Heat shield smoking
I've just noticed that the heat shield just below the master brake cylinder has come slightly lose and after driving the car today, there was a lot of smoke coming from heat shield area, enough to put a fire extinguisher to it.
Normally, I would take the G Wagen to get repaired locally, but I'm currently in the Alps, so any repairs could be slightly more difficult.
Can anyone tell me if the padding behind the heat shield is fire-proof and does anyone have any advice for repairing this in the short term?
thanks
Hi the only thing that makes smoke in that area is oil leaking on to the hot exhaust. by heat shield are you referring to the stainless steel deflector plate that sits above the exhaust manifold /downpipe? there are some electrical cables in that area but if it was a short making smoke you would witness other related problems...there is a tendency for oil to creep out of the rocker cover gasket and cylinder head gasket in this area ..check you engine oil level...could use one litre per 1000 miles especially if you have a leak...
Or it could be the blanket attached to the bulkhead that is sagging onto the exhaust downpipe - if it is then find some wire or a coathanger to hold it up or even wind a loose spiral around the exhaust to keep the blanket/heat sheild away. If you can't do this then a local garage should be able to do a temporary fix to get you home. Good luck.
ps. if you are still stuck can you post a picture? to help diagnose the problem
Here are two pics, the first shows the location in the engine dept. and the second is a close up of the manifold/ heat shield.
In words, the heat shield/ reflector is behind the exhaust manifold (it's a 300GE 463, 1991) but it doesn't appear to be touching the manifold at all. Any more advice would be hugely appreciated.
www.pearmund.com/car/1.jpg
www.pearmund.com/car/2.jpg
thanks
I would remove the heat shield from the G until you can carry out permanent repairs. Clearly if it was smoking it was getting close to burning. Next time you might not catch it in time
If the part that was hot and smoking is the aluminium and fiber blanket then you can't really remove it as it is bonded to the bulkhead but you can push it away from the manifold and downpipe. If the car was overfueling then you could be getting some combustion in the exhaust and this would obviously increase the temperatures down there too.
If you can get under the car and satisfy yourself that nothing is touching the exhaust downpipe and at the same time push back the blanket as much as possible that would be a start
Hi from your pics it looks like the aluminium foil coated insulation that is normally attached to the bulkhead is resting on the exhaust manifold..this can become impregnated with engine oil over the years but in itself is not flammable.bit like loft insulation with foil attached. it will cut with a stanley knife or scissors.in the absence of being able to relocate it away from the manifold trim the offending piece so it does not rest on the hot exhaust..if the bulkhead plate is greasy or oily you will not be able to stick it back on \ DO NOT use any silicone adhesive or anything flammable in such close proximity to the exhaust.which can get almost to red hot temperature in that area.....
when you had your brake problems did the brake fluid over flow? Because if it did it would have been directly above where the problem is now, any this stuff evaporating/burning off could well be the cause of the burning smell?
The heat shield has definitely been touching the exhaust. I've done my best to move the 'remaining' material away from the exhaust, but the shield and material around it is pretty badly damaged. So the question is, should I remove the remaining material or if I leave it, do I need to worry about the material catching fire? Thanks again
The heat shield has definitely been touching the exhaust. I've done my best to move the 'remaining' material away from the exhaust, but the shield and material around it is pretty badly damaged. So the question is, should I remove the remaining material or if I leave it, do I need to worry about the material catching fire? Thanks again
Personally I wouldn't cut it but try to improvise a way of stopping it touching. Without the heat sheild all that heat will go straight through the bulkhead and you could set fire to your carpet or damage some wiring.
Could you hook it up with some wire? or wind a loose spiral of wire around the down pipe to keep it away? or some kind of strapping between 2 convenient bolts?
Alternatively get a local garage to pull it up using a penny washer and bolt
Good luck
ps. I think when you get home you need to get some of that double layer alluminum heat shield and make a patch that can be riveted or bolted in place.
thanks for the advice
Echoing prwales comments, the brake servo looks from your picture to be damp. As suggested, spillage or a seal on the way out?
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Thanks for the advice and I will try and post some pics. Is there a possibility that this is connected to the heater, as the heater has been pretty much on full everytime the car has been used over the last week? Thanks again