Fuel Fire
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
Fuel Fire
So I had a small fire last night. A fan belt had worn a hole through the fuel filter and ignited when stopped at a gas station. Luckily the clerk was quick with getting an extinguisher before the truck burned to the ground. It was a big fireball, but didn't last long and didn't do much damage.
For the carnage, some wires got burnt, fuel lines got singed, air filter burnt, and fire extinguisher stuff went EVERYWHERE. It seems that I got very lucky and didn't cause more than $50 and a few hours of work in damage.
Moral of the story: Check your lines and make sure they are secure!
Photos will be coming tomorrow. I have already cleaned everything off and started replacing the damaged wiring.
For the carnage, some wires got burnt, fuel lines got singed, air filter burnt, and fire extinguisher stuff went EVERYWHERE. It seems that I got very lucky and didn't cause more than $50 and a few hours of work in damage.
Moral of the story: Check your lines and make sure they are secure!
Photos will be coming tomorrow. I have already cleaned everything off and started replacing the damaged wiring.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 2
From: Shreveport, LA
Good to know that things turned out well.
Not trying to be a "Salt in the wound," kind of guy, but I wanted to point out that, depending on what sort of extinguisher it was, that stuff can be pretty corrosive to aluminum and wire insulation. I'm not sure about steel...but it may be in your best interest to cut wire bundles open and vacuum them out as best as you possibly can.
Click.
Not trying to be a "Salt in the wound," kind of guy, but I wanted to point out that, depending on what sort of extinguisher it was, that stuff can be pretty corrosive to aluminum and wire insulation. I'm not sure about steel...but it may be in your best interest to cut wire bundles open and vacuum them out as best as you possibly can.
Click.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,095
Likes: 5,756
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Glad you are ok, glad the truck is repairable.
X2 on everyone ck your fuel like security and routing. Same for any and all wiring that can touch headers and or exhaust manifolds and the rest of the exhaust system.
X3 Yes get that fire ext stuff off it now, vacuum cleaner, air hose, water in the end.
X2 on everyone ck your fuel like security and routing. Same for any and all wiring that can touch headers and or exhaust manifolds and the rest of the exhaust system.
X3 Yes get that fire ext stuff off it now, vacuum cleaner, air hose, water in the end.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Vidalia onion,GA
And buy a $30 fire extinguisher to keep with ya. I'm glad I never had to use mine on my truck, but its cheap piece of mind knowing I got it. I put a couple grand into my 460 swap so I doubled the size of my extinguisher
double the money, double the plan b.
Glad your truck made it with minimal damage. Never thought much about what the foam could tear up, that's something to look into.
double the money, double the plan b. Glad your truck made it with minimal damage. Never thought much about what the foam could tear up, that's something to look into.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
I had a fire in my '75 in the carb area. I was descending down a long hill and the truck wouldn't stay running unless I floored it. So that's what I did off/on for about 3 miles. After I got to the bottom of the hill, well that's when all hell broke loose. Flames started coming out. Luckily someone stopped by with a fire ext. and got it out quickly (about the only thing I could do was rip the washer reservoir off and pour it all over). Got it towed home and took carb apart; the bowl float had separated off the lever so I was essentially flooding the engine during the long descent. Enough fuel had spilled over that it caught fire. I don't think it was the heat of the fire that did it (didn't burn long enough). CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER! 
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Read enough horror stories here over the years to always try to carry one. They cost a little bit more than $50 but that's still cheaper than a crispy rig. The little 1 pounders are cute but almost useless. They tend to self-discharge as well.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 2
From: Shreveport, LA
The extinguisher in my vehicle is for people and other vehicles only. If my **** catches fire, I stand back and watch.
BUT, since I just had this happen yesterday, I thought I'd pass it along. I have Kidde extinguishers in a few vehicles and around the house...well, I got a letter from the company asking for a confirmation of date codes and serial numbers. Got the letter because I'd registered the ones I had bought. Later on, I got two brand new extinguishers in the mail and a letter saying that two of the ones I'd bought were being recalled and that I should discard them.
I didn't replace the ones I should have, figuring that I'd now just gotten a pair of extra fire bottles.
Anyhow, in an alcohol fueled stint yesterday, we decided to figure out why they were recalled...and...sure enough, those ones wouldn't discharge. And one of them, the nozzle blew off and went across the yard.
So...if you have some that you've had for a while and never registered them, it could be worth checking out any recalls.
BUT, since I just had this happen yesterday, I thought I'd pass it along. I have Kidde extinguishers in a few vehicles and around the house...well, I got a letter from the company asking for a confirmation of date codes and serial numbers. Got the letter because I'd registered the ones I had bought. Later on, I got two brand new extinguishers in the mail and a letter saying that two of the ones I'd bought were being recalled and that I should discard them.
I didn't replace the ones I should have, figuring that I'd now just gotten a pair of extra fire bottles.
Anyhow, in an alcohol fueled stint yesterday, we decided to figure out why they were recalled...and...sure enough, those ones wouldn't discharge. And one of them, the nozzle blew off and went across the yard.
So...if you have some that you've had for a while and never registered them, it could be worth checking out any recalls.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,095
Likes: 5,756
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Fire extinguishers hopefully stopping stuff like this....
For the last pic use the fire extinguisher as a club to get that guy to stop what he is trying to do very poorly. lol
For the last pic use the fire extinguisher as a club to get that guy to stop what he is trying to do very poorly. lol
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