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MG MGB Technical - Fire Extinguishers

After my light engine fire I found that even if the damage is small the dry powder extinguisher causes alot more damage corroding copper pipes and aluminum covers etc,.
I now have the job of putting the engine bay back to that gloss finish.More important to fit a 3Kg foam extingusher as it will do a better job than the powder, bringing the temperature down and the flames out.
Rod
R.I.Smart

You ought to see what happens when you use one INSIDE the car! Our 1954 Hudson caught fire under the dashboard in Orlando FL while we were on our way to the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane national meet. After putting out the fire, the entire interior (and we) were covered with white powder. On the other hand, if we hadn't had it, I believe the car would have burned to the ground. You definitely need a fire extinguisher of some sort!
Ed

Yes Ed,
Iam keeping the powder and getting a three kg foam to go with the power kill switch.
Rod
Rod

Rod,
Sorry to hear about the fire.
At least there were no people csulties and the car is relatively undamaged from your earlier post.
One point, some of those powder extinguishers use a corrosive substance so as well as being messy is can do damage on it's own if left for any length of time.
Peter Thomas

I had one of those aerosol can sized extinguishers on my wish list, but I'm more fascinated by the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane meet. I didn't realize there were enough left to have a meet. I don't suppose there's a web site with pictures?

Matt Kulka

Oh yes, we're large and active, especially considering the cars haven't been built in nearly 50 years! The HET club site is: http://www.classicar.com/clubs/hudson/hethome.htm
Dwardo

When selecting a powder-type fire extinguisher, choose a (USA spec) BC model rather than an ABC model. "All Purpose" or A, B, C dry chemical powder extinguishers contain monoammonium phosphate which corrodes aluminum; all other powders have a Class B, C rating only and are more suited to delicate British machinery...

Scott
Scott Rodriguez

What do these various extinquisher contents put out? For instance what does an ABC mix do that BC doesn't and is foam just as good but simply more expensive?
Marc

I can't remember the precise specs but... a BC dry powder extinguisher will knock down car fires as will an ABC extinguisher. ABC powder is a damn sight harder to clear up afterwards, however. Having used a 2.5Kg dry powder extinguisher on a car I was much happier having to spend a day cleaning the powder up rather than being witness to an expensive Viking funeral at the side of the road.

AFFF extinguishers (aqueous film-forming foam) is great on everything bar mains electricity and isn't so bad to clear up afterwards. Lifeline or FireFighter are highly recommended, specially-designed car extinguishers and can be had from Demon Tweeks or any competition parts place.

Cheers,
Jim
Jim Aitken

Marc,
As I said you could not beleve the mess I have in the engine bay from gloss to grit rust and green round the brake pipes and the aluminum is US. the foam extinguisher is the best option for me.with a dry powder as back up.The 3Kg foam will coast £36.00 cheap to clean. I met someone on Sunday who had a fire and like me now has a big foam extinguisher and said only when you have had a fire do you Realise how helpless you are with the 1Kg extinguishers.
I hope you are all ears out there.
Rod
Rod

Thanks for the tips. When I started my car this afternoon, my feet got drenched in petrol. Turned out that the small connecting rubber tube between the fuel line next to the heater/fan had burst and fuel was dripping from there into the car. Luckily, I was able to fix the connection with whatever was left of the tube, without too much damage to my business suit. The smell of petrol as I drove the 20 km home from work - unbelievable. At least I know the fuel pump is working like it should. Fire extinguisher is on the shopping list - guess I could have been lightly toasted by now?
Ø. Hellum

The question is...how much is your time worth. A halon system is what is used for the computer/communications rooms at most of the companies I have worked for. Since it's a gas, there is no cleanup time involved, but the cost is 10-20 times what you'd pay for a BC bottle. Speedway motors has a few halon bottle kits that permanently mount and you pull a choke-cable-like T handle from inside the car: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/product.asp?source=2191&base%5Fno=623SC250&str%5Fbase%5Fno=000%2DGIFT%2C0000+CATALOG%2C210432%2C52000%2C52005600%2C52005900%2C520505%2C60310031%2C6031024%2C6031025%2C6031028%2C623SC250%2C63011%2C63019%2C63020%2C63021%2C630215%2C63022%2C63023000%2C63023003%2C&header%5Ftitle=Safety+Equipment%2DSuits+%26+Fire+Extinguishers&page%5Fname=prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp&search%5Ftype=L1%7E200&size1=&size2=&gender=&ShowImages=yes&sq=0&cont=1&intPgNo=1&mscssid=0CCQDR8JGQRC9GCTMW1JNXKWVKVX70R5
which I am seriously considering for my soon to be completed Disco V8 swap.
jimt

FYI
In UK and Europe halon systems are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol. All halon systems (with certain exceptions eg. military, aviation etc excluded) must be decommissioned by end 2003. Also, you won't be able to refill a halon system after 31 December 2002.
Stephen Lee

Stephen,
You are dead right HALON is a NO NO!!!!!!
Plus if you don't now how to use it or where, it can kill.
Rod
rod

Halon was marvelous. Clean, clean, clean. I once put out a small galley fire on my boat and then ate the food that was on fire. Until you've used it you can't really appreciate it. It's a shame a viable replacement hasn't been found.
Bud

I nearly had a nasty fire once and I didn't see it coming. I drove my B roadster around the block a few times after it had been sitting outside for many years. When I pulled up to the curb I noticed white smoke gently rising from all around the hood edges. I quickly opened the hood to see what it was, and what I saw horrified me.

The metal fuel filter had corroded over the years and was spurting gasoline through small cracks and holes in its shell! I ran for a garden hose and sprayed down the engine. That day I purchased my first fire extinguisher for a vehicle. :)
Steve S.

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2002 and 27/04/2002

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