[DeTomaso] Car Fire

[Julian Kift]

Sorry to hear of this unfortunate event, as others have said the main thing is you are okay and that you were appropriately equipped to lessen the impact. The 'smell of gas' would lead me to the conclusion a fuel hose ruptured, hopefully the fire damage will not be too extensive.

 

On Mike's post script the operative word is 'see' a fire extinguisher, that should also be extended to 'reach'. It's no good to you in an emergency if it's in the front trunk! Vehicle fires flare up extremely quickly.

 

I carry a minimum 2.5lb fire extinguisher in all my cars and fortunately have not had to use one on my own vehicle to date. After being right behind a single car roll over incident involving a Range Rover whilst living in Asutralia I now also carry a knife (seat belt cutter and window hammer). The driver in that vehicle was upside down and could not get free until a second motorist cut the belt, by which time the Range Rover was fully engulfed in flames. The knife has to be in fixed reachable location too, untethered things have a tendency to fly around in an accident.

 

Julian
 
> From: MikeLDrew at aol.com
> Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 23:19:34 -0400
> To: cuvee at sbcglobal.net; detomaso at realbig.com; msm at portata.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Car Fire
> 
> 
> In a message dated 5/22/10 20 11 18, cuvee at sbcglobal.net writes:
> 
> 
> > Mark/Mike...
> >  
> > So far I haven't checked anything! Got the car home and put away till I 
> > talk with the Ins.
> > The fuel lines aren't that old and look to be in good condition but no 
> > telling? There was not any fuel on the ground?
> > 
> 
> If the fuel line was spraying when the fuel was under pressure due to the 
> engine running, and the fuel that escaped burned up in the fire, and when you 
> shut off the engine, the fuel pump stopped and thus the fuel wasn't being 
> pumped out anymore, that would certainly explain the lack of visible fuel 
> now.
> 
> The stock fuel setup used a hard line from the output of the fuel pump to 
> the inlet of the carburetor, with just a short section of rubber hose at the 
> carb end to absorb vibration. I know your car was very stock when you got 
> it; does it still have this setup? 
> 
> About the only other explanation I could come up with would be an oil fire, 
> caused by a leaking oil filter. I've heard of that on this forum in the 
> past, where an oil filter wasn't tightened enough against the block, and 
> pressurized oil sprayed onto the exhaust and caught fire. Again, when you shut 
> the engine off, oil pressure drops to zero.
> 
> Put on your detective hat and let us know what you find out. And again, 
> congrats for being properly equipped to deal with the situation and keeping 
> your cool when disaster struck! Two thumbs up!
> 
> Mike
> 
> P.S. Everybody else. Look around your Pantera. Do you see a fire 
> extinguisher somewhere? If not, you're *wrong*. Fix it!
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