Have been doing some investigation into an oil leak on the ECossy lately. Anyway, think I have sorted the biggest issue and only have a slight leak now.....
....Due to our other car being in the garage over the weekend it means i've no choice but to use the ECossy (In this s**tty weather I hasten to add!! ) to get about in. Took it to Tescos to put some 99 in, pulled up to the pump, stopped the engine and thought "Something smells" but thought it was just the smell of the "Gunk" residue on the exhaust. After about £10 worth of fuel added to the car I turned to look at the bonnet to see smoke pouring out of the vent. The nozzle was VERY quickly replaced into the pump, nearly falling over myself trying to get the drivers door open to pull the bonnet handle and at the same time shouting to the misses to get Thomas (Our 19 Month old son) and herself OUT!!!, opened the bonnet to see smoke billowing from the right hand side of the Turbo As I tried to blow the smoke away to see where it was coming from a.....

...get this....

STRAY PAPER TOWEL that I had been using had slipped onto the exhaust manifold and caught fire!! proper flames once I had blown away the smoke I grabbed the nearest Fire extinguisher and sprayed the engine, flames out instantly, one engine covered in white powder and the Tesco staff all of a panic running across the forecourt!!

My misses went mad, completely freaked out and was very dubious about getting back in the car even once I had poured a bucket of water over the engine to wash away the powder. A VERY LUCKY ESCAPE I THINK!!!!!! No damage apart from pride lol

Moral of the story...

NEVER EVER leave paper towels in the engine bay

 

OOOOOOO man arent you the lucky lucky boy...... doesnt even bare thinking about what could of happened thank god for cossies been hard on petrol...... if you didnt pull in for some just think where you could be now.... RULE NUMBER 1 FOR ALL COSSIE OWNERS ALWAYS CARRY A MINI FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH YOU>> they only cheap and could safe your pride and joy some day...

 

bet you felt a bit glad to hear it was nothing major, its easily done though

 

My cossie has been been on fire a few times and its not nice...

even tho its only a small fire it still has the weird feeling of being out of control if you know whast I mean...

 

a lost a mrk2 rs2000 due to a engine fire there is 2 in the escos now

 

This is why my fire extinguisher is always in close reach whilst in the car.

Lucky escape mate. Glad your all ok tho

 

Off to Halfords to buy an extinguisher today, not ever risking it again!!

 

Golden Bollocks mate. You need that heat shield on ASAP it would not have got down there with that on.

 

1)People in the back.
2)Using it in the wet.
3)Dirty engine bay.
4)Old Ford on fire for all to see.

 

Very lucky mate, funny as i have got myself a little (well really) paranoide of late about engine fires and my car burning out, not to sure why, maybe seeing a golf on youtube get completly burnt out and it only started with a tiny flame, bought myself a extinguisher other day just incase. Mark

 

let's hope you haven't cracked the red hot exhaust manifold with the cold extinguisher, water and all

 

glad to hear your family and car are ok but quick take the extinguisher
back to halfords,and get yourself down to Ringways, they will sell you
a genuine FORD one that fits under the front of the passenger seat
then you can keep it FORD