Date:         Wed, 2 Jan 2008 18:28:22 -0600
Reply-To:     Dan Weeks <theprofileco@DWX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Weeks <theprofileco@DWX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Westy OEM fire extinguisher
In-Reply-To:  <86476e250801021527t6f9aba7t32f044e3537a3453@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

On Jan 2, 2008, at 5:27 PM, Loren Busch wrote:

>  Mike, let me stretch the Halon thread and extend it to the Vanagon
> engine
> compartment.  The worst case scenario in my mind has always been
> something
> like this.  Driving across a lonely stretch of desert in a constant
> stiff
> wind.  Smoke appears behind, pull ove, shut down, grab the Halon
> filled
> extinguisher and head for the back.  Now how to I apply the Halon?
> If not
> to hot yet I open the license plate door?  Or drop to the ground
> and squirt
> up into the engine compartment?  And If I'm in a strong wind, will
> the Halon
> just carry away?
>
> The ideal setup in my mind is to create some sort of access port
> direct from
> the outside to the engine compartment, just for sticking the nozzle
> of the
> extinguisher into in case of an engine compartment fire.  Anyone
> ever though
> that through and figured out how to do it?

Great idea of yours, a firefighting port.

Exactly this happened to me in my 80 aircooled, except there was a
light "pop" sound, then no power, and I coasted to a stop in an urban
used-car lot. Before I even stopped moving I could see whisps of
smoke out the rear air vents, and I knew what had happened and told
my step-daughter to call 911, which he did while I grabbed the
extinguisher. IBut by the time I could reach the rear of the car, it
was pretty clear I wasn't going to be pulling up the engine hatch in
my shorts and T-shirt. It was burning pretty good. The FD got there
promptly, and a suited-up guy lifted the lid a crack while another
blasted into the crack with a big extinguisher and put it out pretty
quick, but the top of the engine was a melted plastic mess. Had I a
hole to shoot through in the engine hatch, I MIGHT have been able to
save it. I don't think shooting through the license plate hatch or
from underneath (where burning plastic and gas were dripping) would
have done any good, as the fire was on top.

Dan
80 7-passenger, RIP
82 & 83 Westys