100%. A "repaired" fire damaged vehicle will always be a ticking time bomb just like a flooded vehicle. I carry a fire extinguisher for the sole purpose of making it look like I tried to do something for the insurance report. .

 

No need to bother popping the hood... it will conveniently melt out of the way before the wiring melts.

Melting temperature of aluminum: 1,220°F
Melting temperature of copper: 1,980°F
Melting temperature of steel: 2,500°F

















The photos above are of F-150's, which were quicker to find as they are more prevalent on the market, and have been manufactured longer (since 2014 for the 2015 model year), but the aluminum body structure is the same as the 2017+ Super Duty.

The photos are posted here as a way to emphasize how much more thoroughly (and rapidly) the aluminum body looses its shell stability in a fire. Notice that the "fire" wall in each of the photos above survived in some semblance of its original shape, instead of melting away into a puddle. The fire wall obviously isn't aluminum.

There may not be enough time to waste in reaching for the hood release, with the primary focus being getting self, family, and pets out and as far and away as possible from the truck, as the heat pressurizes enclosed systems in the truck, which in turn explode, sending spalls of burning material in unpredictable directions several yards away.

 

Don't bother with the fire extinguisher. You stand a better chance of breathing cancerous smoke than you do putting out any fire. Grab your phone or whatever is quick and get away. I'd hate to lose my truck (it was inherited) but it isn't worth the health risk. And while we're talking safety, pull out of traffic if you can and get away from lanes of travel.

 

I have a friend who was terribly burned when he popped the hood to put out an engine fire with an extinguisher. If any vehicle of mine ever catches fire I'm heading the other direction without a second thought...

 

Glad you and yours escaped safely. Condolences on the loss of your truck. My trucks have always been selectively chosen family members and (maybe a little dramatic) I have some feelings when they are compromised. Based on the damage you described it’s definitely totaled. Hopefully (silver lining) with the market like it happens to be you will get top value toward another or new one. As described and based on feed from other members the fuel filter housing does sound suspect.

Out of curiosity did you notice the truck starting weird (like it lost prime) before this happened? Or did you smell fuel before during or after this happened?

I had an issue a few months ago where I thought the filter housing had cracked. Luckily the truck was cold at home when I started it but I smelled fuel before I got it in reverse to back out. I got out and looked and fuel was pouring out the drivers side. I shut it off and replaced the filter before I discovered something had chewed one of the lines from the filter. Had it towed to replace the affected parts. That short amount of time soaked the bottom of the hood and the entire engine bay on the drivers side. 45 min of pressure washing and it still smelled like diesel for a month. At 35k miles and 2nd filter change I’m now planning to do it annually regardless of miles based on issues with these filters.