Hey guys, a kid i knows uncle has a ford 1 ton, 7.3 (dunno if its a powerstroke or not) anyway, he plugged it in today, and the truck caught fire. melted his dash and everything. can this happen on our trucks? this had me a little worried about plugging my truck in.
thanks.

 

Check the cord to make sure it's not worn through or cracked anywhere. If it looks good then I would say you are safe.

 

Do not EVER run pure antifreeze, it will catch on fire when you use your block heater. I have seen to many fires due to pure antifreeze.

Glenn

 

i know a guy that had a 01 or 02 7.3 that burned to the ground while plugged in. it was a completly gone and so was half of his trailer hooked to/parked behind it. i was hopping it was just a furd thing.

 

I haven't heard of this problem until today.
in the winter my truck gets plugged in when i get home a 5:30 and stays plugged in until 7:00 the next morning.

I had a problem with the block heater not working vary well, and had to replace a high resistant power cable....................I just don't thing it relates to us.

Would like to now what caused it in the f rds thow


RuralCruiser007, is antifreeze really that flamable??????


Flash.

 

With the few have dealt with, it was with the DND( department of National Defence(Canada)). I remember vividly of the investigation. The investigator asked me for the coolant strenght of the vehicle, within two years old that had a fire under the hood. The investigator asked me for a reading of hte coolant strength and I gave it to him, current at the time cause I took the reading cause I took it in front of him out of the lower rad hose. It read -90(pure or close to pure). He saw that and knew what it was and said what it was and said it was DND to pay for it. This was at a GM shop.

 

There is no difference in the Ford and Dodge block-heater set-up.

They both look, hook-up, and function the same.

The heater is exactly the same design as an electric house-hold water-heater element; it just sticks in the engine-blocks water-jacket, instead of into a big tank of water.

The block-heater element takes the place of one freeze-plug; were it not there, a freeze-plug would reside in the hole.

I have known of several mysterious vehicle fires, blamed on the block-heater, usually starting in the engine area.

I really see no way for a properly installed block-heater, with a good cord, to ignite a fire, unless it is due to the over-strong anti-freeze theory.

 

The first time I pluged mine in the cord caught fire. I suspect it was a combination of rotted insulation and coroaded wire. I would suggest inspect the cord very carefully. If there is any questian at all replace it. This is a cheep and easy little project. btw This happened last winter, shortly after I bought the truck. I bet it was the original cord, about 15 yr old.

 

It is a simple matter to unscrew/remove the block-heater cord.

Nobody does it, but they will last many years longer, if they are removed and stored, during the summer months.

 

yes this is a good idea. i have left mine on for two years. think i will have a look at it.

 

That happens several time a year up here in the frozen north. But it is NEVER the block heater. Usually the cord or the EXTENTION cord to the house in poor repair. Vheck your cords and fix/replace if needed then there's nothing to worry about.

 

Back 20 + years ago the coolant was flammable but i real don't think it is now.

Time for a test. Me, some straight antifreeze, and a torch, for a heat source, are going to have a meeting tomarrow..............let ya now how it all turns out............from the hospital bed


Flash.

 

Go for it.

I was aiming to do the same, but will await your results, instead.

 

Chicken!

flash

 

Yes it is flammable.

http://www.peakantifreeze.com/msds/sierra_msds.html
http://www.jcmmachine.com/engine_coolant.htm
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CI...k4_73220_7.htm
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/SAFETY/fllstore.old

And many more.