Question - What makes a Lotus Esprit turbo catch on fire?
Answer - Take it to a workshop that ignores servicing the Dellorto carburettors
The Lotus Esprit in this article caught fire whilst it was traveling down the free-way.
Fortunately the owner saw the flames exiting through the engine cover and stopped to put the fire out with an on-board fire extinguisher.
Recovering from an engine fire is a time consuming and an expensive exercise.
This could have been avoided if a perodic visual check had been carried out every time the Lotus Esprit was presented for servicing.
It is essential to look at the top of the Dellorto carburettors for fuel stains and checking underneath to see if fuel is dripping onto the Lucas distributor.
The powder from the fire extinguisher did as much damage as the fire. Note the corrosion on the starter motor below the fuel pressure regulator.
The powder found its way in to the internals of both the starter motor and alternator.
Subsequently the starter motor and alternator were dismantled, overhauled and then painted.
Both the starter motor and alternator were stripped and every trace of powder had to be pains-stakingly removed to prevent further corrosion.
Both Dellorto caburettors had suffered the same problems where fire extinguisher powder came into contact with any exposed components.
Just where do you start with a problems like this?
This is all that is left of the choke cable after being subjected to the fire.
The cable had to be replaced which meant following it back into the centre console located in the cabin.
Choke lever integrated into the centre console.
The choke cable termination located in the cabin.
A complete new nylon cable was run back to the Dellortor carburettors and carefully adjusted.
This is where the fire started. It was first thought that the oil pressure feed hose to the turbo-charger had failed and sprayed oil onto the turbo.
Our investigations at Lotus Marqes showed the fire had started by fuel dripping on to the distributor.
This had been happening for a long period of time and was due to lack of inspection and regular maintenance of the carburettors.
Once the fuel ignited and generated sufficient heat, it caused the plastic oil pressure gauge hose to fail and spray oil over the engine block.
Note the engine oil trapped under the distributor, ignition leads and oil pump.
The cylinder block wall shows significant signs of fuel stains originating from the leaking carburettors normally located above.
Fuel stained cylinder block shows the leak has not just happened over night. There has been plenty of time to spot this problem.
The fire melted everything in its path including the low tension lead running from the distributor to the HT ignition coil
The connector and internal leads had melted in this low tension cable.
Unfortunately this item is no long available from the Lotus Factory so it was necessary to manufacture a new cable from scratch.
Lotus Marques is now pleased to offer this cable as a brand new replacement part from our extensive stock holding.
Please see our catalogue for details regarding the Esprit ignition low tension cable.
The fire extinguisher powder attacked just about everything it came into contact with, including the heat shield.
Paint pealing from the heat and extinguisher powder.
The engine number was finally revaled after carefully cleaning the engine block and removing all traces of fire extinguisher powder.
If the fire had got much hotter the entire vehicle would have caught alight.
Fuel and oil soaked Dellorto carburettor
This fire damage is unnecessary and has been caused by the specialist workshop carrying out the servicing and maintenance on this Turbo Esprit .
After several days of soaking in various solvents plus lots of scrubbing and the Dellorto carbs finally start to resemble how they originally looked.
Dellorto carbs being set up and calibrated prior to installation
New timing belt and high tension ignition leads installed
Note the new choke cable installed and adjusted correctly
A new oil pressure feed hose for the turbo-charger was fabricated with swept bends and installed.
A new replacement heat shield was fitted to the end of the cam housings.
The final result looks as if there has never been a engine fire - just the way it should do.
Copyright © 2011 Lotus Marques
Answer - Take it to a workshop that ignores servicing the Dellorto carburettors
The Lotus Esprit in this article caught fire whilst it was traveling down the free-way.
Fortunately the owner saw the flames exiting through the engine cover and stopped to put the fire out with an on-board fire extinguisher.
Recovering from an engine fire is a time consuming and an expensive exercise.
This could have been avoided if a perodic visual check had been carried out every time the Lotus Esprit was presented for servicing.
It is essential to look at the top of the Dellorto carburettors for fuel stains and checking underneath to see if fuel is dripping onto the Lucas distributor.
The powder from the fire extinguisher did as much damage as the fire. Note the corrosion on the starter motor below the fuel pressure regulator.
The powder found its way in to the internals of both the starter motor and alternator.
Subsequently the starter motor and alternator were dismantled, overhauled and then painted.
Both the starter motor and alternator were stripped and every trace of powder had to be pains-stakingly removed to prevent further corrosion.
Both Dellorto caburettors had suffered the same problems where fire extinguisher powder came into contact with any exposed components.
Just where do you start with a problems like this?
This is all that is left of the choke cable after being subjected to the fire.
The cable had to be replaced which meant following it back into the centre console located in the cabin.
Choke lever integrated into the centre console.
The choke cable termination located in the cabin.
A complete new nylon cable was run back to the Dellortor carburettors and carefully adjusted.
This is where the fire started. It was first thought that the oil pressure feed hose to the turbo-charger had failed and sprayed oil onto the turbo.
Our investigations at Lotus Marqes showed the fire had started by fuel dripping on to the distributor.
This had been happening for a long period of time and was due to lack of inspection and regular maintenance of the carburettors.
Once the fuel ignited and generated sufficient heat, it caused the plastic oil pressure gauge hose to fail and spray oil over the engine block.
Note the engine oil trapped under the distributor, ignition leads and oil pump.
The cylinder block wall shows significant signs of fuel stains originating from the leaking carburettors normally located above.
Fuel stained cylinder block shows the leak has not just happened over night. There has been plenty of time to spot this problem.
The fire melted everything in its path including the low tension lead running from the distributor to the HT ignition coil
The connector and internal leads had melted in this low tension cable.
Unfortunately this item is no long available from the Lotus Factory so it was necessary to manufacture a new cable from scratch.
Lotus Marques is now pleased to offer this cable as a brand new replacement part from our extensive stock holding.
Please see our catalogue for details regarding the Esprit ignition low tension cable.
The fire extinguisher powder attacked just about everything it came into contact with, including the heat shield.
Paint pealing from the heat and extinguisher powder.
The engine number was finally revaled after carefully cleaning the engine block and removing all traces of fire extinguisher powder.
If the fire had got much hotter the entire vehicle would have caught alight.
Fuel and oil soaked Dellorto carburettor
This fire damage is unnecessary and has been caused by the specialist workshop carrying out the servicing and maintenance on this Turbo Esprit .
After several days of soaking in various solvents plus lots of scrubbing and the Dellorto carbs finally start to resemble how they originally looked.
Dellorto carbs being set up and calibrated prior to installation
New timing belt and high tension ignition leads installed
Note the new choke cable installed and adjusted correctly
A new oil pressure feed hose for the turbo-charger was fabricated with swept bends and installed.
A new replacement heat shield was fitted to the end of the cam housings.
The final result looks as if there has never been a engine fire - just the way it should do.
Copyright © 2011 Lotus Marques