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Date:         Mon, 3 Mar 2003 12:38:16 -0800
Reply-To:     zolo <zolo@FOXINTERNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         zolo <zolo@FOXINTERNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: Has anyone saved a burnt engine?
Comments: To: warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

My Westy was bought as a burnt out scrap. All the stuff was melted on top, icluding the throttle valve. The steel parts did not but had to be thrown out. They got rusted in and out. Mine only burnt on the top. The airflow meter was not recognisable. There was nothing in the place of it. It all melted all over the casing. I just bought all the injector parts and all the accessories inside the area, (at that time I did not even know what should be there) and it started right up. I had to clean out the gas tank first though. There was some kind of water in there. It was a big job to clean out all the mock from the engine area and repaint the the car inside and outside. Now I use it the last twelve years without much trouble. Nothing of the inside of the engine was harmed. But it is an aircooled engine... There maybe an issue with the head gasket in your case. Well, good luck. It is not an easy fix. I know. Zoltan

---- Original Message ---- From: warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: RE: Has anyone saved a burnt engine? Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 11:59:36 -0800

>The question is, >has anyone who reads this list put back in service an engine that >came from >a Vanagon that had a engine compartment fire? > >I have such an engine and it after tearing it down to the case ,I >have >discovered it is a brand new engine. > >The Vanagon it came out of had an engine fire that was put out >before it >could melt the plastic engine lid . > >I think I have figured how the fire originated also. >It was human error- the installer may not have connected a hose or >left the >brittle adaptor on the firewall, and gasoline leaked out. The engine >was >running, the giniton wire melted all the way to the key, melting the >ignition switch and freezing the key in the on position. > >The fire was quickly extinguished, both rear quarter windows were >smashed >out and the also the rear hatch window. > >The rear hatch was locked, so the lock and consequently the hatch was >damaged in order to open the hatch. > >It looks like a fire department save, because a Vanagon mechanic >would know >that smashing out the side windows would avail nothing)Or would he? >Maybe >the installer wasn't a VW specialist. > >Anyway, I have removed the engine and the burnt components. It looks >like >the flames never touched the top engine surface. The head gaskets >did'nt >burn. The engine was full of coolant. > >No fire burnt under the engine, which is shiny new. It has a yellow >engine >sticker that tells it was remanufactured at Cummins Canada. The >sticker >did'nt burn. > >The case scrubbed up to a new shiny metal. It was only smoked. >A lot melted plastic covered the top of the case. >I don't know at what temperature these plastics melt at, but I would >guess >below 500 degrees, and the plastic would create an insulating >barrier from >the heat above. >Also, at the base of a fire is a layer of air. > >Since the engine case itself never ignited, but the components above >it did, >the rubber intake boot for example, then this air layer would be even >greater, much like the air space below a fireplace grate. > >I'm grateful fpor any comments on your experience or scientific >observations. > >Thanks- > >Robert K > >1982 Westfalia > > > > > > > >The alternator, AC comp, PS pump, airbox/afm, intake manifolds, >injctors >/fuel rails, everything above the case was toasted. >But no to the point of total consumption, most of the burnt -melted >components were still recognizeable, except for the airbox, which >melted and >the AFM, which melted also. > >The engimne turns over readily, and there is no evidence of head >gasket >leaks. > >Any suggestions? > > > > > > > >Robert >1982 Westfalia > >_________________________________________________________________ >Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online >http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 >


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