I was checking out why my cat was on fire and I saw a line of what looked like a burnt trail leading up to a hose near my front hood latch, I took the jose out and a orangeisih liquid came out, I pourd some of it onto a towel and tried to ignite it, but it didnt catch fire...anyone else have this problem? I tried taking the cat off but the bolts are oxidized on there. Could it be that the Carb is putting to much gas in, and its getting caught up in the cat which is causing it to catch fire because it is getting backed up? I dont get paid until thursday so i need to some up with some explanations to the MazdaTech person.

Does anyone know what the orangeish liquid is? Its near the hood latch and its GOING into the car.

 

Well seeing as these motors have no valves, or anything, a lot of fuel does get dumped into the exhaust, so I guess if you have enough unburnt fuel getting in there it is entirely possible it contributed to your fire problem. You might be having issues ignighting the fuel mixture and a lot is dumping out, or you have too much going in. Thats my guess.

 

Assuming all your emissions systems are intact, that hose feeds air to the cat from the air pump.

 

Are you sure?, I will have to check to see if it goes into the cat, i thought it came from the block into my car, no where near the exhaust system

 

Just checked and it does come out of the right side of the motor

 

Can you snap up a pic?

 

is your car a auto? there is some sort of system that feeds into the engine from the trans and can leak ATF causing what you explain.

 

No, mine is a 5 spd, if I had my camera I would take a pic, I should get it back tommorow, The thing I noticed is that when I ride it kinda hard, the flames accure, maybe for 4 min even after the car is off, but when I ride it slow with the choke off most of the time it is only a little red...also my car shuts off if the choke is in and the car is slowing down :-(

 

what do you mean by on fire?
cause correct me if i am wrong but it's not the liquid gas that explodes it's the vapours.
you can put a match out in a pool of gas. so i don't really think there could be enough gas in there to actually sustain a flame, maybe i just don't understand what you're saying though..

 

As true as that is, gas will almost always have a vapor.

Be my guest with that pool and a match.


I'm not trying to doubt or undermine you, but when I read that I found out how much soda burns in the nostrils.

 

Uhm if liquid gas wasnt what burned...then explain cars? Last time I checked we use the fuel to um.....ignite the gas/02 micture to create power? lol

 

nono i know liquid gas is flammable, i mean if it's vapour exploding it's not gonna be a flame it's gonna be a fireball like a backfire. and obviously you can light some gas with a match i just meant that if you have like a bucket or whatever of gas you can quickly put a match into it without it lighting on fire. i just kinda said it like a retard....

 

damn i sound like an idiot again. okay one more time, liqiud gas is flammable but it doesn't explode. there i'm gonna stop before i **** it up....

 

Calm down guys, Check this out, The hose connects to a diff jose that connects to the thing the oil filter is on..... So the hose that the burnt trail was goign to connects to the other hose, not directely to the engine or the oil filter, also, flames where coming out of the sides of the cat, trust me i know what i saw, and i also had to get new underwhere afterwards. ;-)

 

Oh my, will you sign the papers to be my new hero?

Anyone with ***** to try this:

"if you have like a bucket or whatever of gas you can quickly put a match into it without it lighting on fire"

...should be everyones hero.

I'm just being funny, I'm not antagonizing you though. Everytime I read the comments about gas and fire from you, I can't help but laugh.

 

Okay MazdaspeedDan; See if this might sound right...

The burnt trail is actually a smoke trail that originates at your cat. When the car stops, the smoke follows this line (probably up the transmission well?) and leaves a dark trail of soot. If this sounds right, then leave your coolant line alone (the one with orange liquid in it), but I would consider flushing that rusty water out soon.

As far as what is causing the fire in the cats, before you do anything else, verify that you have spark on your leading ignition. While you're at it, take a look at the condition of the plugs and let us know what they look like. Loss of your lead ingition could cause unburnt fuel to get into the exhaust. It also runs the engine in a retarded timing state, which will heat your exhaust up to a nice cherry red.

Check that stuff out and post back...

 

You hit the nail on the hammer, I am going to go check leading ignition now...or try to ..lol

 

Ok, leading ignition is FINE, it is getting spark..

 

Also the spark Plugs seem to be in decent shape..Any other suggestions?

 

do what has already been said, pull ALL the plugs and see if they are fouled, if they are running rich....

if the plugs are fouled it's your carbies you are running way to rich or some other asssociated problem with your fuel system

If the plugs are oxidised, your running too lean, once again carby/fueling system issues (but will cause your exhaust to run a hell of a lot hotter maybe casuing these fires)

if the plugs are fine it's not your engine casuing the problem, so you will need to look for leeks from your hoses ect ect.

 

After work im going to end try and mess with the carb and trying adjusting it, also, I can visibly see a opening about 2 inches wide in my cat..i can probly stick a quarter in it, meanings that the cat broke apart where it was sealed because its 21 years old. eek ,thats where the fire is coming from

 

and there lies your problem. The cat is there to help burn the unburnt gases from the engine. If it has access to outside oxygen, it will burn. Why don't you dump the cat? As long as you don't have emissions laws in your state.

 

I would dump my cat....But I the damn screws are like Oxidized on there, and i have nothing that can take it off...any suggestions... also if I take the cat off will fire shoot out of the exhaust? that could be bad for a cop to see..also how do i make the engine run a little leaner because it seems im putting out way to much gas..Thanks