3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Engine (passenger side) caught on fire!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 01:28 PM
  #1  
sed0822's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
OK Engine (passenger side) caught on fire!

The first thing is my engine light came on and I noticed there was blackish/blue/gray smoke coming from the left side as you face the front of the RX7. So I took the breather mech/ apart and discovered that the engine some how was releasing or leaking motor oil on to the manifold thus catch the droplets on fire. Engine and Turbo still good, as far as I can tell. Can someone please help me? There was motor oil all over the air filter most of the breather tubes as well. How can I fix this problem? What is causing it?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 01:39 PM
  #2  
njstreetrx7's Avatar
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 0
From: new jersey
burn?

Originally Posted by sed0822
The first thing is my engine light came on and I noticed there was blackish/blue/gray smoke coming from the left side as you face the front of the RX7. So I took the breather mech/ apart and discovered that the engine some how was releasing or leaking motor oil on to the manifold thus catch the droplets on fire. Engine and Turbo still good, as far as I can tell. Can someone please help me? There was motor oil all over the air filter most of the breather tubes as well. How can I fix this problem? What is causing it?
i highly doubt oil with direct contact of oil on manifold would catch fire instead up burning off.

UNLESS, you have heat wrap of some sort or wires ?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 01:48 PM
  #3  
sed0822's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
...for some reason the motor oil was either sucked in or pushe threw the air hose mechanism and the leaking on the turbos' or manifold itself causing lots of stinking petrolium fire...
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 01:54 PM
  #4  
DarkLikePoe's Avatar
It's dark like Poe.
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: California
Originally Posted by sed0822
...for some reason the motor oil was either sucked in or pushe threw the air hose mechanism and the leaking on the turbos' or manifold itself causing lots of stinking petrolium fire...
Again, strange that it'd ignite instead of just plume smoke and burn off... if it was REALLY on fire, is it possible you've got a fuel leak somewhere?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 02:05 PM
  #5  
sed0822's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Yes, it was really on fire (for a few seconds). I took the fire out with a fire extinguisher. I'm taking the engine apart rightnow and I didn't see no fuel leak?!??! Could it be a build-up of residue somewhere? I have no clue, what else to look for?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 02:07 PM
  #6  
windom's Avatar
exhaust overheat
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 558
Likes: 1
From: La Crosse, WI
Are you sure it was actually a fire and not just heated and smoking oil? It sounds like a high pressure oil line failed at some spot.
Either turbo oil lines going in, or somehow a PCV line failure?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 02:17 PM
  #7  
sed0822's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
OK,
I took off the two hoses that connect onto the two turbos' itself. I started the engine briefly less then 15 seconds and notice the engine oil was coming outward where the hoses connect on the turbo.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 03:47 PM
  #8  
djseven's Avatar
Eh
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,552
Likes: 344
From: Nashville, TN
I had this happen from a bad front cover leak driving an fd back from Florida about 4 yrs ago, it was about 4 in the morning so I thought I was just seeing things. The oil actually ignited, just so happened to catch it soon enough that no damage was done.

If you have oil coming out the intakes and BOV I would think you are having some turbo oil seal issues. Time for a new/good used set of twins to go on.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2008 | 05:18 PM
  #9  
Bob_760's Avatar
How do I made boost?
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: VA
I've had this same thing happen to me... Oil can catch on fire on our exhausts, it's still unusual but it's possible. I had a small intermittent oil leak from one of the oil lines on the turbos that we had a really hard time tracking down and fixing. For a few months it was nothing more than a tiny bit of smoke from time to time but one day it DID catch on fire.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ninja636
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
25
Aug 19, 2015 01:52 PM
Frisky Arab
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
13
Aug 18, 2015 05:30 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:36 PM.