outlet all the way to the Throttle body, any leaks will be seen as boost leaks.

You drive the car with a tired motor and in time the blowby sends Oil vapour through this tract where it slows and condenses back to liquid in the IC, most times it will sit where it is in the bottom of the IC.

In your case it looks like there's enough collected to be pulled back into the airstream under boost where it's travelling up the IC pipe and leaking out at the 3000 pipe coupler onto the exhaust and catching fire.

you werent getting what i was saying, I didnt check for oil, I was seeing if the IC had been removed when the engines was rebuilt. Obviously it wasnt, so I need to clean it.

You can make fun, it doesnt bother me, Im 17, Im still in the learning process, I laugh at my self all the time. :biglaugh:

 

[IJ.]

LOL you're right I did missread your post sorry!

Yes pull the IC tip it so it drains then wash it out with some Gas, pour some in slosh it around a bit then drain, repeat as needed till the Gas doesn't change colour.
(I have 30 years on you and still get it wrong now and again )

 

[airhead04]

Cool, its rainin right now so Ill do it after it stops. Thank you for the help.

Everyone makes mistakes were only human, lol. But thank again for the help.

 

[IJ.]

You're very welcome!

Don't hesitate to ask again if there's anything else!

 

[Drake69]

Damn. It's stuff like this that make me wanna put a fire extinguisher in my MkIII as well as my Jeep.... :aigo:

 

[IJ.]

Damn. It's stuff like this that make me wanna put a fire extinguisher in my MkIII as well as my Jeep.... :aigo:

I have one in all of my cars, burst a turbo feed line about 12 years back and would have lost the entire car if I hadn't had one with me

 

[Drake69]

I have one in all of my cars, burst a turbo feed line about 12 years back and would have lost the entire car if I hadn't had one with me

Yup. Gonna put one in the back seat tomorrow when I get off of work. Will pick up one from Pep Boys on the way home.

I already keep one in the XJ for when I trail, overworking an engine when you're offcamber on a granite rock is no place for an engine fire. But I've seen enough older cars, both sports and family ones, popping like kettle corn on the side of major highways when hot oil gets into the wrong places. It definitely protects an investment.

 

[IJ.]

I found the vertical section of sheetmetal under the rear seat behind the drivers seat is the perfect place to mount mine in the Mk3 for easy access!

 

[Drake69]

I found the vertical section of sheetmetal under the rear seat behind the drivers seat is the perfect place to mount mine in the Mk3 for easy access!

Sweeeeetttt.... :icon_bigg

 

[northwestsupra]

haha i got two plan A which is mounted by left foot in a "USA" model and is a small one, plan B for when plan A fails which is a bigger ABC like a full sized one for when all hell breaks loose and i need to put a big fire out lol mounted between the seats almost looks like a nos bottle, silly enough i have had enough people ask me if my plan A was a nos bottle, i just lie and say its a sneaky peet lol

 

[IJ.]

I'm considering a firebomb install this time round as I have so much $$$ to lose if it burns.

 

[shaeff]

I'm considering a firebomb install this time round as I have so much $$$ to lose if it burns.

I'm in the same boat. I'm spending so much on this car, I'm seriously considering putting a fire suppressant system in. Arm the system, yank that lever, bam, no more fire.

 

[Turbo Habanero]

i have never thought about but now its got me thinking better safe then sorry.

As for the Kid that makes mistakes Eh don't worry bout mistakes are learning without them you wouldn't be as safe like putting a Fire Extinguisher in there car. Im not to keen yet on knowing my way around a supra or taking certain steps that type of thing but only one way to learn.

Glad to here you are ok.

IJ could you post a pic of your Fire Extinguisher setup :icon_razz