Small Fire

[spitzie]

I originally posted this on the TVR Club forum, but I would welcome your opinions.

Had a bit of fun this Sunday when backing the Tamora out of the garage. The engine turned over but wouldn't start, then noticed some greenish/yellow smoke coming out of the bonnet.
So quickly pushed the car onto the drive and grabbed the extinguisher. But there were no flames, only this funny smoke.
After seeing the picture of the burnt out Tuscans, descided to play safe and called out the Fire Brigade. After a few minutes, they arrived (fortunately, the station is just round the corner) but still no flames only the smoke. They got out the thermal imager and found that there was a small heat source in the air filter.
So the air filter box was taken apart and the the source of the smoke was found.

The suggestion is that it was caused by a backfire that ignited the oil on the filter, but I would like to know what caused the backfire

[Daston]

have you got a standard air box and trumpets?

Also I understand the oil tank needs pressure to work but could you not fit a second filter in the air box (like the little K&N ones) for the oil tank so that any oil would just get on the little filter and not the big one

[TVR_owner]

Daston said:

have you got a standard air box and trumpets?

Also I understand the oil tank needs pressure to work but could you not fit a second filter in the air box (like the little K&N ones) for the oil tank so that any oil would just get on the little filter and not the big one

I understand the suggestion to be that its a pre-oiled filter and that maybe the cause?

[spitzie]

Everything is standard

[TVR_owner]

Was it due, or overdue a service?

[spitzie]

It was due for it MOT and service this month.

[TVR_owner]

spitzie said:

It was due for it MOT and service this month.

S6 engines will not go 12 months or 6000 miles between services. They need to go back for a lap-top tweak about midway through the service interval to ensure correct idle speeds, throttle balance and optimum performance.

General running, a failure to start first time (especially from cold) all contribute to excess fuel being where it should not.

Bold statement, but I would suggest if your service had been done the week before the incident, it would probably not have happened.

My dealer takes about 20-25 minutes to do the lap-top tweak, the cars normally feel much better afterwards.

I would recommend any S6 owner revise their service thoughts to consider this relatively inexpensive items incorporation in the planned running costs.

[NTEL]

TVR_owner said:

spitzie said:

It was due for it MOT and service this month.

S6 engines will not go 12 months or 6000 miles between services. They need to go back for a lap-top tweak about midway through the service interval to ensure correct idle speeds, throttle balance and optimum performance.

General running, a failure to start first time (especially from cold) all contribute to excess fuel being where it should not.

Bold statement, but I would suggest if your service had been done the week before the incident, it would probably not have happened.

My dealer takes about 20-25 minutes to do the lap-top tweak, the cars normally feel much better afterwards.

I would recommend any S6 owner revise their service thoughts to consider this relatively inexpensive items incorporation in the planned running costs.

I totally agree with John. I have my throttle bodies checked and a lap top tweak when I feel it needs it and thats about every 2500 to 3000 miles. As John says, its only a 20 to 30 minute job and well worth it.

[andyoleary]

TVR_owner said:

spitzie said:

It was due for it MOT and service this month.

S6 engines will not go 12 months or 6000 miles between services. They need to go back for a lap-top tweak about midway through the service interval to ensure correct idle speeds, throttle balance and optimum performance.

General running, a failure to start first time (especially from cold) all contribute to excess fuel being where it should not.

Bold statement, but I would suggest if your service had been done the week before the incident, it would probably not have happened.

My dealer takes about 20-25 minutes to do the lap-top tweak, the cars normally feel much better afterwards.

I would recommend any S6 owner revise their service thoughts to consider this relatively inexpensive items incorporation in the planned running costs.

Agree with that, good advice. I think a 3K mile interval between balancing throttle-bodies and resetting throttle pots is about right and it doesn't take long. However, ignition in the TB's or in the airbox would most likely be down to valve timing/clearances, wouldn't it? That's technically a 12K mile interval (although I think every 6K is probably better).

Just my tuppence,

Andy