Yes it's possible. An oil fire likely won't *start* on the engine itself because the outside of the engine doesn't get hot enough to ignite motor oil but if enough oil drips/spatters and sits on hot exhaust parts long enough it can actually ignite and burn with flames etc., Then any other oil around it, including any oil on the engine itself will also ignite from the flames and you'll have a full on 'carbeque'.
The exhaust manifold(s), catalytic converter(s), and piping between them get more than hot enough to ignite oil if it sits on them long enough. You'd likely smell hot/smoking oil for quite some time both outside the car and inside it before it actually ignites so you should have plenty of warning before it burns, but it definitely can burn.
I have seen it happen. When enough oil gets on the hot exhaust manifold, it will ignite. By the time the fire department gets there you will need major repair. Before you burn your car to the ground, replace the leaking gaskets. Quite a lot of oil can leak from a valve cover. Spend $30 now or spend $3000 later.
Engine oil is combustible, meaning it has a very high flash point.
Takes a lot of heat to burn it.
I agree with the guys on here for this one.
Since other fluids burn easier you must be sure it is engine oil.
The smell would be a tell tale, the smoke another.
Prevention? Let it cool off. Water would be ok and a degreaser, and a rinse, being careful not to contaminate electronics, ignition, and fuel systems.
Then blow dry with compressed air and check against unwanted water entry.
Yes... Engine oil dripped onto a hot exhaust manifold can burn. In other places, the oil won't burn, but some of the more volatile chemicals in the oil will vaporize and smoke.
Engine? No not likely. On the exhaust manifold, pipes or converter. Yes possible but not very common.
Absolutely the oil will catch fire if the oil is leaking on the HOT exhaust manifild/s.
Yes, oil can easily burn anywhere there is oxygen.
Not hot enough for it to ignite on its own, but a flame applied to the vapour or smoke would cause a fire though.
It would probably only smoke, now if it was brake fluid that's a different story.
Only if it gets onto an exhaust manifold, & then it will make smoke, not flames.
If motor oil is leaked all over the outside of an engine, is the engine hot enough for the oil to start burning from the outside? This is just a regular car engine. Thanks Guys!
