Date:         Fri, 3 Mar 2006 18:37:39 -0800
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Burnt Vanagon of the Week
In-Reply-To:  <003e01c63f2a$0e600d30$6501a8c0@ibmt23laptopdef>
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The early metal engine cover is very little real protection, if any. I
have seen plenty of early vans burn so bad that the steering wheel
melts, metal engine lid be damned. On Syncros, the fuel tank is right
above the tranny and the tank is made of PLASTIC. Long before the
fiberglass engine lid burns through, the top of the fuel tank melts and
feeds the fire in an unstoppable way. If the tank was completely full it
would not melt through but since there is always a little air space
inside at the top, the heat trapped by the engine lid does it's damage
and the Syncro is history. Kid yourself all you want about metal or
insulation to limit the damage done to the interior, the only way to
save your Vanagon from fire is to PREVENT the fire in the first place.

Mark

Doug F wrote:

>Ahhh, without looking it up, I think the power for the pump either comes
>from the ignition switch or comes from the ECU.
>
>In either case not sure you can "cross" any circuits in the engine
>compartment with a fire that will keep the pump running.
>
>If that is the case I would like to know which wires exactly are you
>referencing.
>
>The reason the fire is so difficult to fight is that fuel line leaks will
>spray the entire engine and engine compartment with fuel before the fire
>even starts and then any and everything in the engine compartment is ablaze
>including the fiberglass engine lid.
>
>Once the fire breaks through the engine cover its no problem to set the
>ENTIRE interior of the van on fire.
>Thats why an early vanagon metal engine cover can save the van all by
>itself.
>
>If I had a place to do it and a parted out vanagon to test I would love to
>test out various barriers in the back like a thin piece of sheet metal over
>the engine lid or nomex fabric blanket or both and see if the fire could
>intrude into the interior.
>
>Doug
>
>