Engine Bay Fire Suppression System

Does anybody have this installed or know any positives or negatives regarding it.
Or is it just pants.


Thanks for any opininions.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswage...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item2a290ae1f2

 

TBH I'd much rather have a powder system... and the price is a bit steep considering it's just going to be a co2 system

and won't the flames need to be directly under it to set it off??

 

All valid points Paul, what system would you recommend ?
Just feel as if I need to install something would hate to see it go up
in a puff of smoke after all the graft thats been put into it

 

http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/Item/Sho...utomatic_Fire_Extinguisher_-OB-Small-CB-.html

or a bigger bottle

http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/Item/Sho...utomatic_Fire_Extinguisher_-OB-Large-CB-.html

both gas too

Plus with coolair you get a 10% discount

 

We have just ordered one of these to be fitted into our van. Im pretty sure that it detects when there is a fire and automatically puts the fire out so there is less damage to your van and engine. Plus it doesnt stall your engine and it doesnt do as much damage to your engine compared to other extinguishers.

Plus the fire brigade wont have to rip your engine lid off to get to the fire as it will all be contained.

Hope this helps

 

I don't know a huge amount about this particular system, or any other to be honest, but my thoughts are this. Provided that all your fuel pipe is sound and serviced appropriately and the same goes for your wiring, why do we read regular posts, articles etc about safeguarding against engine fire. Is there something I don't know?????

I have and extinguisher in the back of the bus for hob fires etc. I always assume this would be sufficient in the unlikely event of an engine fire.

 

I've got one. I keep it here.
Been in the shed for about a year now!

 

I'd dearly love to read one day that one of these actually went off and put out a fire.

The cooling fan of a doghouse engine is rated at 25cf/sec at 4000rpm - that's about 42,000 liters per minute. The VW 1600 VW engine at 4000rpm consumes about 3,200 liters of air a minute through the carb. That adds up to changing the air in the engine compartment almost once per second. While hot air does rise, with all the wind in there I can't see it going off until after the engine has stopped.

 

So am I right in saying, if ALL fuel lines are replaced
and electrics sorted there should be no cause for concern
and a ordrinary extinguisher will do the trick

 

I fitted a Fireflex system from Vw Heritage early last year....well it's there...you never know...piece of mind who knows...end of the day New cars can go up in flames so can old ones, one thing you can never rule out is idiots tthowing cig ends out the car window in front. I'm technician in car dealership you wouldn't believe the cig ends I find in air filter housings..think about it a lit cig end being sucked through the inlet system makes it glow even more....paranoid or what haha.

 

While I totally agree, that if all of the above has been done, then the cause for concern is very low!!

You would think so, but the half kg ones that most people carry will not put out an engine fire once it has taken hold, because by time you have pulled over, grabbed the fire extinguisher, jumped out of the van and ran round the back, then in all likelihood the fire will be too far gone for you to stop it!!


And you'll probably see something like this....


Scary thought, but when you have family and possibly a dog or two on board, I'd spend the £200 on a preemptive and be happy in the knowledge that it's going to do its job in the unlikely event that there is a fire!!

 

Fires are put out by 2 methods, removing the air that allows them to burn and lowering the temperature. The problem with a gas extinguisher, especially in an engine compartment with air flowing through it, is that the gas will disperse. The gas will not do anything to combat the original point of ignition - fuel on something hot or near a spark. This means re-ignition is likely. An AFF foam or powder will coat the burning fuel (if it's spread out well enough), preventing air from reaching the fuel and supressing the fire. This has a much better chance of preventing re-ignition than using a gas system.

Powder vs. foam is another argument. Powder is supposed to be very effective (I have no direct experience with powder), but it is corrosive and could well ruin your engine if ingested while the engine is running (quite likely). In my experience, foam is very effective when used on fuel fires, if the correct type of foam is used.

The final point is delivery method, which is probably a major point for our vehicles. I don't really know how the automatic systems with pipework that ruptures with heat works and how well the foam or powder is distributed. The distibution of the foam / powder will be key as to whether the fire is put out and whether it stays out. As far as hand held extinguishers are concerned, a burning engine bay is absolutely a no go area for someone with no training, no protective gear and a hand held extinguisher. You would risk serious burns just opening the engine bay compartment, allowing lots of fresh air in and flames out.

I have the Firetec type system with foam to install shortly when my van is complete (with new fuel hoses). I also intend to carry a hand held extinguisher as backup, but in the end I'd rather the van burned than I got burned, so would be very careful about attempting to tackle a fire in the engine bay.

 

Each to their own. I'm happy with my petrol pipes and electrics.
I've never understood why people think these vehicles are likely to self-combust. The only thing I can think of is that there was a time when it was cheaper to run them into the ground and get another, than to maintain them and that wasn't so long ago.

 

I am kind of with Zed on this one. If a fuel pipe has split and ignited, the foam engine to tinware seal would be the first thing to melt to nothing, resulting in flaming foam and fuel burning on the floor. As the tank is above the fuel outlet, fuel will continue to dribble out until it is all gone. Surely if the extinguisher then kicks in the fuel will still trickle out until its gone and re ignite on the burning foam/fuel anyway??

Sorry to sound like a pessimist but I would like to hear of a story as well that one saved a van

I would guess that anyone that has fitted one, is worried about their van and keeps up with the issues that might cause the fire, rather than try and put it out ? Hence no stories

Moral of the (No stories) is CHANGE your fuel lines

 

It depends what's burning I guess. This is a guide to putting it out written by a fireman who's camper engine bay caught fire...
http://www.justkampers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=164537

 

I don't get all this constantly changing fuel line malarkey , you don't do it on new cars , decent modern fuel injection fuel hose should be good for what 15 years ?

Even if your fixed extinguisher doesn't put a fire out then it will at least give you the few extra seconds to get out and clear .

Once a type 1 case is alight they're a bugger to put out ...

 

It's because every other van has fast decomposing JK cotton over-braided hose that's unsuitable for unleaded. I see plenty of leaking hoses and propbably replaced hoses on 3 of the last 4 buses in the workshop, and they weren't in there for that. I smell petrol I look.

 

Same boat... or 6mm twin wall hose crammed down with a jubilee clip!!

 

We've got the fireflex type, plus we've got decent fuel lines too, so yes the chances are probably minimal, but an extra layer of peace of mind never hurt anyone

 

ive been looking at these aswell, but as i havent the first clue when it comes to extinguishers,
i havent wanted to shell out that much cash for something that has the potential to not work..
thanks for the informative and helpful thread guys!!