Sadly I read of so many vans going up in smoke and having spent a year on ours I want to try to do anything I can to try to prevent this from happening to us. I would like to fit some sort of electric fuel tap, cock, shut off (call it what you like) where the fuel pipe leaves the tank - my rationale is that in the event of a fire the current set up would just let the entire contents of the tank poor on to the flames. If I could fit a shut off then at least if the engine compartment went up I could turn off the shut off and stop the contents of the tank from emptying onto the flames. Has anyone fitted such a valve/ shut off or can you suggest and suitable part or supplier. I assume racers must use some sort of fuel shut off ?
I had a ford with a fuel cut off....was a ex racing car ....every soddin time u went over a bump fast the engine would cut out and u had to reset the switch......good idea tho ....
What prompted me thinking about this was my wife reading me the story about a couple who bought a bus (Custard I think they called it) and it burnt out only weeks after they got it - they put 4 fire extinguishers on it and still couldn't stop a total burn out. Point being that if you have a tank even half full thats fuelling a fire then the chances of putting it out is slim - I have been a Fireman (or Firefighter as we call it now) for 22 years and it can sometimes take a while to put a fuel enduced fire out with a humping great fire engine so 4 extinguishers wont do anything. If you can stop the tank dumping it contents on the fire by introducing a shut off then you only have to deal with the fuel in the carb and pipes - probably about a cup full ?
Well worth fitting, before going mad on fancy extinguishers. As the tank's higher than the engine, any hose rupture in the engine room will cause a tankful of fuel to be gravity-fed into the engine compartment. With the valve in place, turning the ignition off will shut off the fuel immediately. They can also double as an anti-theft device. You can feed the solenoid from the coil +ve supply through an in-line fuse. Have a search, as Zed suggests. The valves are about 35 quid.
Here you go fella! http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/hoses/fuelpumps.php or http://www.tinleytech.co.uk/acatalog/Filter_shut-off_valves_and_filter_elements.html#a166
All these fire that people go on about does anyone know what really courses them as it always seams to be buses you dont hear of others or even beetles going up. Fuel cut off idea is goo and if you run it with a relay you can have it only operate when the engines running or if you are cranking the starter
Good point about the cause of the fires...bet its hard to pinpoint exactley coz the fire damage tho....althought i always look at my stock engine and think its a fire waiting to happend....esp with the crap leccy conectors vw use and having the coil so close to a carb thats 30 odd years old ...only takes one spark doesnt it ...time to update my engine bay i think...
Some fuel cut-off solenoids available below, including the inline type we're looking for http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=fuel%20cut-off%20solenoid&_sop=15
Magnesium along with various different alloys tend to burn with a bright white flame when they get really hot - I guess 50litres of petrol gently pooring onto any fire will get it hot enough to burn anything. I will deffinately be plumbing in a fuel solenoid very soon. Does anyone use fire retardant fuel hose - I have seen 6mm marine fuel hose (not that costly) that supposedly self closes under fire ?
ah a fellow firefighter, only served half your term, but seems like a lifetime lol frosts do cut off valves. more valuable however would be a foam firetec system, will cool the hotspots as soon as they happen so fuel pouring out shouldn't be as much of an issue. personally i'd go for that first. think most people fit the cut off valve as a theft prevention option rather than fire, but would do the job for both!
which one did you order the tinley one looks the cheapest http://www.tinleytech.co.uk/acatalog/Filter_shut-off_valves_and_filter_elements.html#a166
I ordered the £12.54 one and it arrived today - not fitted yet but looks decent quality, I have also bought some bang up to date R9 fuel pipe and proper clips so when I get five mins (yeh!) I will be fitting them. Currently my filter is between the tank and the metal fuel pipe - is it OK to fit it between the pump and the carb - it will be easier to get at and see.
I wouldn't fit it in the engine compartment the filter is usually what gives so best if it's away from the engine. mine is clipped above the gearbox, there are two hose supports up there.
found these on the net, anyone seen similar in the uk...? http://www.smartproducts.com/check_valves.php
