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donnieb
Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2012
Posts: 1
Location: silver city new mexico
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 Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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I've had 2 vanagons and 3 transporters and have never personally had an engine fire. A friend asked me to do some work on his tired, old wasserboxer in his '85 westy. I immediately saw that his fuel lines were beyond messed up. Just like everything else. Anyway, I tightened a couple of hose clamps and started the engine. Then, all of the sudden one of the lines blew and FOOM! up in flames. my buddy who owns the van grabs his liitle fire extinguisher and attempted to put the fire out only to find that the thing was not working. I ran next door to the pizza shop and grabbed their fire extinguisher off of the wall and was able to put the fire out in time. The moral of this story is, If you have a vw and you want to keep it un-crispy, replace all of your fuel lines. You should also make sure that the plastic lines are still in good shape as well. I'm going to replace the plastic lines with metal ones just to be sure. the newer vanagons have issues with the compensator tube and tank gaskets as well. If your van leaks when you fill up, this is why. Also, buy a good fire extinguisher!
Good luck! |
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akyrie
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2010
Posts: 519
Location: Driftless, Wisco
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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So nobody here wants to admit a fire? well here is what happened to ME with my 86 'gon not gone for good.
I had an electrical short/spark from my alternator that burned through my fuel line. ...And we had a fire. I only had the small extinguisher but was able to get it under control. I no longer carry the small extinguisher but the big household sized ones. the fire raging out the back, I ran back and used the extinguisher from the bottom. I think that the licence plate will be to hot to hold or keep open in this panicky time frame. Go from below until no fire is evident. Get some help.
This is where I made a mistake that almost cost me my van. I opened the hatch. I couldn't see any flames, and thought I would get some good action from the top side, but it was all action I didn't want. Big ball of flame, shot up past the top of the rear hatch that was open. I ducked and only received a fine de-hairment on my arms. lucky again. With the little dribble of extinguisher left i was able to put it out.
Do not open the hatch, get all your extinguishing needs out from below! changing your fuel lines doesn't always prevent fire!
_________________
Although I got a funny message from the Porsche guys, it read, "what a mighty ship that you must sail"
....has anyone else received that?
82 AHU DK, 1950's Puch-black |
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dubbified
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 1406
Location: Redmond, WA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Waldemar Sikorski wrote: |
Why not come up with a custom design?
One extinguisher stationary, feeding two nozzles in the bay, remotely operated from the cabin area with a mechanical backup. Second one as originally intended. |
I have installed many nozzle and plumbing based systems.. you can go to pretty much any place and get nozzles, order them online.. and then build in a system.. Stainless steel tubing and associated fittings shouldn't be so difficult.. Hmm.. new priority for me.. damn.  |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7469
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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I’m becoming paranoid about flying debris in an emergency stop...mostly when I see unsecured stuff in other people’s vans. I need to apply the same paranoia to my van.
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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RainierSyncro
Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2013
Posts: 809
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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| One could install a Bazecut to the engine lid. It will give you a warning when it goes off and will knock the fire out or at least give you some extra time to put it out yourself. |
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T3 Pilot
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2018 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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https://elementfire.com/pages/comparison
_________________
1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22668
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 5:17 am Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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Counterpoint for thought.
Why does every car on the road today use high pressure fuel injection, and are, on average, 11 years old, And don’t catch fire , and don’t have Blazecuts?
Why don’t people stop fires by maintain their cars instead of trying to put them out afterwards?
_________________
.ssS! |
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mtnride1
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011
Posts: 194
Location: la quinta, CA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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I have a blazecut in my van and a clean agent back-up extinguisher in cabinet behind drivers seat. I also check all my fuel lines regularly. Should I ever have a fire I think the blazecut will hold it down if not knock it out, I can then use my clean agent through the license plate hole if needed and leave the engine cover in place. Then disconnect all the batteries.
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87 westy 2wd (NED) |
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Jeffrey Lee
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Putting out an engine fire |
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An ABC Halotron I extinguisher is perhaps the most effective, as it will knock out most fires, and doesn't have the same toxic and corrosive agents as other types.
If you use your Vanagon for camping, you have a few additional fire threats with cooking, portable heaters, etc.. So, we carry a couple of compact ACK Potassium Lactate & Nitrogen Aerosol extinguishers, too. This is the only type specifically rated for cooking oil & grease fires.
More info on choosing and using fire extinguishers in your Westy here:
https://campwestfalia.com/fire-extinguishers-camper-van/ |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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