Quote Originally Posted by SyntheticShield View Post
Well in all fairness, Im not convinced what they stated as the issue is really the issue. First off, motor oil leaking out the valve cover gasket is not going to just spurt out with hard braking, thats a bit of a stretch there. Unless the oil is just gushing out in which case there would be other issues. Next, motor oil even with the maximum allowed 2% fuel dilution still has a flash point approaching 300*. Good clean quality motor oil is going to have a flash point much higher, appraching 450*. Fire points are approaching 500*. Oil just does not ignite that easily and even if it does it does not burn well enough to sustain that kind of ignition with that little oil. Next, the oil would have to ignite, burn hot enough to light up the plastic tray the point out. Now, you and I know that that plastic is not going to ignite easily either as it is intended to survive a hot climate being that close to the manifolds.

And I base all this on stagnant air flow. It doesnt take into consideration of any vehicle movement that would cause air flow of any kind. Thats just going to make the ignition and sustainability of any fire that much harder.

Basically Im just not convinced that the valve cover gasket is the issue. I would say best case scenario it would take an extreme set of circumstances to generate that kind of fire from oil 'drops' as they stated. And they are citing what, 1 in a 1000 cases or something like that? I dont buy it.
I agree with your thought. I was thinking the same thing. Plus Most of us run Synthetic. I believe that has a much higher flash point. I just am suspicious because I have had cars with bad leaks, some that poured oil out on hot pipes and just smoked like heck. I am having a hard time believing its an oil issue under braking. I still suspect its a fuel issue. I just personaly dont like or trust our quick connect fittings on the fuel rails. If one of them leaked then you'd have a good engine fire. When I did my fuel rails my quick connects had a small leak. I undid them, wiped off both ends and reconnected. Now no leaks I just feal uneasy now when I stomp on the gas. I'm no expert and could be way out in left field on the quick conects. Just my .02 for what its worth.
I replaced my valve cover seals last month. The 800 number told me there is a opportunity to be reimbursed for work already done. She said when the recall is official, and I am contacted, that I can claim my expenses.