So Do I Need A Firetec?

Saw the thread tonite on Firetec's.

Should I install one?

Just done the fuel lines, breathers etc etc...

 

Depends if you are of a nervous disposition. It's worth noting VW didn't see the need.

 

i am in the process of rebuilding my engine and painting engine bay. I have also seen too many pics and heard too many horror stories of total losses due to engine fires. So i will be fitting one. VW didnt see the need but that was over 30 years ago for all of our buses many of which have not seen the correct service intervals with PO and were not running on fuel with such a high ethanol content (the reason the old fabric covered pipes rot) . Always use a fuel hose designed to the latest spec as fuel is changing with additives and more ethanol.

Fit one and bin the old style hoses. (always use proper fuel hose clips. jubilee clips dont always apply an even pressure around the joint)

I have FI so will be running SAE J30R9 hose( but have already changed my 1500 sp solex carbed bug to this.)

 

Thing is, you don't want to be the guinea pig.

 

Hopefully you will never 'need' one.
I'd say that if you can afford to do it, then you probably should.

 

Have the fuel hose as you specified and the proper clips.

Its easy to get paranoid with this, I have seen very modern cars at the side of the road in flames and never seen a 30 year old car in flames. I know it does happen with vans. I don't know about anyone else but I have a good look in the engine bay at least once a week, its easier now I have had the engine out and cleared the years of crud and grease off the block and can see things more clearly. Knowing everything is back together with new gaskets, nuts etc and new fuel lines and breathers gives me confidence.

Still not sure if its worth the money for the firetec, I am more bothered about me and the wife and 2 girls getting out in the event of a fire as a priority rather than saving the bus, but if a fire were to happen in the engine bay, I assume that the metalwork of the van would contain the fire long enough for us to get out. Suppose the firetec limits the damage so may mean that the bus is not a total loss. To be honest, I don't know...

 

i don't 'need' to wear a cycle helmet when i ride my bike, but i do . . . . . . .

 

I fitted a Fireflex system vw heritage did/do..Will it work if needed I hope so or at least damage limitation....my children travel in the back too....yes we all seen pictures and heard stories of fires,,yes we all keep check on our buses.....paranoid !!!! . tell you story what happened 6/7 years ago, I changed the alternator, built it back up. started her up mint, 5 mins later smoke bellowing out the engine bay...gut wrenching feeling...alt wiring to regulator burnt and main lead to starter motor..what had happened was +b post on the alternator was slightly longer than the original and must have just touch the cover plate and arced out and stripped the insulation off the wiring...I replaced the alt loom and main lead and filled the post down and all was well but I just sat there absolutely gutted...so you take your choices...

 

We have one for Luu, it's been sat on a shelf in the garage since the last group buy over a year ago

 

I reckon I will get one,( i don't 'need' to wear a cycle helmet when i ride my bike, but i do . . . . . . . ) from BigRich is a good point....

 

No. Why's your bus going to catch fire?

 

just keep all the fuel lines new clips tight and no plastic filters in the engine bay.

 

We had an engine fire, check hoses very carefully!

 

I'd be very surprised if mine did.
That said I see a fair few that could do at at any moment, but I repair the faults rather than fit a fire extinguisher!
IMHO the answer is to treat the cause not the symptom. And it's less inconvenient than the after effects of a fire, or a extinguisher going off in the engine bay.

 

I have just put an online filter in fuel line in engine bay..... Potential problem?

 

2 schools of thought.
Bad : it's an extra 2 connections and a "thing" that could fail in the engine bay.
Good: You can keep your eye on it if you're the kind of person who doesn't "do" going under the van unless something breaks.
Bad : After the pump (if that's where it is) doesn't protect the pump.
Bad : before the pump with standard single cab it's awkward to fit away from the heat risers which WILL melt plastic.

Bad I suppose then. I had one in the engine bay for 10 years so I'm bad, but I wouldn't now because I'm under the ruddy thing every other week for something anyway.

 

Will have a look tomorrow! Cheers!