Thread: D3 up in flames

Hi All,

Seems a burning D3 is a generator for some questions. As I stated in my original post I was not involved in person but do have some further information which I can add.

Cameron; The vehicle was a diesel D3.
Pathfinder; Sorry but I dont know if they went 'off road'
Graeme; I am told that the fluid flowing from underneath the vehicle was diesel fuel.
Old Salt & Ozscott; Sorry but I don't know if they had an extinguisher handy. Suffice to say the comments were 'it happend very quickly'. No doubt it took some effort to get the boat detached and pushed out of harms way.

Big Guy; Yep, I l concur with you and reckon it won't buff out!

From what I have been advised subsequently the vehicle is being brought to Perth for investigation and determination re the cause of the fire.

I feel sorry for the people involved. I am told they were more than happy with the vehicle up until that little event.

Lindsay (LGM)

I had a leak from the HP fuel pump on my D3 due to a failed seal. I was lucky as mine was a weeping leak.

At the time the LR dealer said it was nothing to worry about as the fuel was diesel!!!!!

That statement was absolute rubbish! (and was indicative of the responses I generally received from them!)

If the seal were to perish in a different manner, causing the fuel to come out as an atomised spray (it is a High Pressure fuel pump) as actually happened in a few cases, it would easily ignite on the turbo housing which is nearby.

Mine was a 2005 D3 and I'm assuming the newer models have a modified part. My HP pump was replaced my a different model number to the original.

I carried a fire extinguisher, but if my D3 had caught fire, I'd have got my family out and moved to safety rather than risk trying to extinguish it. I too think the camera was the best option.

Originally Posted by Jamo

I carried a fire extinguisher, but if my D3 had caught fire, I'd have got my family out and moved to safety rather than risk trying to extinguish it. I too think the camera was the best option.

I tend to agree. The problem with opening the bonnet, assuming do you do not burn your hands just attempting that, is if it is an engine fire, there can be a big flareup when all that new fresh air and the vertical air circulation path is provided. If you are in a City, sometimes the fire department will show up quickly and can control the fire while it is still smoldering, assuming the hood is not opened. It is kind of a judgement thing.

As to the fire extinguisher, yes fortunately only once have I had a small fire in a truck engine compartment. I used a 20 pound dry chemical fire extinguisher, but that is not the size of extinguisher that easily fits into a 3. (about 8" OD and 22" high). The fire was caused by a broken gas line and it did occur to me after the fact, that it may have gone out itself once the engine was turned off.

Yep - you certainly don't open the bonnet "all the way" as this causes a big flare up and it's all over pretty quick after that... however if you can safely "pop" the bonnet catch onto the "stops" and then stick the nozzle of the extinguisher into the gap and empty the contents into the engine bay it can sometimes - and I stress sometimes - achieve the desired result for you.
Fires can be very hard to fight and sometimes "discretion is the better part of valour" as they say....cars etc can be replaced - people can't.
I hope my comments about the extinguisher didn't offend anybody as that was not my intention - however I do feel quite strongly that correct fire extinguisher use should be taught as part of any 4WD course - plus some basic first aid, after all the life you save could be your own !!!
cheers

Originally Posted by oldsalt

Yep - you certainly don't open the bonnet "all the way" as this causes a big flare up and it's all over pretty quick after that... however if you can safely "pop" the bonnet catch onto the "stops" and then stick the nozzle of the extinguisher into the gap and empty the contents into the engine bay it can sometimes - and I stress sometimes - achieve the desired result for you.
Fires can be very hard to fight and sometimes "discretion is the better part of valour" as they say....cars etc can be replaced - people can't.
I hope my comments about the extinguisher didn't offend anybody as that was not my intention - however I do feel quite strongly that correct fire extinguisher use should be taught as part of any 4WD course - plus some basic first aid, after all the life you save could be your own !!!
cheers

I did a few fire fighting courses when i was in the Navy, and i reckon that unless it was very small, i would get everyone out and watch it burn from a safe distance. Not sure if there is much magnesium in a Discovery, but from memory putting water on a magnesium fire accelerates it.
CHeers,
Peter

Originally Posted by Busman

Older Rangie V8's are well known for catching fire....

....For the price of a extinguisher, all my cars have one fitted.

I carry 2 in the old Rangie. 1 behind the centre console that I can grab as I exit the car, and one in the back I can use as well if the first one runs out.

Pulled up behind an old VW once that had just pulled over, and was starting to burn - by the time the owner had got out and grabbed his own extinguisher, it was all too late - as mentioned, a .9Kg unit won't go far. I would imagine you would need to catch it very early to have a decent chance.

Bad news all around when this sort of thing happens...

Originally Posted by petera

Not sure if there is much magnesium in a Discovery, but from memory putting water on a magnesium fire accelerates it. Cheers,Peter

For some reason, I think the transmission case of the ZF 6HP26 is magnesium - if so, at least that would explain why it costs so much relative to the Ford 6R60/80 sort of equivalent. I may be wrong but ...

Seems that you would have buckleys chance of saving the car.
Good to hear the comments by everyone, as it brings to all of our attention, what symptoms and relative action, if this similar unfortunate situation arises.