Had a bad night
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
Had a bad night
I had a bad accident in my garage last night. I had just painted and installed a new thermostat housing w/new thermostat on my 65. I attached the bypass hose and upper radiator hose and clamps securely (original type pedestal clamps). Filled the radiator with fluid and ran the car for about 10-15 minutes and turned the car off. I took a quick look and noticed the high temp paint was peeling off the hsing near the end of where the upper hose attaches to the thermostat hsing. All of the sudden the upper hose must have worked it's way off the housing on it's own and shot hot coolant everywhere. It could have been worse but I have 2nd degree burns on the right side of my face, ear, neck, shoulder and eye. My wife and I spent about 4 hours in the emergency room last night. Fortunately, it appears that there is no significant damage to my eye and will probably not need any skin graphs. They gave me two doses of morphine at the hospital and I have some good pain meds so I am not in too much pain.
The garage and car are completely covered in coolant. My biggest concern now are the following (besides my face)...
electrical stuff and liquid?
how much got in the carb?
will hot coolant damage the finish on the exterior/engine compartment paint if i can't get to cleaning it for a few days?
and....WTF happened/why/what caused that hose to come off? I thought the clamps were very tight. Abnormal fluid/air pressure? Thermostat not opening? melting, wet paint causing a slippery surface? I'm at a loss.
I guess it's a good lesson for everyone to wear some sort of eye protection and to be very careful.
The garage and car are completely covered in coolant. My biggest concern now are the following (besides my face)...
electrical stuff and liquid?
how much got in the carb?
will hot coolant damage the finish on the exterior/engine compartment paint if i can't get to cleaning it for a few days?
and....WTF happened/why/what caused that hose to come off? I thought the clamps were very tight. Abnormal fluid/air pressure? Thermostat not opening? melting, wet paint causing a slippery surface? I'm at a loss.
I guess it's a good lesson for everyone to wear some sort of eye protection and to be very careful.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,328
From: Where I lay my head is home
RE: Had a bad night
damn, sorry to hear about that bro. glad to hear you're okay for the most part. what's important more than anything is you are fine and still have your eye and don't need skin grafts. you're car can be fixed. i understand your concern, but your injuries are more important.
that said, your wiring should be ok as long as you have no exposed ends, just spray out the engine bay to clean any of it out of there. as per any getting in your carb, no big. just start it up and it'll all burn out. as far as i know getting a nominal amount in there and burning it out shouldn't cause too much harm. as worst, just pour some vinegar in the carb and start it up. you will need to do this outside as it WILL cause a huge cloud behind your car. but it'll clean everything out purdy good.
i had a similar incident while replacing a fuel filter. i took the line off and thought i had the cloth i had in my hands wrapped around the line good, seems i missed a sopt. as soon as i unhooked the line, fuel sprayed in my eyes, nose and mouth, and some went (just a little) down my throat. finished the process and went home, than washed out my face and drank loads of water.
EDIT: as per your hose coming off, i really can't think of anything more than a loose clamp. i'm not trying to belittle your work at all, but besides that i don't know. was the part where the hose connected painted as well? maybe the smooth surface from the paint, and the possibility of the coolant getting between the hose and housing, could have caused it to slide up.
that said, your wiring should be ok as long as you have no exposed ends, just spray out the engine bay to clean any of it out of there. as per any getting in your carb, no big. just start it up and it'll all burn out. as far as i know getting a nominal amount in there and burning it out shouldn't cause too much harm. as worst, just pour some vinegar in the carb and start it up. you will need to do this outside as it WILL cause a huge cloud behind your car. but it'll clean everything out purdy good.
i had a similar incident while replacing a fuel filter. i took the line off and thought i had the cloth i had in my hands wrapped around the line good, seems i missed a sopt. as soon as i unhooked the line, fuel sprayed in my eyes, nose and mouth, and some went (just a little) down my throat. finished the process and went home, than washed out my face and drank loads of water.
EDIT: as per your hose coming off, i really can't think of anything more than a loose clamp. i'm not trying to belittle your work at all, but besides that i don't know. was the part where the hose connected painted as well? maybe the smooth surface from the paint, and the possibility of the coolant getting between the hose and housing, could have caused it to slide up.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 237
From:
RE: Had a bad night
Oh geeze! Glad you'll be ok; I can feel the pain. It takes so long to recover from burns...hopefully you'll heal quickly.
I wonder if your clamp wasn't completely around the lip of the housing. I am amazed that the paint peeled so fast. Was it completely dried?
I wonder if your clamp wasn't completely around the lip of the housing. I am amazed that the paint peeled so fast. Was it completely dried?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
RE: Had a bad night
thanks for the concerns. the paint sat for three days and I felt around to make sure I was arounf the lip of the housing. i know the clamp was tight but maybe not tight enough. it's tough to tell how much you can tighten those clamps. i have broken quite a few of the screws by overtightening.
ORIGINAL: 67Rally
Oh geeze! Glad you'll be ok; I can feel the pain. It takes so long to recover from burns...hopefully you'll heal quickly.
I wonder if your clamp wasn't completely around the lip of the housing. I am amazed that the paint peeled so fast. Was it completely dried?
Oh geeze! Glad you'll be ok; I can feel the pain. It takes so long to recover from burns...hopefully you'll heal quickly.
I wonder if your clamp wasn't completely around the lip of the housing. I am amazed that the paint peeled so fast. Was it completely dried?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
RE: Had a bad night
it may not have been tight enough. wasn't the first time i have replaced the hose so wasn't just a rookie mistake. yah the whole housing was painted. what a frickin mystery.
ORIGINAL: Clu7ch
damn, sorry to hear about that bro. glad to hear you're okay for the most part. what's important more than anything is you are fine and still have your eye and don't need skin grafts. you're car can be fixed. i understand your concern, but your injuries are more important.
that said, your wiring should be ok as long as you have no exposed ends, just spray out the engine bay to clean any of it out of there. as per any getting in your carb, no big. just start it up and it'll all burn out. as far as i know getting a nominal amount in there and burning it out shouldn't cause too much harm. as worst, just pour some vinegar in the carb and start it up. you will need to do this outside as it WILL cause a huge cloud behind your car. but it'll clean everything out purdy good.
i had a similar incident while replacing a fuel filter. i took the line off and thought i had the cloth i had in my hands wrapped around the line good, seems i missed a sopt. as soon as i unhooked the line, fuel sprayed in my eyes, nose and mouth, and some went (just a little) down my throat. finished the process and went home, than washed out my face and drank loads of water.
EDIT: as per your hose coming off, i really can't think of anything more than a loose clamp. i'm not trying to belittle your work at all, but besides that i don't know. was the part where the hose connected painted as well? maybe the smooth surface from the paint, and the possibility of the coolant getting between the hose and housing, could have caused it to slide up.
damn, sorry to hear about that bro. glad to hear you're okay for the most part. what's important more than anything is you are fine and still have your eye and don't need skin grafts. you're car can be fixed. i understand your concern, but your injuries are more important.
that said, your wiring should be ok as long as you have no exposed ends, just spray out the engine bay to clean any of it out of there. as per any getting in your carb, no big. just start it up and it'll all burn out. as far as i know getting a nominal amount in there and burning it out shouldn't cause too much harm. as worst, just pour some vinegar in the carb and start it up. you will need to do this outside as it WILL cause a huge cloud behind your car. but it'll clean everything out purdy good.
i had a similar incident while replacing a fuel filter. i took the line off and thought i had the cloth i had in my hands wrapped around the line good, seems i missed a sopt. as soon as i unhooked the line, fuel sprayed in my eyes, nose and mouth, and some went (just a little) down my throat. finished the process and went home, than washed out my face and drank loads of water.
EDIT: as per your hose coming off, i really can't think of anything more than a loose clamp. i'm not trying to belittle your work at all, but besides that i don't know. was the part where the hose connected painted as well? maybe the smooth surface from the paint, and the possibility of the coolant getting between the hose and housing, could have caused it to slide up.
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,170
From: Texas
RE: Had a bad night
Man I'm sorry to hear taht, glad you're okay. Kinda funny how you just got burnt pretty bad (coulda been worse) but you're worried about the paint! Hope you and your car are gunna be okay!
I ♥ Acer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,565
From:
RE: Had a bad night
Not sure what the doctor gave you to put on your face, but Aloe Vera works really well for burns. Not only does it sooth, but aids in healing. I have no idea why your hose would come off. When you get to feeling like it, check to see if the thermostat was in backwards. Get your wife to take your car out of the garage and hose everything off.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,328
From: Where I lay my head is home
RE: Had a bad night
ORIGINAL: earlymustang
it may not have been tight enough. wasn't the first time i have replaced the hose so wasn't just a rookie mistake. yah the whole housing was painted. what a frickin mystery.
it may not have been tight enough. wasn't the first time i have replaced the hose so wasn't just a rookie mistake. yah the whole housing was painted. what a frickin mystery.
like i said before, the main and most improtant thing is your health. you didn't lose any part of your body, and you get some good pain meds that make you feel like this --> [&:]!!!
EDIT: another good thing for your face might be some vitamin E. you can get the pills and squeeze them open, than apply the vitamin e to your burns, it will lessen any scarring. but in my experiance, it takes quite a lot to scar your face. i know, i've busted mine open enough!
5th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,634
From: SC
RE: Had a bad night
Dude, I'm sorry to hear that.. Good thing you did not get hurt very bad...
ORIGINAL: earlymustang
I had a bad accident in my garage last night. I had just painted and installed a new thermostat housing w/new thermostat on my 65. I attached the bypass hose and upper radiator hose and clamps securely (original type pedestal clamps). Filled the radiator with fluid and ran the car for about 10-15 minutes and turned the car off. I took a quick look and noticed the high temp paint was peeling off the hsing near the end of where the upper hose attaches to the thermostat hsing. All of the sudden the upper hose must have worked it's way off the housing on it's own and shot hot coolant everywhere. It could have been worse but I have 2nd degree burns on the right side of my face, ear, neck, shoulder and eye. My wife and I spent about 4 hours in the emergency room last night. Fortunately, it appears that there is no significant damage to my eye and will probably not need any skin graphs. They gave me two doses of morphine at the hospital and I have some good pain meds so I am not in too much pain.
The garage and car are completely covered in coolant. My biggest concern now are the following (besides my face)...
electrical stuff and liquid?
how much got in the carb?
will hot coolant damage the finish on the exterior/engine compartment paint if i can't get to cleaning it for a few days?
and....WTF happened/why/what caused that hose to come off? I thought the clamps were very tight. Abnormal fluid/air pressure? Thermostat not opening? melting, wet paint causing a slippery surface? I'm at a loss.
I guess it's a good lesson for everyone to wear some sort of eye protection and to be very careful.
I had a bad accident in my garage last night. I had just painted and installed a new thermostat housing w/new thermostat on my 65. I attached the bypass hose and upper radiator hose and clamps securely (original type pedestal clamps). Filled the radiator with fluid and ran the car for about 10-15 minutes and turned the car off. I took a quick look and noticed the high temp paint was peeling off the hsing near the end of where the upper hose attaches to the thermostat hsing. All of the sudden the upper hose must have worked it's way off the housing on it's own and shot hot coolant everywhere. It could have been worse but I have 2nd degree burns on the right side of my face, ear, neck, shoulder and eye. My wife and I spent about 4 hours in the emergency room last night. Fortunately, it appears that there is no significant damage to my eye and will probably not need any skin graphs. They gave me two doses of morphine at the hospital and I have some good pain meds so I am not in too much pain.
The garage and car are completely covered in coolant. My biggest concern now are the following (besides my face)...
electrical stuff and liquid?
how much got in the carb?
will hot coolant damage the finish on the exterior/engine compartment paint if i can't get to cleaning it for a few days?
and....WTF happened/why/what caused that hose to come off? I thought the clamps were very tight. Abnormal fluid/air pressure? Thermostat not opening? melting, wet paint causing a slippery surface? I'm at a loss.
I guess it's a good lesson for everyone to wear some sort of eye protection and to be very careful.