TheSamba.com :: View topic - engine fire

Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:13 am

Hi all,

This one seriously keeps me awake at night - having had my '77 Bay for 6 months now I have seen quite a number depressing and worrying Ytube clips of engine fires and now I've read with sadness (and even more worry) the Chug Chug thread.

So, the questions - what to do in case of an engine fire, forgetting the obvious like get out and phone fire brigade. Do you tackle it yourself, is it worth it, has anyone ever managed to extinguish one themselves, where to you aim the extinguisher - down side vents? do you open up the back to get access to fire or does this just make things worse, how big and what type of extinguisher do you carry, what preventative measures can you take - annual fuel line replacement? is there any way of fire proofing engine area so that if a fire starts it spreads more slowly giving more time for extinguish.

Thoughts appreciated to ease my worries.

Cheers

Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:30 am

I really am going to do this:

Look here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3158546&highlight=#3158546

Something like this would be awesome!:
http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/FireboyVideo.mov

or rig up something like this to run manually:

Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:01 pm

Shooting the extinguisher down the air intake vent on either side is very effective (while leaving the deck lid closed). It will snuff the fire out.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:25 pm

preferably two fire extinguishers in left and right intake vent.
Never open the hatch! This will allow alot of oxygen to fuel the fire.

Cut off your battery. This will stop the engine and fuel pump and stop electrical sparks etc.

Cutting off oxygen supply by spraying the vents should stop the flames.
When the fire/smoke died you could open the lid and spray the rest of your extinguisher to lower the temperature in the engine compartment to prevent the fire from starting up again.

You want to do two things to put out the fire, shut off oxygen supply and lower the temperature

Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:29 pm

Cheers guys,

I now have a plan of action should the dreaded event ever occur. just need to buy a second extinguisher and train the wife on her fire putting out duties.

Thanks again

Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:15 pm

I am currently working with the local fire department to come up with a standard fire extingusher engine bay fire suppression system that a normal fire ex will plug into at a reasonable cost.

its looking good so far and easy and cheap to install so I will keep you posted.

So far it involves tubes fitted inside the engine bay and further tubes under neath the heat tin so both the hot and cold areas are suppressed.

Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:19 pm

^^^VERY NICE^^^ :wink:

Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:21 pm

At the minute who would of thought fire was so complicated, fire fighters make it sound like its alive and wants to kill you.

Before I went into this I just thought it will burn and hurt like hell!!!!!! both my bus and me!!! :roll: