Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Shower of sparks!!!!!

[MD500E]

Last friday I was pulling a trailer at night down the highway. I passed a u-haul truck that was blocking up the hammer lane while climbing a hill. Just for kicks I cranked up the fuel and floored it. This was the first time that I have used all 400 horses pulling a trailer. When I backed off after the pass i saw some thing strange in the side mirrors! It was a shower of sparks coming from both stacks! Looking back on it it seems kind of cool, but at the time I had thoughts of melted turbos or piston chunks streaming out the exhaust. As soon as i got back on the gas the spark disapeared, ony to return again when I lifted. This continued for almost 2 miles. Any Ideas on the cause? I suspect that I heated up some of the carbon and soot in the exhaust and turbo to the point that it began to burn, kind of like a chimney fire. When I lifted, Fresh air passed through the engine and provided the carbon oxygen to burn. I hope that I didnt do any dammage. I know the egt was hot. It peaked at about 1450.



I wish I had a Picture! Maby next time!



Kevin

 

[n7gxz]

Kevin,



I believe that you are correct about the carbon burning off. I have see the same thing when I have been running my D2 Cat at dusk. It does look kind of cool.



Kevin

 

[lmills]

Best one I saw yet was flames coming from the stacks on a big rig running the interstate. He was slowing down to pull off when we coming onto the interstate. The flames were probably 5-7 feet high and the smoke was black as charcoal. He lost a seal in his turbo and the flames and smoke was from oil getting burnt.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Kevin, it sounds like you need to do that more often



Jim

 

[Deezul1]

Hope the trailer wasnt flammable