Pan fires (1 Viewer)

[flapjack]

When I was at Tasca's event in September, I talked to a guy that used to be
the diver (bottom end specialist) for Tasca III. He told me about pan fires. I
have to admit, I was skeptical, until I saw Trick Tank funny car (pan fire starts
about 15 seconds in).

Ryan Ramos, have you had this happen to you? How about you, Mike Dusinski?

 

[bottom end]

Yeah I had a small fire once after it kicked the rods out.

When I get in the car to tow back to the pits it's usually smoky and hot in there and smells of clutch dust, oil, brakes and rubber. This is normal.

One time while towing back my eyes were tearing so bad I could hardly see and I was choking on the fumes in the car. I try to keep the hatch open as much as possible but it closes on its own, and I need both hands to drive so
I dealt with it.

The absorbent pads inside the diaper had been smouldering the whole time and when I dropped the diaper, it got the air it needed to actually catch fire.

We put it out quickly and no one was hurt, it was a good lesson though.

 

[Huge]

Yeah I had a small fire once after it kicked the rods out.

When I get in the car to tow back to the pits it's usually smoky and hot in there and smells of clutch dust, oil, brakes and rubber. This is normal.

One time while towing back my eyes were tearing so bad I could hardly see and I was choking on the fumes in the car. I try to keep the hatch open as much as possible but it closes on its own, and I need both hands to drive so
I dealt with it.

The absorbent pads inside the diaper had been smouldering the whole time and when I dropped the diaper, it got the air it needed to actually catch fire.

We put it out quickly and no one was hurt, it was a good lesson though.

I remember that episode. That's why we always keep a can of cold shot handy.

 

[big guy]

On Vinnie Arcadis funny car,we blew the motor up,came to the pits,when we removed the body static electricity blew up the puke tank.Vinnie was pissed,blew it up on the track and in the pits.

 

[DrRocket]

On Vinnie Arcadis funny car,we blew the motor up,came to the pits,when we removed the body static electricity blew up the puke tank.Vinnie was pissed,blew it up on the track and in the pits.

In Ozarkspeak, that's called "I cayn't win for loozin!"

 

[Nitrohelper]

... On Vinnie Arcadis ... blew up the puke tank...

I do the front corner now ,so I think I'll stay there...
Did the two guys lifting the back off have to change their shorts ?...

 

[big guy]

It got everybodies attention.

 

[NitroHunter]

Pan fires used to be far more common,
In the mid 90's, sometimes when we drove through the (4 disc) clutch, it would get out of balance and cause the rear main bearing to spin in the block. Since I (the diver) usually had the pan down long before the intake manifold came off, I was several times treated to a substansial 'WOOF' of combustion and flames rolling out when the fresh air hit.
At that point the pan went STRAIT BACK UP and the motor came out... and more than once the head guys got hair burned off their legs.

I once observed a crew chief, highly annoyed with this situation, show his guys how he could 'blow out that little flame'. With a scowl, he pushed the crew aside, bent over into the lifter valley, and gave a mighty puff.
Flames instantly erupted and engulfed his head, starting his hair on fire - I swear it was a scene strait out of the 3 stooges. After swatting the fire out, uninjured but with several patches of hair still smouldering, he turned to the smirking crew and directed them to get that thing out...

 

[Ramos]

To answer your question. No I haven't had that problem yet,knock on wood. The oil we use stands up to nitro, doesn't get as diluted. Also my ring gaps are very good not much blow by. And only lost rods once in my 4 years with zizzo . I have to say I've been lucky . We have a great engine program and knocking on wood.

 

[big guy]

Alot of what people are calling pan fires,is the clutch guy dropping hot pieces into the drivers pan and igniting the little bit of oil and fuel that is there.

 

[flapjack]

Alot of what people are calling pan fires,is the clutch guy dropping hot pieces into the drivers pan and igniting the little bit of oil and fuel that is there.

I'm assuming you mean the diver's drip pan. Let me know if I screwed that up...