2011 35d Fire/Smoldering (help needed!)

[quackbury]

Okay, what am I missing?

If there was a "fire" there would have been some evidence in the engine compartment, right? Melted plastic, charred paint, soot marks, whatever? Even if it was just a piece of road trash or a rodent nesting on the exhaust manifold, there would be SOMETHING left behind. Seems pretty black and white to me - if there was evidence, you had a fire. If no evidence, no fire.

In the case of the X5 that burned to the ground, I am guessing a loose connection sprayed fuel on the exhaust manifold. If that had happened to the OP, turning off the ignition wouldn't have made a darn bit of difference.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by quackbury

If that had happened to the OP, turning off the ignition wouldn't have made a darn bit of difference.

If you have an engine fire from a loose fuel connection, it certainly wouldn't hurt to shut off the fuel pump to stop pumping and spraying more fuel under the hood. Probably would still be totaled and not change the conclusion, but I would expect the fire would develop a bit slower if more diesel wasn't being pumped into the fire.

In any case, if I see smoke coming from under the engine compartment, I'll turn the ignition off to depressurize the fuel system as I leave the vehicle.

[quackbury]

Originally Posted by Penguin

If you have an engine fire from a loose fuel connection, it certainly wouldn't hurt to shut off the fuel pump to stop pumping and spraying more fuel under the hood. Probably would still be totaled and not change the conclusion, but I would expect the fire would develop a bit slower if more diesel wasn't being pumped into the fire.

In any case, if I see smoke coming from under the engine compartment, I'll turn the ignition off to depressurize the fuel system as I leave the vehicle.

Okay. I'll buy that.

But I still don't see how shutting off the ignition would magically erase any byproducts of combustion or other evidence that Mr. ABMW's new ride self-combusted.

Where's Thuder when we need him?

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by quackbury

But I still don't see how shutting off the ignition would magically erase any byproducts of combustion or other evidence that Mr. ABMW's new ride self-combusted.

You are correct, it won't. If there was a fire, there would almost certainly be evidence.

Unlike the saying, in this case, where there's smoke there isn't necessarily fire, e.g., I'd be looking for a leak near the particulate filter, valve cover oil leak onto exhaust, etc.