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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Cheap fire insurance that works
Posted by: db9146 May 26 2016, 08:41 PM
I have no financial incentive but I hate to see someone's pride and joy go up in flames (unless there's a really good insurance sett.....never mind 
).
Running carbs on my -6 has caused me more times than I can count to think about the likelihood of a fire one day. I saw this on a member's car here I believe and so I investigated it and it sure seems like a good idea to me.
Its called BlazeCut and its a 7/8" plastic tube of fire retardant liquid that when subjected to fire, bursts releasing the liquid which immediately becomes a gas and extinguished the fire, leaving no trace to harm paint, electricals, etc.
Where the tubing comes in contact with the supports on the underside of the lid, I wrapped some of the self-fusing rubber tape to provide some abrasion protection and then used a number of zip-ties to anchor it securely to the lid. The springs don't have the umph to lift the lid as before but that's really no big deal as a trade-off for the protection.
There is a video of a demonstration on a VW bus on-line. I installed the 3 meter version on my -6 and feel a lot better about it.
You can find the demo here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswau1mGBE8).
Posted by: Wyvern May 26 2016, 09:12 PM
Very interesting .... thanks for sharing
Posted by: PanelBilly May 26 2016, 09:40 PM
I re member seeing this before. Excellent idea. How nuch and where did you buy it
Posted by: Coondog May 26 2016, 09:47 PM
Interesting product, but I think I will stick to my Fire Extinguisher. 
Posted by: Coondog May 26 2016, 09:48 PM
I re member seeing this before. Excellent idea. How nuch and where did you buy it
Amazon. $ 128.00
Posted by: PanelBilly May 27 2016, 12:05 PM
Got one on order. Thanks
Posted by: worn May 27 2016, 01:23 PM
I have no financial incentive but I hate to see someone's pride and joy go up in flames (unless there's a really good insurance sett.....never mind
).You can find the demo here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswau1mGBE8).
Seems like an ideal mounting location. Unless the fire is somewhere else. Advantage is you don't have to get close to the burning and it goes off soon and it doesn't hit you in the cabin. Nice.
Posted by: SirAndy May 27 2016, 01:33 PM
Posted by: whitetwinturbo May 27 2016, 02:13 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BlazeCut-Automatic-Fire-Suppression-System-TV100FA-3-foot-1meter-/131720947214
Posted by: KENNY May 27 2016, 03:15 PM
I post this video before .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswau1mGBE8 - Video Tube for YouTube - iPhone/iPad
Posted by: Justinp71 May 27 2016, 03:51 PM
Thanks for sharing! Nice and simple product, I like how it works automatically without anyone needing to get out a fire extinguisher or pull a fire cord. Smart idea.
Posted by: Justinp71 May 27 2016, 03:56 PM
FYI, the link for ebay is for 3', looks like the poster is using a 6' system.
Posted by: patssle May 27 2016, 04:58 PM
Thanks for posting this! It's something you need that you didn't know existed. Immediately ordering one.
Posted by: BuddyV May 27 2016, 05:06 PM
Almost seems too good to be so easy....... .HHmmmm....... 
...... still wondering why this is not more well-known.
Seems like I need (2).
Posted by: PanelBilly May 27 2016, 06:14 PM
Where you you put the second one?
Posted by: db9146 Sep 6 2016, 02:00 PM
I actually ordered a 3 meter unit and looped it around some. It fits just fine.
Posted by: mangrum Sep 7 2016, 06:47 AM
Looks like a good solution for the type of fire demonstrated in the video. I would not rely on it exclusively, though. The only engine fire I experienced was in a 1967 VW Bus (21 Window - boy I wish I still had that car!). The fire was small and probably would not have set this system off.
Mike
Posted by: Sleepin Sep 7 2016, 08:28 AM
What a great idea! Why didn't I think of that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswau1mGBE8
Posted by: Chris H. Sep 7 2016, 08:42 AM
Dang that's good stuff. Gas fires are so hard to put out and the metal warps very quickly. Could save your car (and your garage/house maybe). By the time you realize what's up the hose would have already exploded in many cases.
Posted by: Vacca Rabite Sep 7 2016, 10:54 AM
Cheap insurance. I imagine those work by displacing the oxygen. Great for a bus where the engine is enclosed. But would it work for a 914 with a big engine grill?
Its one of those things that cant hurt, but would it really stop a fire in a 914? Or is the bay in a 914 enclosed enough that enough oxygen would be displaced for long enough?
Zach
Posted by: JmuRiz Sep 7 2016, 11:02 AM
What's the shelf life for this stuff...how often does it need to be replaced?
Or is it good as long as the pressure is showing as OK?
Posted by: smj Sep 7 2016, 08:11 PM
I actually ordered a 3 meter unit and looped it around some. It fits just fine.
Was that the choice you made based on their volume figure of 0.7 m3 for the 2m/6' versus ~1 m3 for the 3m/9'?
I don't have a clear idea of the volume of the engine bay. Looks like a 2m/6' in the images of the 911 and Bug - but hey, if you can fit a larger unit why not?
Does seem like a neat solution...
Posted by: Mikey914 Sep 7 2016, 08:32 PM
I'm playing around with a 914 specific version of these, I'll post as soon as I get it done. Should be just a few days. The real issue I can see is that we may have more airflow and that most of us have rain trays.
That and they're not all that "cheap"
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Sep 7 2016, 08:47 PM
I'm playing around with a 914 specific version of these, I'll post as soon as I get it done. Should be just a few days. The real issue I can see is that we may have more airflow and that most of us have rain trays.
That and they're not all that "cheap"
I just ordered mine. I guess "cheap" is relative. No rain tray in my car for cooler running, so installation should be easy peasy. I've already experienced a bad fuel leak once, fortunately no fire, but it made a great story though. I wrote about it on the thread linked below, on the last post at the bottom of the page , next to the yellow 914 avatar, if you would like to read an unbelievable 914 gas leak story:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=287908
I'd rather replace a few engine parts if this extinguisher is ever activated, than go up like a roman candle. Almost been there, done that!
Posted by: mbseto Sep 7 2016, 09:52 PM
So I suppose this also would stop the engine due to lack of oxygen. If for some reason it put the fire out but the engine kept running, the driver might not know anything happened.
Posted by: RickS Sep 7 2016, 11:16 PM
Thought seriously about buying one then remembered I have a Halon extinguisher and if that isn't enough, agreed value insurance.
Reading up on the product, it is made by Dow and is a replacement for Halon. If no extinguisher, I would buy it.
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Sep 8 2016, 02:36 AM
I have no financial incentive but I hate to see someone's pride and joy go up in flames (unless there's a really good insurance sett.....never mind
).Running carbs on my -6 has caused me more times than I can count to think about the likelihood of a fire one day. I saw this on a member's car here I believe and so I investigated it and it sure seems like a good idea to me.
Its called BlazeCut and its a 7/8" plastic tube of fire retardant liquid that when subjected to fire, bursts releasing the liquid which immediately becomes a gas and extinguished the fire, leaving no trace to harm paint, electricals, etc.
Where the tubing comes in contact with the supports on the underside of the lid, I wrapped some of the self-fusing rubber tape to provide some abrasion protection and then used a number of zip-ties to anchor it securely to the lid. The springs don't have the umph to lift the lid as before but that's really no big deal as a trade-off for the protection.
There is a video of a demonstration on a VW bus on-line. I installed the 3 meter version on my -6 and feel a lot better about it.
You can find the demo here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswau1mGBE8).
You sold me, I ordered one for my 914. In regards to the weaker opening of the engine cover, take a look at a simple fix I used on my engine cover a while back, may help with yours, following link to post:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=290514&hl=
Posted by: GregAmy Sep 8 2016, 07:21 AM
So I suppose this also would stop the engine due to lack of oxygen. If for some reason it put the fire out but the engine kept running, the driver might not know anything happened.
...and then it could subsequently re-ignite...that's a legit concern that I've given consideration to. However, without this device you'll still possibly not know, but with it you at least have a chance to both stop the fire and know about it. So "it can't hurt" and "it might help".
Posted by: 87m491 Sep 8 2016, 08:12 AM
I'd agree having a hand held unit is a necessity in any cars this age, I have one in each of my drivers but I don't get the seeming hesitancy to have a cost effective "automatic" solution as well. Possibly "belt and suspenders" but losing your "pants" here is way more costly.
I could imagine a number of scenarios where the fire might start with the car relatively "unattended", i.e., multiple quick trip errands with many in and outs of the vehicle, or a run to a show where it catches a little after shutdown when temps spike. Actually any situation where it might vapor lock coupled with a leak somewhere that could ignite boiled fuel without a positive air flow to keep it just cool enough.
If you are not within arms length of the car and had held extinguisher, it's value pretty much goes to zero where and automatic unit keeps watch.
I'd also think it might warrant a bit of a drop in comprehensive insurance rates to help offset the cost.
So I suppose this also would stop the engine due to lack of oxygen. If for some reason it put the fire out but the engine kept running, the driver might not know anything happened.
...and then it could subsequently re-ignite...that's a legit concern that I've given consideration to. However, without this device you'll still possibly not know, but with it you at least have a chance to both stop the fire and know about it. So "it can't hurt" and "it might help".
Posted by: burton73 Jun 22 2017, 09:36 AM
This looks inserting. The loop of the longer one does not look good though.
I think the more expensive option of the 3-foot units but put two in. It would look much cleaner. One on the firewall and one on the area where the rear wall is to the rear trunk. If a guy was going to put one in his expensive 4 or 6 clean install wins the race and if your car can not burn, the better deal. Has someone tried to get a deal on these boys?
Bob B
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Jun 22 2017, 10:38 AM
Not sure how long BlazeCut will last, but for those who doubt it's effectiveness, watch this short video. Fun begins at .46 seconds:
https://youtu.be/Kswau1mGBE8
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