In a message dated 5/14/99 7:59:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, firestream@MINDSPRING.COM writes: > Was taught in firefighter training never to put water on a Volkswagen > engine. [I'm a volunteer in our small town] Some have a magnesium alloy, > is what we were told, and the water will explode on contact. > This is a good point, and it also applies to magnesium and aluminum wheels. All of the opposed 4 cylinder engines are a magnesium alloy, both air and water cooled. If enough heat has built up so that the engine case or heads are burning, this is a substantial fire, and should be left to the professionals. Magnesium contains its own oxygen, so once it gets started it will burn from the inside, and is very difficult to deal with. My previous post dealt with how to handle very small fires only, and even then it can be dangerous. When in doubt, back off and leave it to the professionals. Zoe Ann & Roger 1987 4x5 Adventurewagen |
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