I have an 85 F150 wth the 4.9L 6. I was filling the washer fluid when the radiator burst into flames. I couldnt have been electriacal related becasue i had the battery out to put a new one in. It got so hot that it melted all the grille and radiator mounts. The fire only lasted about one minute and went out on its own. This is very strange. Has anyone had tis problem? What could've caused it? I cant get the radiator out becasue it is melted in place. Thanks

 

anyone had this problem?

 

Very strange indeed As the TV commercial says "Now, That not natural" Someone is messing with your Ford.

 

Sadbuttrue ,
I got to ask because this is about as unusual as it gets ... are you telling the whole story ? Were there any fuel lines disconnected at the time ? Were you smoking when this happened ? Do you have the windshield washer / coolant recovery tank all in one , two seperate caps but they are one tank and 2 compartments ? What brand of windsheild washer fluid were you using ? I cant imagine how this happened is why I have asked the questions .
Paul

 

There were no fuel lines disconnected. The washerfluid/overflow is one container divided into two parts. I used water in the washer fluid container becasue i didnt have any washer fluid. I was not smoking as I dont smoke. I use a 50/50 anti freze mix. I dont remember the brand anti freeze. The flames were coming from the core of the radiator.

 

SadButTrue,
Im sorry for sounding or typing skeptical , but I honestly cant think of any way a radiator could just catch fire ?? Maybe someone can give you an explanation , I know its the weirdest thing I think Ive heard lately .
Paul

 

I must say I've been checking this thread everytime I log on just to see what happens, but everyone else must be as baffled as I am. Since water doesn't burn- is (or should I say "was") there a trans cooler there??

Nate

1964 F-100 Custom Cab 292 V-8 3 spd
1964 F-100 292 V-8 3 spd
1990 F-150 5.8L

 

no trans coller

 

had your radiator been painted? were you painting it? I cant see what the source of ignition would be if all that you say is true. the engine wasn't running? what do you mix your antifreeze with? what were you wearing at the time? static electricity, maybe? did it have a/c? you didn't confuse the washer fluid with gasoline? how long before this happened did you put gas in the tank? what was the tempature outside? had you used any chemicals lately to clean any of the parts around/near the radiator? I know some of my questions sound stupid, but you had a stupid problem. I really believe that your being untruthful or at least not giving us all the facts. a radiator does not get hot enought to spontainiously catch fire, even if there was anything there to burn.

 

when you say "radiator" what exactly are you talking about. please describe it to us, it may be possible that what caught fire was actually something else.

 

Was this truck run for an extended period of time before it caught on fire? I wonder if maybe some dry material such as leaves ot stuck in the radiator area and something was hot enough for the material to burn. Just an idea.

Dustin Siebert