Thread: 2000 GP GT Engine Fire - Oil Leak Suspected L36

In Brief:

Conditions: Outside Air Temp. 35, Engine Temp. 160 - 170 Indicated, Mileage: 149,000+, Interstate Off Ramp Traffic - Sitting (stop and go ramp traffic).
Symptoms: Slight smoke curl right side of hood, slight sweet smell (coolant?), engine hesitation (misfire) when leaving the top of the ramp, to the surface road.
Results: Immediate entry into a Shell Station parking lot, engine died while trying to back into a space (away from pumps), restarted and completed parking. Engine shut off, hood release pulled, SURPRISE! FIRE! Single shot with Shell's Dry Chem Extinguisher, Fire Out! Burn time from notice to extinguishing - Under 90 seconds.
Side Note: 53 year old with bad knee running and aggresively asking for a fire extinguisher, had to look funny. I'd have laughed, post fire.
Resulting Fire Damage: 1, 3, 5 spark plug wires, burned through (hmm, wonder if that caused the misfire?), front of the EVAP EMIS Canister Purge Solinoid Valve, melted (connector wires survived), Fuel Pressure Regulator Vacuum & EVAP EMIS Canister Purge Harness, melted, EVAP EMIS Pipe, melted (before the Service Valve).
Suspicions: The 3800 Engine plastic cover (cosmetic) acted like an inverted umbrella directing upward sprayed oil down onto the front exhaust manifold, resulting in this fire. Based on fresh oil spray, seeming to come from the front of the top of the engine, up onto the cover. and visible on the intake plenum and fuel rail and part of the cover, not melted.
Questions: 1. Where might a seemingly high pressure oil spray have originated? 2. Has anyone else experienced this fun little event? 3. Since breaking down the top of the engine, I have only notice a questionable item. Why is there oil pooled in the intake manifold top cavities? 4. Am I wrong in intending to repair the mentioned damage and restart the engine to try to duplicate the symptoms and source the oil spray, without the plastic cover replaced? A friend who is a Master Nissan wrench with 30+ years experience recommended doing so.
I look forward to the advice anyone on the forum can offer. Thank you in advance. Steve
PS. Second posting - forgive any mistakes...

The oil pooled up in the LIM is normal from what I've seen. Could be an indication of the PCV system not working 100%. The valve cover gaskets are known to leak oil onto the manifold and can cause what you have here. Unless you have a bunch of blow-by from worn rings I don't see how the system would be pressurized enough to push oil out as a spray. Another place that is known to leak is the fuel rail conenctions.

If you haven't changed the LIM gaskets to the updated aluminum ones now woud be the time since you are 90% there with the UIM and stuff off. Will keep it from eating coolant sooner or later.