2010 Toyota Prius

This was 3½ years ago?

What country are you in?

 

If in the U.S., it would be beyond most states' statutes of limitations. I.e. the deadline for civil claims would be expired.

But not necessarily in all states.

 

welcome to priuschat1

nice to have a new member

 

I think @bisco was being a bit tongue and cheek.

But always nice to get the first post out of the way eventually .

 

I guessed that - but I'm not sure what the OP's post was for - I think he was telling us that his PRIUS burned 3½ years ago. The fire appeared to have started under the bonnet.

I GOOGLEd "PriusChat Prius fire" - and there have been some others.

 

There have been reports of fires here.

I believe some resulted from block heaters.

But for the OP, definitely a long time lapse of the dates are true.

 

Trouble parsing OP, but if the oil filler cap was off as stated, the oil would tend to spatter out (resulting in low oil level as stated) and coat stuff in the engine compartment. That film/mist of oil can be ignited by the hot exhaust manifold or any stray sparks. Once ignited, the engine compartment is full of combustible plastic and some amount of fuel in the gas lines, and so burns quite readily. The sheet metal between the engine compartment and the passenger cabin is supposed to also act as a fire wall, but fire can still spread from the engine bay backward and ultimately into the rest of the car. That is one scenario. I’m glad you were not injured!

 

I left an oil fill cap off once, years ago.

What I do now whenever it's off is place it on the flat zone right next to the hood latch, so the hood can't be closed.

 

yep, I leave mine by the hood latch. Rather a crack oil cap than an engine without an oil cap.

 

I had it vibrate off - on my B&S Lawn-mower engine - one day I must degrease it!!! But why procrastinate today when I can procrastinate next week.