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Giant Fireball

Discussion in '288GTO/F40/F50/Enzo/LaFerrari/F80' started by WILLIAM H, Feb 12, 2010.

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  1. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #1 WILLIAM H, Feb 12, 2010
    So the F40 is my DD for a few days since my M5 & Z06 are in the shop

    So today after my mechanic wrapped all the turbo pipes, airboxes, and parts of the intercoolers I was driving from Miami to SoBe in heavy traffic

    My F40 does this wierd thing sometimes when the engine stumbles and drops power, usually its clears up in a few seconds and she's good to go

    This time in heavy traffic when she cleared up traffic cleared and I dropped the hammer

    I saw a fireball in my mirror. for me to see that it must have been at least 2 ft in diameter :)

    No problems after that

    I can imagine what the other drivers were thinking when they saw a giant fireball pop out
     
  2. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 wax, Feb 12, 2010
    They were thinking, "Now, that is an Italian tuneup!"
     
  3. rossocorsa13

    rossocorsa13 F1 Rookie

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    #3 rossocorsa13, Feb 12, 2010
    NICE.

    You just ruined every male under the age of 80 behind you for the rest of their lives.

    :D
     
  4. NWaterfall

    NWaterfall Formula Junior

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    #4 NWaterfall, Feb 12, 2010
    I envy this situation! :D :D
     
  5. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
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    #5 ylshih, Feb 12, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2010
    That'll teach 'em not to follow too close :).
     
  6. Four7EightBHP

    Four7EightBHP Formula Junior
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    #6 Four7EightBHP, Feb 12, 2010
    Check the slowdown ECUs. If they're not working all the time, you'll get excess fuel being pumped through the exhaust and into the engine compartment. The fuel catches fire.
     
  7. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #7 WILLIAM H, Feb 12, 2010
    I enjoy the fireballs and the machine gun exhaust when I back off

    I'd prefer not to have a fire though

    The Slow Down lights are working but I just ignore them

    I think all the insulating I've done makes the fireballs bigger, probably bcus more heat is now staying inside the exhaust instead of radiating out

    Does that make any sense ?
     
  8. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
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    #8 GrayTA, Feb 13, 2010

    Kind of scary, but that is amazingly cool!!! I think I would have crapped my pants right then.


    PDG
     
  9. TurboFreak650

    TurboFreak650 Formula 3

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    #9 TurboFreak650, Feb 15, 2010
    Sounds like an excessively rich air/fuel mixture at wide-open-throttle, resulting in extra lag and less power in that rpm range. Most highly tuned, catless turbo cars will have some kind of fireball at times, but if you can see a 2-ft fireball in the rearview mirror, that's excessive!!!! :eek: Heat wrapping has nothing to do with this. The rich spot could easily be tuned out on the dyno.

    The F40 is unique in that the wastgate dump tube empties out alongside the exhaust pipes. Flames will always shoot from the dump tube at WOT, which doesn't hurt performance at all and of course is super cool. :cool: You don't get to see that in most front engined turbo cars since the dump tubes are aimed at the ground.
     
  10. canadiantifosi

    canadiantifosi Formula Junior

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    #10 canadiantifosi, Feb 15, 2010
    Now that would be a cool youtube clip with a burning Lambo (insert your own non-Ferrari choice here) spliced right in behind it.

    Hope you get things settled.

    Cheers (and I am envious..)
    Colin Firth-Ontario Canada
     
  11. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #11 SSNISTR, Feb 15, 2010
    Funniest part is that the BMW and Chevy are in service and the Ferrari is doing daily driver duties. Kudos to you man!
     
  12. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #12 Bas, Feb 16, 2010
    I suppose you wrapped the exhaust? For even more flameage ceramic coat it (+ you won't get the issue of oil leaking on the heat wrap and possibly causing your car to go up in flames, happened to a few heat wrapped cars...).

    The flames are caused when you go off the throttle and a little unburned fuel gets on the hot exhaust. Nothing harmful if its a little rich on lift off. F1 cars do it! ;)
     
  13. BigWilly

    BigWilly Formula Junior

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    #13 BigWilly, Feb 16, 2010
    Somewhere on the site, I think it was Joe S. mentioned the F40 being a over achiever when it comes to cooling. I wonder if that has something to do with it?
     
  14. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

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    #14 SSNISTR, Feb 16, 2010
    Maybe a little. But as mentioned before the F40 has the separate exhaust pipe for the wastegate. So you will notice more flames. Which I think is cool as hell.
     
  15. AceAndy2

    AceAndy2 Karting

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    #15 AceAndy2, Feb 16, 2010
    When I read the title the first thing I thought was "oh no" another Ferrari burned to the ground!"
     
  16. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #16 WILLIAM H, Feb 17, 2010
    No, wrapping on exhaust, I have my tubi straight pipes ceramic coated :)
     
  17. B R

    B R F1 Rookie

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    #17 B R, Feb 17, 2010
    Goodness, gracious, great balls of FIRE! :)
     
  18. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #18 Bas, Feb 17, 2010
    Nice:).
     
  19. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 PAP 348, Feb 17, 2010
    HUBB you mad ****!! :D:D
     
  20. BLACK HORSE

    BLACK HORSE Formula 3
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    #20 BLACK HORSE, Feb 17, 2010
    Ferrari afterburner :)
     
  21. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 TexasF355F1, Feb 17, 2010
    If I saw that my it would bring new meaning to premature....well you know the rest. lol
     
  22. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
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    #22 of2worlds, Feb 17, 2010
    What brand and what heat range are the spark plugs that you run on the street in the F40?
    ch
     
  23. NWaterfall

    NWaterfall Formula Junior

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    #23 NWaterfall, Feb 17, 2010
    In regards to the fireball, I'm surprised nobody has said "without pics it didn't happen" yet! :)
     
  24. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #24 nthfinity, Feb 17, 2010
    We know better than to doubt the Hubster ;)

    That said; I'd be happy to fly down to confirm with evidence
     
  25. pride & performance

    pride & performance Karting

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    #25 pride & performance, Feb 17, 2010
    it would be an epic pic if you managed to capture it :D
     
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