Matt Gruber

And how to avoid a carb fire.
Both success stories and conflagrations welcome

magicv8

A freind put his out with dirt and gravel rather than hose the engine with extinguisher chemicals.

I carry a big bad Halon extinguisher.

Subfixer

Several ways worked for me, but of course avoiding a fire would be preferrable. Sometimes it works just cranking over the engine and the flames will get sucked down the carb and go out. I always keep a damp towel handy to cover the carb if it flames up. And a fire extinguisher in case it gets a little out of hand.

I lost my 62 many years ago (I was 19 and knew it all) to a combination fuel leak at the carbs (2X4) and backfire through the carb (not running air cleaners, no choke, cold morning). Once the gas on the intake caught hold, it was all over. I was able to save the tail lights and rear bumpers after the fire was put out.

67's

I put one out for a friend at a carwash with a 6-pack of budweiser.

All that was handy.

Tom M

Vetterodder

If the engine is properly tuned and everything is in good condition it shouldn't backfire to begin with. It takes a little more time to set everything up correctly before you try starting it but that's the only way to prevent a backfire. If there is a risk of fire, I agree with Subfixer's damp towel suggestion.

magicv8

I thought you were talking about fuel on the manifold type of fire.

IMO Fire in the hole is best avoided by good air cleaners with flame arrestors on the pcv port.

Viet Nam Vett

My Friend Bob that I grew up with once used Pee Pee to put out a Carb fire on his Dad's 58 Buick Limited. We had just pulled out of the " Hot Shops Dive Inn".....in Phila when big Bertha Belchted ..and stumbled and rolled to a stop about 300 ft from the drive inn.

Bob's dad had nothing in the car to fight a fire with. Nor did we. So...Bob used what he had....Pee Pee..to exstinguish the flames. It was 1:am Sunday morrning. We both just had Burgers and Fries and 2 super large cokes... plenty of ammo......

Ron Miller

Oh, the times I wish I were there with a camera . . . . .

joec

Oh that was great!!!! Gald you didn't have any alchohol or it could've been worse... At least for the pee'r....

/joe

Brutal64

So WTH!? Were ya out of quarters. I know it's just Bud but it's still beer.

Midyearnut

If it gets to the point where you definitely need an extinguisher, I'd use a Halon or a CO2. They don't leave the mess to clean up like the dry chemical extinguishers.
Bob L.

w1ctc

When I was a kid, the fire dept. came because a 53 ford carb was burning. They lopped off the carb with an ax and stuck a hose down the manifold.

65air_coupe

And a friend of mine did the same thing to my Ford 406 Tri-Power, but not before removing the air cleaner first

Rubyred

I experienced a carb fire while participating in a Labor Day parade. I used my handy Sears fire extinguisher. Later my mechanic told me it would have been better to simply drop a shop rag over the carb.

That sounds like a better idea. Back in physics class we learned that it takes 3 things to make a fire--high temperature, fuel and air. The rag cuts off the air supply thereby sufficating the fire.

To continue my story, I quickly put the fire out but could not move the car until a fireman checked to see that the fire was out and the car was driveable. Of course, it took about 45 minutes for the fire truck to get there since they were all in the parade.

Denney

If the fire is coming from the carb, this way works 99.9% of the time. If it's a fuel leak that is causing the fire, only a fire extinguisher is up to the job.

Matt Gruber

Kudos to Subfixer & Denny
if it won't start i pump it while cranking and it starts.
keep the funny stories coming guys

Viet Nam Vett

That would have been an oil well fire...!!!!

mrg

You want to attack the fire as quickly as possible. If the fire is allowed to burn for too long a HOT fire develops making it much harder to put out. Especially so should the fire spread too far.

Depending on the size of the fire - if small, a wet rag might be enough to do the trick. Otherwise, a well aimed discharge from a fire extinguisher is the next best option. Direct the extinguishing stream at the base of the fire to smother it out.

I believe halon used as a fire extinguishing agent has been discontinued for use.

John

Matt Gruber

Double Kudos to magicv8
NEVER ATTEMPT TO START WITHOUT A PAPER FILTER W/TOP ON
IF A FIRE STARTS IT WILL USE UP THE OXYGEN AND QUICKLY DIMINISH GIVING PLENTY OF TIME TO CRANK AND RESTART

JohnZ

The "original" Halon 1211 has been discontinued, but has been replaced by more environmentally friendly compounds such as "Halotron" and several others that are just as effective and don't destroy everything they touch like dry-chemical extinguishers do. I have Halon extinguishers in all my cars and have two within easy reach in the work area in my garage.