FIRE!!!!

[Kett]

Many of you who attended OrigineRS will be aware that my 230 attempted self-combustion during some spirited lap driving.

Until recently, I have been a little concerned that this was a component failure that could effect all of us.
I have since learned that the cause was a non-OEM oil feed pipe split.

On that basis, I think we can take some encouragement that the cause was not a standard component. On the flip side, I think I would be weary of similar OEM component failures in the longer term.

Lesson learned: I fortunately had a fire-extinguisher on board! The engine covers were hastily removed so that the foam could be discharged on the source of the fire. The subsequent damage was minimised.

I have little doubt that VE02VEE would have been wholly cremated without that £40 fire extinguisher and the quick-action of my passenger Scott Glander.

Advice to my fellow long-term V6 owners: carry a decent-sized fitted fire extinguisher and practice a few 'fire-drills' of whipping off the engine covers bloody quickly.

Be prepared and you won't get 'all shook up'...

 

[Jamesv6]

I've noticed other cars with engine covers which have strong rear hinges and just one single quarter turn clip at the front securing the cover, that seems to seal the cover very well. No Idea why we need so many.

 

[Ali]

Yeh. Very lucky you got it out as the heat would have been intense!

 

[dal.a]

Mine has one in the passenger foot well up close to the seat.

I thought they were standard :rollseyes:

 

[k1ano]

Very lucky ...

I remember having my very first dealer service many years ago and insisting they do a diligent job - of course I got the flannel in terms of how good they were !

So when I picked up the car I asked the service manager outside as I wanted to check the interior and engine for spills, greasy hand prints etc. I removed the covers only to discover, with him as witness, blue paper (the kind used in garages to wipe hands etc.) covered in grease sat on the exhaust manifold ready to combust ! Needless to say I flipped my lid and the service manager didn't know what to say or do and I understand gave a bollocking to the service engineer - hmmm would an 'engineer' really be so careless ?

So fire-extinguisher all the way - also in the kitchen, in the garage etc.

Martin

 

[JimA]

Check your insurance small print re: powder extinguishers as some won't pay out if you use them due to the increase (after) damage they cause. Best go for foam (AFFF ) or CO2.

 

[Brett]

A scary moment indeed Sam and what a relief both you and the car came out of it with out too much damage. After my small fire at Rockingham I always carried an extinguisher under the bonnet. I was very fortunate in that I didn't need to remove engine covers. With my car partially stripped I will be plumbing a few nozzles into the key areas ie, around the turbo's, oil housings, fuel rails and lines so the need to remove the covers to gain access isn't quite so important. Maybe something worth considering on yours Sam considering how trackway focused it is?

 

[Kett]

Yes Brett, I am seriously considering going down the V6 Trophy route which has plumbed-in extinguisher system. Duncan was joking how easy it is to accidentally pull the trigger on his system.
Do you know any good plumbers? ; )

 

[Brett]

Yeah that is something worth thinking about Sam especially on a road car. An easy way would be to use a compressed air fitting socket at the end of the line. Simply unwind the nozzle off of a standard extinguisher and make the other half of the socket back into where the nozzle once was. Although not FIA approved it would be a good way of making sure you don't set it off accidentally. If shit ever hit the fan, grab the extinguisher and click the socket together and let it rip. It would also give you the opportunity to use it elsewhere where no lines are fitted to the car if need be.

 

[k1ano]

I bet it would be so easy to plumb in a fire extinguisher in the Vee ... Install on the luggage shelf, discreet nozzle or two into the engine bay and a pull cord on the centre console ... Could be done in such a way as to not require any drilling or holes ...

I bought the lifeline club 2.25 litre kit for my toyota which has two nozzles and piping and two pull cables ... This bottle size looks good for a road car and isn't too big ...

lifeline clubman kit

 

[Brett]

I'd avoid the shelf personally as is abit too high for my liking.

Daft as it may seem, I also considered fitting some sort of smoke alarm in the rear of mine. It was pure luck that I could smell the fire in mine as usually I would have had my baulkhead in place which would have prevented me smelling anything out of the ordinary.