On I-95 an hour ago. A semi had an engine fire, the entire front end was burned off. I didn't think that was supposed to happen with diesel engines, but I was obviously wrong. Made a mess out of traffic, too.
On I-95 an hour ago. A semi had an engine fire, the entire front end was burned off. I didn't think that was supposed to happen with diesel engines, but I was obviously wrong. Made a mess out of traffic, too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_point
A few weeks ago, I saw a brand new CTS Coupe in the ditch with its nose touching a tree.
Did I mention it was a dry sunny day on a long straight road?
I've seen tractors catch fire before. It happens.
Not sure why a diesel couldn't burn.
Ouch.
The flashpoint is just higher than gasoline.
I've seen lots of burned out big trucks. Some guys over load the electrical system with accessories. I'm sure there are other causes. This is just TA first to mind.
A few years ago I saw a tractor burning on an overpass, burning from the engine area. It surprised me too, but yeah diesel will burn. In fact, the forklift shop I worked at had one catch fire because a hydraulic line sprang a leak and a fine mist of hydraulic oil sprayed in the engine compartment.
Probably 20 years ago I was driving down a two land road in the middle of nowhere. Sitting out in a corn field was a logging truck burning merrily along, not just the engine compartment, but the entire tractor was engulfed in flames. As we came around the next bend, I see something sitting in the middle of the road. It looked like a bundle of singed rags. It was the driver. He was probably in his 60s, his shoes were melted, his pants burned. He had a broken leg, as well as burns, scrapes and bruises. He had jumped out of the cab at 60 mph because a ball of flames came out from under the dash. He thought the engine had thrown a rod and sprayed engine oil all over the hot exhaust and turbocharger. Then the heating system blew that fire into the cab. No warning, just a ball of fire and he opened the door and bailed. The truck was almost a mile from where he jumped.
Cell phones were toys for the rich at the time, so I sat with the man while the guy I was working with drove to the nearest farm house to call an ambulance. We ended up sitting with him for 40 minutes before the fire department and ambulance arrived. Like I said, it was the middle of nowhere.
Wow, how horrible for that poor logging truck driver. 
Thank you for staying with him, you are an extraordinary person for doing that.
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