This is horrible!
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- AshleyPark
- Second Gear
- Posts: 87
- Joined: 19 Feb 2017
- Location: Surrey
That's horrific... Video was posted by a Todd Girgulis... appears to be somewhere in North America...
Phil Harrison
1972 Elan Sprint 0260K
1972 Elan Sprint 0260K
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pharriso - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 3479
- Joined: 15 Sep 2010
- Location: Long Island NY, USA
Been there, had that happen, no T shirt though. 

- Slowtus
- Third Gear
- Posts: 427
- Joined: 22 Sep 2017
- Location: Canada
But there will be a Pheonix coming out of the ashes, won't there?
1964 S1 (at paint shop)
1967 S3 DHC
1969 S4 FHC (at BB's home)
https://theelanman.com for details on Brian Bucklands book.
https://shop.lotus-books.com for more Lotus related books.
We ship worldwide. PM/Email me.
1967 S3 DHC
1969 S4 FHC (at BB's home)
https://theelanman.com for details on Brian Bucklands book.
https://shop.lotus-books.com for more Lotus related books.
We ship worldwide. PM/Email me.
- gherlt
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 589
- Joined: 20 Jul 2006
- Location: Weiden (DE) & Tarragona (ES)
gherlt wrote:But there will be a Pheonix coming out of the ashes, won't there?
Being a Lotus it would have to be an Eonix.
- Slowtus
- Third Gear
- Posts: 427
- Joined: 22 Sep 2017
- Location: Canada
A good reminder to inspect your fuel lines and cover exposed positive terminals.
There is no cure for Lotus, only treatment.
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StressCraxx - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1313
- Joined: 26 Sep 2003
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
My engine fire 4 years ago could have ended like this. It was a hot day and I did a club rally with my daughter. Suddenly there was a ‚bang‘ followed by flames leaking from the bonnet. We stopped immediately, I pulled my 1l extinguisher, opened the bonnet a tad and killed the fire. After 20 sec. the flames were back, no more extinguisher, just a little water. The flames were back, but now nobody had an extinguisher or even a bottle of water. Finally I was able to stop the fire with some textile cloth and burnt my hands doing so. I was very lucky, but it still meant new paint, electrics and most of the rubber parts on the engine side. I still don‘t know what‘s started the fire, but most likely a leaking or fractured fuel line close to the fuel pump. What I learned from this: No fire extinguisher is to big to carry in the car. Learn how to use an extinguisher, because you don‘t and panic doesn‘t help. Fiberglass plus oil crud, once they have a certain temperature, will continue to burn.
- phil1800
- Second Gear
- Posts: 93
- Joined: 29 Jul 2016
- Location: Duesseldorf, Germany
My biggest nightmare. I check my carb fuel lines regularly, but am always worried that the Webers often have a bit of fuel residue under the misab washers after a run. I have been told this residue is normal, and to expect a bit of 'fuel varnish' to accumulate under the flexible washers. Maybe time to get two fire extinguishers, one under the seat and another in the trunk!
1967 Lotus Elan FHC Spyder Chassis
1972 MGB (since 1975)
1972 MGB (since 1975)
- billmoore42
- Second Gear
- Posts: 70
- Joined: 12 Apr 2018
- Location: Northern California
Also check your clutch hose to the slave cylinder, if that fails and sprays brake fluid on the exhaust you can also get an engine fire as happened on my Plus2.
Luckily it happened on the track and the fire marshals' got to the car in about 30 seconds and put it out after I had emptied my in car 1.5kg extinguisher to little effect
. The quick action by the marshals meant damage was limited luckily to plastic and rubber in the engine bay and paint scorching of the hood.
cheers
Rohan
Luckily it happened on the track and the fire marshals' got to the car in about 30 seconds and put it out after I had emptied my in car 1.5kg extinguisher to little effect

cheers
Rohan
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rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8511
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
I had just acquired rigid stainless steel fuel line. My plan, when the body comes off, or just feed the lines. Is to make some flare fittings which will hopefully stop this.
As Rohan points out, the clutch line. One of my cars has a newer braided stainless and as have been the comments before. Impossible to inspect.
My +2 on the other hand has rigid clutch line, flared fittings. And I am not as worried.
As Rohan points out, the clutch line. One of my cars has a newer braided stainless and as have been the comments before. Impossible to inspect.
My +2 on the other hand has rigid clutch line, flared fittings. And I am not as worried.
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 25 Sep 2010
- Location: RACECAR spelled backward, is——RACECAR! The Faster You Drive...The Slower You Age
h20hamelan wrote:I had just acquired rigid stainless steel fuel line. My plan, when the body comes off, or just feed the lines. Is to make some flare fittings which will hopefully stop this.
As Rohan points out, the clutch line. One of my cars has a newer braided stainless and as have been the comments before. Impossible to inspect.
My +2 on the other hand has rigid clutch line, flared fittings. And I am not as worried.
My Plus 2 had the rigid line from the slave to the bell housing and then flexible rubber brake line from the bell housing to the chassis and rigid line to the master cylinder. It was the flexible line from the bell housing to chassis that failed at the bell housing end spraying onto the exhaust.
cheers
Rohan
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rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8511
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Is silicone fluid safer in that respect, or is it just as flammable?
- AshleyPark
- Second Gear
- Posts: 87
- Joined: 19 Feb 2017
- Location: Surrey
rgh0 wrote:Also check your clutch hose to the slave cylinder, if that fails and sprays brake fluid on the exhaust you can also get an engine fire as happened on my Plus2.
Luckily it happened on the track and the fire marshals' got to the car in about 30 seconds and put it out after I had emptied my in car 1.5kg extinguisher to little effect. The quick action by the marshals meant damage was limited luckily to plastic and rubber in the engine bay and paint scorching of the hood.
cheers
Rohan
Slight thread drift, but I did read that many modern post-crash vehicle fires are caused by the brake fluid reservoir breaking free in the crash, depositing fluid over the exhaust. Very similar to Rohan's situation.
Modern electronics cuts the fuel pump in a crash, and unlike the Webers with their float chambers, there is no appreciable fuel in the injection system in the engine bay.
68 Elan S3 HSCC Roadsports spec
71 Elan Sprint (being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
71 Elan Sprint (being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
- Andy8421
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: 27 Mar 2011
- Location: Surrey, UK
Another good advertisement for an EFI conversion 

Hal Adams
Evora S
Elan +2
Evora S
Elan +2
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HCA - Fourth Gear
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- Location: Limoux, France
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