Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

[Boomslang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boomslang]

On New Years day my friend lost his 100 Series LC when a fire completely detroyed their car and their All terain CT. They were on there way from Sydney to Perth and just outside Port Augusta, they smelled smoke. He pulled over and saw flames beneath the car, but had no luck in putting them out with the fire extinguisher he had with him. In no time the fire spread to the trailer and within minutes everything was gone. Talking to the Fire Department guys afterwards, they said it is a common problem when the automatic transmission overheats, that the ATF can overheat and leak out onto the exhaust, and ignite.
Has any of you heard of this before especially regarding the LC100/105 and Prado series?

[RogueAussie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RogueAussie]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

DAAAMN!

I will say with all honesty that I have never heard of that before. If I were an AT owner/driver I'd certainly be concerned though.

Not a good way to start OR finish a holiday :-(

Good to see that everyone was ok though, like they say, it can always be worse.

[GH4wd Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close GH4wd]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Very nasty, lucky no one was injured.

I wonder why the tranmission would overheat on a straight bitumen road as in the picture, seems strange :shock:

Glenn

[Chriso57 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chriso57]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Nasty alright...

Certainly not the 1st time it has happened though. When I was doing my apprenticeship Holden had a huge recall with the VR-VS series Commodores for the same thing. The fix was a revised breather set up (which diverted the ATF away from the exhaust) and a different ATF dip stick that expanded into the filler tube similar to a wine bottle plug.

I have not heard much about the Toyota's having problems though.

Chriso

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

DAMMNN x 2!!

Not many hills on Highway 1 near Port Augusta, does make you wonder why the AT would overheat? I have been thinking about an AT temperature gauge for my Prado, these pictures might just hurry me up a bit. the prado has a heat shield over the exhaust next to the exhaust, could be a bit larger though to stop any drips falling onto the exhaust.

Good to see no one was hurt, hopefully they had good insurance.

Cheers Andrew

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Most of that will buff out.

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Damn! That's nasty... Good to hear no one was hurt though, that being the most important thing!!!

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Sh!t I always feel sorry for poor buggers that have holiday break downs or crashes.
Thankfully everyone was unhurt in this story.
New Years eve was bloody hot here in Adelaide (43 deg C) New Years day was cooler.
The Northern areas are much hotter most of the time. I don't think I would have been pushing a loaded vehicle with trailer through extremes of weather. Added strain on everything and everyone. Not that I am having a go at these guys, I understand the time restraints that apply to touring,work and life. The emphasis needs to be on regular pit stops to check the equipment, stretch the legs and safety.
Boomslang please let your Mate know that we are thinking of him and his family.
Regards Troy

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

I'm wondering if there was some grass or debris built up underneath the vehicle and with the extreme heat it ignited. Hopefully they will investigate the root cause so we're all the wiser.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

I wonder what year the 100 series was and if it had a factory transmission cooler? I've got an older Toyota Camry (1995 ) that does not have a tranmission cooler and was warned about towing heavy loads for extended periods of time. My Prado has the tranmission cooler (2006 model) so I wonder if the 100 series did. 100 Series started in 1997.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

thats bloody terrible, at least no one was injured, hope the insurance company looks after them properly. this just convinces me to stick with manual. cheers samo

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

If you hear what was the exact cause of fire, please let us all know. I'm sure we're all very interested. I'm very glad to hear that no one was injured, or worse.
Bazza.

[WBY 1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WBY 1]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

have heard of this a few times on various 4wds esp driving on sand. Mostly Jeeps of various models and ages and i think there have been at least a couple on stockton in the last couple of years.
Was it a thread on here or another forum where a Jeep driver went to snatch out or skull drag another 4wd in an urgent situation, and the Jeeps transmission overheated and went up in flames?

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Hope this is covered by your mate's insurance. Terrible bad fortune. Be very interested to learn of the exact cause leading to the fire. Certainly pays to stop regularly and keep a good eye on your vehicle and trailer when travelling!

[Boomslang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boomslang]

Re: Car burned out because of ATF on exhaust

Looks like I'll be camping alone for a while.
Cheers Piet