The 72 caught on fire tonight.

[GWN7]

I normally run #1 gas in everything but the truck so I don't have problems with E-85 but I think the kid borrowed the 72 last year and must have put E-85 in it. Normally after it's winter nap I toss some gas down the throat and it coughs to life. Not this year. Gas smelt a bit off so I pumped some from the tank to look.

Normal gas on the right. What was coming out of the tank on the left.



I estimated 7 gals in the tank. There was about 11. After waiting for the extra gallon to evaporate off the ground I put 10 gals of fresh #1 in the tank and tried to start it. It coughed, sputtered and ran for a bit. More gas tossed in the throat. Started and ran but really rough then died. More gas.....started, ran a bit better and then "POP" and quit. I sat in the car thinking maybe some Seafoam to see if I can clear the carb. I get out and there is flames licking under the air cleaner all around. Extinguisher mounted just inside garage door. I broke the plastic pin in the extinguisher in my hurry to use it. Damage is minor. Replacing the carb (it's gone up $65 in the 17 years it's been on the car), one spark plug wire (getting a whole set) and the air cleaner/element. Now we see how fast Jegs delivers to the border.

Could have been a lot worse:





I already did a bunch of "While your in there" stuff. Fuel lines, filters ect....The air cleaner element was brand new.....

[LakeCleElum]

Glad you were prepared and it wasn't worse. Happened with my 73.5 10 yrs ago. I was only able to keep it in ck till Fire Dept arrived. With today's fuel, I start all my toys once a month in off season.

[DanielDudley]

Good save. I had an engine fire at the gas pump once.

I put it out with a 2 liter Orange Crush while Laurel and Hardy were wondering where the extinguisher was. They were quick to point out that I hadn't paid for the soda though.

[wdfifteen]

Whew! I thought you were talking about a Porsche. What flavor of "72" did you roast?

[Rick V]

Glad the damage was minimal. In the future, if you ever get a carb fire simply hit the starter, it will pull the fire down the intake and put it out. I know it sounds backwards but trust me. NEVER do that with an injected engine, only a carbed one.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That has to be a real pucker moment. I've been lucky and never had anything catch fire, but I have the extinguishers in my shop and garage just in case.

[petrolhead611]

Old Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines have a slight habit of catching fire like that and pumping the starter is the recommended way to deal with it

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Whew! I thought you were talking about a Porsche. What flavor of "72" did you roast?

72 Porsche 914 with a 300 hp 350 cu in SBC. Looks completely stock (not that many even know what a 914 is) except for the twin 3" exhaust tips sticking out back.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Glad it wasn't worse. We had a bad fire in a vintage race last weekend. A real 914-6 that was pretty modified. Electrical short ended up rupturing an oil cooler hose near the battery to solenoid cable, oil caught fire, then carb. Driver made it out. His fire system failed but the safety guys were on it. Car was pretty badly damaged.

[bkreigsr]

time to check all my extinguishers for plastic pins.
Bill K

[Tobra]

Patrick, I believe that is Bruces's V-8 914

[surflvr911sc]

I just picked up one of these for my '64 Bus. I may put one on the street 911 too.

Jogr Blazecut Video

[bleucamaro]

An interesting read

Jay Leno hates ethanol | Autoweek

[GWN7]

I have fire extinguishers in every vehicle, even the boat. Three in the house and two in the garage. If you have one you can attempt to do something. Without, all you can do is stand there.........

I had to call 911 to get a incident number if I wanted to make a insurance claim. There used to be a non emergency phone number you could call but they did away with that. First you get police 911 dispatch. "What's your emergency?" Then you explain it's not a emergency, car fire, out. Then they transfer you to Fire/Ems dispatch. Which asks "What's your emergency?" To which I explain again car fire, out, need a incident number for insurance. The girl asked "are you sure it's out?" I said "31 years on the job, retired as Captain. I think I'm qualified to determine if a fire is out."

[intakexhaust]

Daaauuumm. Good on you saving it.

When you mentioned '72, reminded me of years ago and my 911E. Purchased a pair of OE heat exchangers from a so called Porsche guru. He had freshly sprayed some white coating on them telling me it was some rust preventive high heat type. Fucher was high temp formula all right. I'm tooling down the highway with my fresh mount exhaust, pull in a driveway, get out and only then noticed the fire below! Grabbed the handy halon (back then) and managed to save it all.

[turn9]

This sits on the rear seat area of my '72T RS clone. Discharge nozzles in the engine compartment and under the dash, close to the driver.

Hope to never use it...