Sad Day

[Jim Erickson]

Last night my 2001 3500 Duramax caught on fire in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming.

I wasn't there unfortunately so don't have all the details.

Driver says the engine died and he pulled over and popped the hood and poof the engine went up in flames. They put it out with a fire extinguisher.

Having it hauled back to town to get an idea of the damage now.

Sad Day for me.

Anyone heard of this type of thing happening before?

Thanx,
Jim

[FJ40INTOW]

I have seen a pinhole leak in heater hose cause fire when Antifreeze hit the exhaust manifold.

[Jim Brzozowski]

I have to suspect somethng in the fuel system, fractured or got punctured causing the pump to suck air until it stopped the engine, then probably leaked remaining fuel back onto hot part IE, ignition source. I've always wondered about the placement of the fuel filter so close to the exaust. Spring a leak it's going to fall toward the exhaust below. Just speculation on my part. Hope you find out so it won't happen again to anyone. Advice, never drive a vehicle of any kind, without a fire extinguisher strapped to it somewhere, where you can get to it fast.

[Jim Erickson]

Here are some pictures of the damage. Anyone seen anything like this? Looks like it originated in the control box.

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0528.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0529.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0530.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0531.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0532.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0533.sized.jpg

http://pictures.jimerickson.org/albums/album02/DSCF0534.sized.jpg

[TRPSHOOT]

Tough break, I hate to see that pretty motor all fried up.

[rjschoolcraft]

WOW! :eek:

[Inspector]

It looks like and electrical fire to me. Most all the wireing is right there on that side of the engine compartment. I'm sorry that it happened to such a nice truck. Hope all works out well.
Denny :eek:

[gravity420]

What a bummer, sorry to see all that mess.

Looks like a leak in the brake system to me. The brake reservoir sure is gunked up all over, and looks super greasy to me, and the fire retardant has stuck to that oil. Maybe leaked onto the exhaust manifold.

[madmatt]

My bets on electrical. Brake fluid and diesel really aren't all that flamable in liquid form and I'd think a high pressure fuel leak causing a fuel mist would have resulted in a bigger fire and more damage to the engine. the master cylinder is more to the left then the manifold and if brake fluid had in fact dripped on the manifold and caught fire, I'd suspect the hoses directly above the manifold and around the master cylinder to have more damage. judging from th damage to the master cylinder it's pertty clear that the fire was for the most part isolated to the farther left side of the truck as the right side of the resivoir was hardly damaged.

[DmaxMaverick]

Sad day, indeed.

Sure looks like an exploded battery. Cause, or effect?

[madmatt]

I'd say effect.

[batts496]

How about a ruptured power steering line blowing back onto the exhaust manifold at 60 mph? Would look like a torch. Were there some issues with a power steering line rubbing the front of the exhaust manifold in the past on the duramax trucks?