I'm sure this has been covered before, but my head is full of a horrible cold and my tiny brain is not functioning at full throttle, so forgive me. With the engine bay refresh that Clem is currently undergoing, and in installation of the long awaited Twin Dells, I don't think my fire extinguisher will be able to be refitted in it's previous position - ie, on a bracket attached to the spare wheel well. It was one of those £70 ones that has a glass release bubble that shatters with the heat of a fire, covering the engine with powder. The roof of the engine bay is the metal rather than hardboard style, so I could hang something from there? I remember the names 'Firetec' and 'Blaze Cut', but recommendations are always better than marketing blurb. (I have a cut-off solenoid already fitted, and a hand held extinguisher under the passenger seat - but want the extra reassurance of summat in the immediate area of any potential fire. I've also got the ethanol resistent fuel hose, and have changed my breather hoses etc) What have you all got?
If you've changed all your fuel hoses, nothing is going to catch fire. Spend the money on drink or drugs.
I've been thinking about an engine bay fire extinguisher. I've changed the hoses and got a hand held one in the cab. Like most people, I hope to never need one but who knows. I had a problem with my previous bus, going round a roundabout on the Newbury by-pas when the engine coughed and spluttered and then cut out. I coasted to the side of the road, partly out of the way. When I open the engine lid I saw fuel running out of the carburettor all over the place. The needle valve had stuck. I was very lucky I guess and this is something I haven't forgotten
If I was going to install one. These boys know what they’re doing and great system https://vwaircooledworks.co.uk/fire-extinguisher-system
I fitted one of those that's a long single tube of plastic hose like material, very discrete. Now, while I agree with Snotts, I am of the better safe than sorry inclination; there is a lot more hose to pop with Dells.
I'm inclined to agree. ...I'm not going to suddenly get blasé about my fuel pipes because I've got an extinguisher, it's just one more level of protection. I looked at the hose style - Blazecut were the original I think, and JK now sell the 'Fire Fighter' version. It would be a lighter weight on my engine bay roof than the actual extinguisher type (Air cooled works etc) <Edit> Interestingly the Blazecut version, whilst more expensive, offers a 10 year lifespan; the JK Fire Fighter has a shelf life of 3-5 years. According to their marketing blurb.
Cutoff solenoid, stainless braided motorsport hoses in the engine bay (and originally back to the tank until the muppets who changed my tank threw it away) . And a 1kg dry powder hand extinguisher and some memory of an Offshore Sea Survival course which included actually putting out a tray of burning fuel.. . because any burning fuel that is under the bus will not be extinguished by an extinguisher in the engine bay. As I found out. I used to have one of those auto extinguishers on the boat, but it rotted through and released its Halon some time in the past before I had to hand it back in.. Whatever you buy as an auto extinguisher , find one with a switch so that at least it puts a light on on the dashboard to tell you it has lost pressure for some reason (not just a fire, maybe a slow leak) , and preferably arranged to electrically kill the fuel solenoid as well (but make sure there is a way of enabling the solenoid off the ignition if all that has happened is a slow leak) .
Gas ones look best, I wouldn't want foam or powder sucked into my engine just because of an electrical fire.
I have one that was bought through a group buy on here years ago I had to pick it up from Baghead remember him. To be honest I wouldn’t bother again and I wouldn’t bother with the ones with a glass bulb as it’s going to have to be a fire in the right place to set it off. The ones with the pipe that covers the whole engine bay are better as it would pick up a fire quicker anywhere and are the same as used in motorsport. I do wonder how effective they are given there’s a big fan sucking air out of the engine bay the only ones I’ve seen used have been with the engine off.
yep, same here. Gas system wired in to the fuel pump and cut off solenoid so no more fuel gets pumped in to the engine bay once it’s been triggered
