engine compartment fires?

[onerareviper]

No insurance on a $50,000 - $60,000 car? Is this guy insane, or did he steal the car?

[Y2K5SRT]

While it is rare, you occasionally hear about a fire resulting from a loose power steering hose or loose cap that pops off (power steering fluid is very flammable). I believe this horrific fire is a result of that same problem. Keep us posted!

Chris

[MightyP]

Don't have my own Viper but I rented a 2001 GTS that had ~800 miles on it when I started. I drove it about 20 miles (not exactly obeying the posted limits) and then opened the hood to show a few friends. That's when my wife asked why the engine was smoking... Sure enough, there was smoke rolling off the left exhaust. The power steering cap was completely gone and fluid had splashed out and was smoldering on the header wraps.

The funny part was when I had my friends give me a ride to Discount Auto Parts. I went right up the counter and asked for the cap and when I gave the clerk the make and model. The look I got back was worth a mint Of course they didn't have one and he told me to go to the deal. Instead I grabbed a generic GM power steering cap because it looked to be the correct size. Sure enough, it fit like a charm

Anyhow, I can see how that would/could have caused an engine fire....

[ViperGTS]

I lost my power steering cap two times last year...no fire or smoke so far.
Nevertheless, I will ask my dealer to have it replaced under warranty!

[MtHam ACR]

As a newbie to Viperdays (last weekend, thunderhill CA), I took the "rookie" class. Skip Thomas did a great job familiarizing us with the ins-and-outs of these unique cars.

He did spend disproportionate amount of time explaining the PS fluid reservior problem - bottom line, as mentioned, was thermal expansion the different materials of the reservior vs. the cap. His solution, as stated many times above was, everytime you're under your hood, you should have a hand on that cap checking it for tightness before you close the lid. This thing sits right over the exhaust manifold for crimmony sake, it's important to check it.

[I sorta wonder if the yellow RT/10 guy's fire (condolences) was the result of someone at the dealership screwing around under the hood.]

Eric

[cycloneGTS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by VettetoViper:
I am alittle concerned about the number of posts I have read about power-steering cap problems (or whatever with the power steering).
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Same here, I thought VettetoViper's was an isolated incident (of course, the magnitude was). I'll be checking mine regularly. Surely there would be a recall if DC realizes a real problem here.

[Jack B]

Question - how could the power steering fluid maintain the fire. As it splashs out it might start a flame up, however, there is not a lot of tinder under the hood. The heat/energy required to catch the valve cover on fire would have to be extraordinary.

There would have to be a lot of cal/cm2 concentrated right at the cover to catch it on fire. Once you reach a high enough temperature the aluminum will actually burn and release its energy content into the fire.

How about a 50 psi leak from the injector runner? The proximity to the cover would make sense. A void in the runner created during the casting process could go unnoticed. .