Fire And Smoke!

[tommy2tall]

Hi All-

My wife has a 1996 SC400 with 48K miles. Maintained by Lexus dealer until warranty expired in 2000. Never had a problem. Changed oil every 3000 miles since 2000.

Coming home from a party last night the engine lost power and blue smoke coming from engine compartment. Cruising at freeway speed we pulled off and called fire department. The check engine light was on and temp guage was maxed. Fire dept opened the hood and sprayed the engine. No actual flames. I had kept the hood closed so as not to let it ignite. Engine wouldn't re-start.

AAA towed it to our home. I noticed oil on the bed of the tow truck. Still coolant in the reservoir.

This morning I checked the oil level with the dipstick. Normal. No real damage by the smoke. Engine still would't start, although it turned over.

Do any of you have a suggestion as to what happened? I can't tow it to a mechanic until tomorrow.

Thanks in advance, TTT

[jbarhorst2]

Take a look for where the oil is coming from.

Look for a greasy leak.

Since it won't start, check your distributor. Maybe the oil seal gave out and filled the cap with oil. It would also be leaking out of the cap probably.

Tom

[jimbostar]

Similar happened to me, but with more mileage on vehicle (1992 SC400 - 125k), but time itself could be a factor - WATER PUMP, which is why temp gauge went high, which then smokes the timing belt after the pump seizes (which is why it won't start).

GOOD LUCK!!! They tried to get me for $1650, got them down to $1400.

PS: Starting in '95/'96 the SC400 has an interference fit motor, which means the engine will bend the valves when the timing belt goes (which is why I bought an older one after this happened in my 325is).

Not trying to freak you out, but if this indeed is the case the job will cost $3,500+ :(

[TMaxxTim]

Similar happened to me, but with more mileage on vehicle (1992 SC400 - 125k), but time itself could be a factor - WATER PUMP, which is why temp gauge went high, which then smokes the timing belt after the pump seizes (which is why it won't start).

GOOD LUCK!!!  They tried to get me for $1650, got them down to $1400.

PS: Starting in '95/'96 the SC400 has an interference fit motor, which means the engine will bend the valves when the timing belt goes (which is why I bought an older one after this happened in my 325is). 

Not trying to freak you out, but if this indeed is the case the job will cost $3,500+  :(

←

Only VVti, have an interference motor, thats in 98+, not starting in 95.

Its hard to say at all without looking at the engine what the problem could be. The belt could have been it, but it definately didn't bend any valves or anything like that.

[tommy2tall]

Hi All-

My wife has a 1996 SC400 with 48K miles.  Maintained by Lexus dealer until warranty expired in 2000.  Never had a problem.  Changed oil every 3000 miles since 2000.

Coming home from a party last night the engine lost power and blue smoke coming from engine compartment.  Cruising at freeway speed we pulled off and called fire department.  The check engine light was on and temp guage was maxed.  Fire dept opened the hood and sprayed the engine.  No actual flames.  I had kept the hood closed so as not to let it ignite.  Engine wouldn't re-start.

AAA towed it to our home.  I noticed oil on the bed of the tow truck.  Still coolant in the reservoir. 

This morning I checked the oil level with the dipstick.  Normal.  No real damage by the smoke.  Engine still would't  start, although it turned over.

Do any of you have a suggestion as to what happened?  I can't tow it to a mechanic until tomorrow.

Thanks in advance,  TTT

←

Heres what I think happened. Based on you comments.

The Lexus dealer tore the engine down to inspect it. They say the wter pump looks like it siezed. The parts surounding the water pump are melted, including the rotor and spark plug wires. The timing belt was burned. Two pistons were melted at the top and the cylinder linings were scored. The head looked ok visually, as well as the head gasket on one side of the engine. The one the took apart. That side had only 50 psi compression in two cylinders. This engine got very hot after only five miles on the freeway.

I am thinking that the pump froze and got hot enough tho burst an oil seal in it's close proximity. The oil cought fire and burned the timing belt and surrounding parts.

The engine was not being cooled and was running off time. This caused the massive damage. I think the water pump started the chain of events but the pump failure alone could not have melted the engine. I think the oil fire burned the timing belt and that's what really destroyed the entire engine.

The insurance investigator says there was no fire. Based on his inspection of the engine parts.

What can you engine experts offer? Could my scenario explain this damage?

TTT

[indiasfinest]

sounds pretty resonable to me