Fire hazard from leaking fluids?

[HemiHawk]

Hey all,
Hope this is the right place for this... Yesterday I started up my 97 Jeep with 4.0 I6, and while it idled for a minute I was checking tire pressure. I smelled something and noticed some "vapor" coming from the exhaust near the transmission/bell housing. I think it may have been some kind of plastic on the tailpipe, but I'm not sure. What I do know is that there is an oily coating under there from the trans and from some oil (rear main seal I think).

My question is... What are the chances of a fire from transmission fluid residue, on the bottom on the pan and possibly on the exhaust pipe? I think oil would have a pretty high combustion temp.

 

[Nick1994]

Jeep 4.0L? Very likely a rear main seal. I doubt it'll catch fire.

 

[Kawiguy454]

From my early years driving old beaters ...oil leaks on the engine didn't catch fire. Blowing a transmission line and spraying a red hot exhaust header is a flash fire.

 

[Jetronic]

last week a volvo xc90 owned by a guy on another forum went up in flames, completely. the fire started in the engine bay going by pictures. leaks and exhausts don't mix....

 

[Nick1994]

Fortunately the exhaust isn't behind the engine/transmission on the Cherokees.

 

[HemiHawk]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Fortunately the exhaust isn't behind the engine/transmission on the Cherokees.


Yea this isnt the header, its just the exit pipe below the car, which I still assume gets pretty hot. I'm going to try to clean the pipe up a bit, I really thing (hope) what I saw was some road debris caked on there burning off, because it started to smoke/vapor within 5 minutes of starting. I cant picture that even being hot enough to smoke oil/trans fluid.

 

[Rick in PA]

A common story for pick-up trucks with a snow plow. Heavy continuous plowing overheats transmission, transmission main seal blows spraying transmission fluid all over red hot exhaust, truck burns to ground.

My brother had it happen to him. Fortunately he got it put out in time by frantically scooping and tossing snow on the fire while it was still small under his truck.

If you plow snow, install a transmission temperature gauge and keep an eye on it.

I saw this one the winter before last on my way to work:

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

The hazard would depend on the amount and location. Rick's post reminded me of this:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ers#Post3954912

 

[Yup]

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
The hazard would depend on the amount and location. Rick's post reminded me of this:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ers#Post3954912


I'd say given a minor leak odds are low but higher than no leak, obviously. Rhymingmechanic summed it up.

 

[Lubener]

Anytime an oil drips onto a hot exhaust component a fire hazard exists. Use your better judgement and not someone's opinion who knows nothing and tells you it won't catch fire.

 

[MisterBen]

I've driven a lot of leaky beaters, and the only one I managed to burn to the ground was one that REALLY overheated the engine (lost coolant, kept driving).

 

[01rangerxl]

GM is concerned enough about it that they have a fairly recent (within the last year) recall campaign to replace the front valve cover and gasket on a lot of really old 3.8s. Apparently a 16 year old car may leak enough oil to cause a fire. They also get an oil filler cap/neck o-ring if needed and some spark plug wire retainers.