Yikes! I just saw a MCS engine on fire...

[fox]

I'm cursing at myself for not having my digitial camera with me or else I would be able to post pictures.

I'm posting from the Bay Area (northern California), and if any of you live in the area, you know of the Caldecott tunnel. I was driving east-bound on highway 24 around 11am today, and the tunnel is backed-up quite a ways, which is somewhat unusual for 11am. The stretch to the tunnel is uphill, and with traffic being stop and go, it's not unusual for some cars to stall before the tunnel. Just before I reach the tunnel, I see white smoke billowing 100 feet up in the air. Then I see what's under the smoke: an Indi Blue/Black Top MCS stalled on the side of the road, WITH ITS ENGINE ON FIRE! The poor driver was grabbing stuff out of the back and talking to the cop on scene. The fire truck has not reached the scene yet, so the car is just burning. The hood is down, but huge orange flames could be scene burning the front of the car producing an enormous cloud of white smoke. I don't have pictures, but plenty of people saw this car burning, and I noticed at least one passing driver taking a picture of it with his camera phone.

You must realize the terror that struck me as I drove by this burning car, because I was DRIVING MY MCS at the time! And then I remember that once I was stuck in traffic before the tunnel, going uphill, and noticed a little white smoke (maybe it was steam) coming up from my hood and smelling a metallic burning smell. Nothing came of it, but it was the same smell I smelled when I drove by the burning MCS!

This is really freaking me out. I wish I can find the burning MCS owner and ask him exactly what happened, but I probably won't be able to. I did a search in the forum about engine fires, and noted at least one instance when a MINI engine burst inexplicably into fire. How can I make sure my engine won't burst into flames?

After this experience, I'll be checking my engine oil levels and changing my engine oil more frequently, but is there anything else I should be aware of?

[Johnny225]

Well, it usually happens if you rev the engine constantly at 6000 rpm. Also, if break in was done improperly, that could result. All you can really do is to, like you said, check your oilo levels frequently, and take good care of your engine!

[Barnabas]

Holy crap, that's pretty frightening. I wonder if the MCS engine is under enough load it starts to do bad things? But man how scary is that, watching a burning MCS and driving by one in an MCS!

Maybe the owner is a member here or on NAM (condolscences to the owner for hi/her loss) and will post why and how his engine caught on fire. But from what I know it might have been an early model MCS, there's a few accounts on here where MC/MCS caught on fire.

And finally you should get your car checked out by a dealer, wouldn't want something more serious to happen.

[OregonCooper]

Wasn't this a problem with older (i.e. 2002) MCSs that has been resolved by now? I seem to remember reading something about it awhile back.

[ScottyB]

Yikes, that would so freak me out being in one at the time...

Was it an unusually hot day or anything like that?

[SFJAMES]

ooooh, so close to home... wonder what happened?
Anyway, I frequently go under my hood to check things out, especially to check for leaks. I noticed my valve cover gasket leaking @ about 14,000 miles, took it in and it got changed. Since then, no leaks thank god. But I think it is def. wise to inspect the engine compartment for wet spots and such. I often wonder about the oil lines and filter being so close to the header. hmm. Anyways motor on, Brutus will definately will.

[fox]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyB

Yikes, that would so freak me out being in one at the time...

Was it an unusually hot day or anything like that?

It wasn't a hot day. Temperature was in the 60s F.

I drove by the spot again today and just seeing the burn marks and charred car pieces on the ground made my heart ache. I wish that owner the best. I would be devastated if it happened to me...

Anyway, I'll just use this experience to force myself to take better care of my car and be more diligent about checking under the hood. My MCS is a Feb 2003 build, so it probably doesn't have some of the problems the early models have. Thanks for the comments everyone!

[dlaugh]

Buy that Mini!

[ScottyB]

Quote: Originally Posted by dlaugh

Buy that Mini!

Thats a handful of engine fires now

Should be able to pick them all up on Ebay