Beware of the Autumn leaves
Discussion
Started the Chim up yesterday to move it out to use today. After a few minutes of running I parked up and switched off. Then to my horror I saw smoke rising out from the vent on the offside of the bonnet and smelled burning. I quickly opened the lid to see three large leaves from the virginia creeper that grows on the house sitting on the hot manifold, close to catching fire! Maybe TVR should have put some sort of grill on these vents!
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
I have had the same situation on 3 occasions, shortly after setting off when smoke has started coming out the bonnet vents. Frantically stopped and opened the bonnet to find leaves on fire on top of the manifold!
Was quite a relief, I thought the whole car was about to go up, but just a few leaves.
Was quite a relief, I thought the whole car was about to go up, but just a few leaves.
Green is good said:
Started the Chim up yesterday to move it out to use today. After a few minutes of running I parked up and switched off. Then to my horror I saw smoke rising out from the vent on the offside of the bonnet and smelled burning. I quickly opened the lid to see three large leaves from the virginia creeper that grows on the house sitting on the hot manifold, close to catching fire! Maybe TVR should have put some sort of grill on these vents!
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
Thought I was boring
SILICONEKID340HP said:
Green is good said:
Started the Chim up yesterday to move it out to use today. After a few minutes of running I parked up and switched off. Then to my horror I saw smoke rising out from the vent on the offside of the bonnet and smelled burning. I quickly opened the lid to see three large leaves from the virginia creeper that grows on the house sitting on the hot manifold, close to catching fire! Maybe TVR should have put some sort of grill on these vents!
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
Then on the way to work nearly lost it skidding on........yep slippery wet leaves on the road.
Take care out there.
Thought I was boring
Green is good 
Just a thought -
If you have smoke coming from the engine bay with a possible fire, I can imagine the overwhelming urge must be to lift the bonnet and have a look. But if the fire really is a fuel or oil fire, for example, it could be smouldering away waiting to receive enough oxygen to get going properly. Opening the bonnet could be the worst thing to do.
That said, it's difficult to know what I'd do in that situation. I think I'd stop, kill the engine, and take a careful look through the bonnet vents.
Hmmm... Maybe carrying a fire extinguisher might be a good idea.
Edited to add: Leaves aren't the only hazard at this time of year. A couple of weeks ago I nearly got brained by a falling acorn that hit the windscreen just a few inches in front of my face. If it had fallen just a fraction of a second later it would have hit my forehead or the top of my head!
If you have smoke coming from the engine bay with a possible fire, I can imagine the overwhelming urge must be to lift the bonnet and have a look. But if the fire really is a fuel or oil fire, for example, it could be smouldering away waiting to receive enough oxygen to get going properly. Opening the bonnet could be the worst thing to do.
That said, it's difficult to know what I'd do in that situation. I think I'd stop, kill the engine, and take a careful look through the bonnet vents.
Hmmm... Maybe carrying a fire extinguisher might be a good idea.
Edited to add: Leaves aren't the only hazard at this time of year. A couple of weeks ago I nearly got brained by a falling acorn that hit the windscreen just a few inches in front of my face. If it had fallen just a fraction of a second later it would have hit my forehead or the top of my head!
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 25th October 07:54
heebeegeetee said:
Right, so TVRs and the weather. I take it that Tivs struggle with leaves, frost, snow, rain and summer temperatures. Have I got that right? 
There is a week in late March and a week at the start of September that sometimes provide adequate conditions for safe and reliable TVR commute.
heebeegeetee said:
Right, so TVRs and the weather. I take it that Tivs struggle with leaves, frost, snow, rain and summer temperatures. Have I got that right?
Tiv ownership leads to an incurable phobia of weather. Panic sets in on anything other than a clear, cool, mild dry day. Rain - think of the outriggers!
Heat - sweaty shirt.
Rain - leaky cabin.
Heat - heatsoak.
Rain - white knuckles.
Etc etc etc. Wouldn't have it any other way!
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