# Instructions You Say? Pffft!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 10, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500 "2013-09-10T14:32:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500/41 "2023-10-06T00:21:10Z")

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That’s pretty epic!

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500/42 "2023-10-06T01:56:25Z")

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I happy to read you’ve survived.

Yes epic is the word.

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**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500/43 "2023-10-06T17:49:52Z")

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Thanks Beck, considering some other dumb things I’ve done over the years the engine fire was a pretty minor one. I’m glad to see you here, your posts normally give me a chuckle (other than the more serious ones).

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500/44 "2023-10-06T20:07:06Z")

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> [@Caribbean\_cruiser](#):
>
> Yes, the catalytic converters get hot – hot enough to ignite leaves underneath a parked car.

While helping out at car shows, we’re told to look out for very low cars. The hot exhaust can burn grass but also soften and discolor asphalt. Some cars are lowered so far as to be undriveable after parking for the show and those pipes might only have a couple inches of clearance.

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instructions-you-say-pffft/668500/45 "2023-10-07T13:59:27Z")

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I was about 11 years old. We had an old Massey Ferguson farm tractor that I would use to mow our five acres.

I also put gas in it. Used the old GI Jerry cans and a funnel. So it was usually a mess. Gas all over the tractor, and soaked into me. Gas fumes all around.

The start switch for the tractor was not working. I needed to short out the solenoid with a screw driver. Which of course causes sparks.

No fireball ensued. But after I got it running, even at that young age, I stepped back thinking ‘holy shit, I just nearly killed myself’.

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