Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 08:38:41 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Replaced my steel lid, installed fire extinguishers
In-Reply-To: <C36B5217-333D-11D8-A13D-000393DB2980@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
A caution about the use of the powder type fire extinguishers.
The powder in the extinguishers is a very fine grit. If any of this
material gets into the air intake in any way during the extinguishing of
an engine fire, or after the fire is out, and you are able to restart
the engine, this stuff can cause the engine to seize. Of course there
are the air filters there to protect the engine, but that is for normal
operating conditions. A fire is not a normal condition.
Just be sure that the airways into the engine are clear of any of the
fire retardent before trying to restart.
I once saw a guy seize an aircraft engine using the dry chemical
extinguisher on a a fire that started when he started the engine. He had
flooded the engine, trying to start it, fuel had run out of the
carburetor (on the bottom of the engine on thei airplane) and a backfire
set the fuel on fire that was running out. The engine was shut down and
the fire easily extinguished. But then he jumped right back in to start
the engine and after start up it ran for a few seconds then locked up
tight, stopping suddenly. What a mess! Of course the vanagon engines are
configured diferently than an aircraft engine, but caution is wise with
this powdered stuff.
Also, the powder needs to be flushed away as soon as possible, because
it can cause corrosion in electrical connections and other areas if left
alone.
I carry two extinguishers - one a halon extinguisher, the other the
typical ABC type.
And I changed all fuel related lines aft of the firewall, when my engine
was rebuilt. Early in the year of 2004, it will be time to change those
fuel lines once again. A little expensive, but nowhere nearly as costly
as the loss of the vehicle or the emotional angst brought on by a fire.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Jim Felder wrote:
> I wrote a while back about swapping the heavy steel lid on my diesel
> for one of the lighter-weight late models. I found one on ebay ($9) and
> installed it today... it fit perfectly. I can't tell if it's any louder
> or quieter, sounds the same to me. Seems MUCH faster : )
>
> I am considering putting the steel lid on my 90, considering what I've
> heard about fires lately. I did have a VW Karmann Ghia burn up in the
> 70s but that was from a battery fire.
>
> I bought two fire extinguishers today and installed both. Best place I
> found to mount the carat extinguisher was horizontally on front of the
> drivers seat pedestal. My jump seats and seat belt precludes it from
> being mounted a la Westy.
>
> Jim
>
