>I've ALWAYS read that Halon is the fastest and best way to smother a
fire. And it is still sold for racing cars whose engines are NOT an
enclosed area
>and whose fuel is VERY flammable.

Halon is specified to be used in an enclosed area. My guess is that the use
of it in race cars is to knock down the fire long enough for the driver to
get the thing stopped and get himself out of harm's way.

I would be cautious about using the above to justify using Halon in a
Vanagon...

Remember, in a race car situation they have fire fighting equipment and
trained personnel ready at the side of the track. If the Halon blows away
and the fire starts again the fire fighters are there in seconds. It is
unlikely that you will have this kind of back up out on the highway in a
Vanagon....

If you installed an automatic halon system in the engine compartment and
there were a fire and the system discharged... it is possible there would be
a flare up and the fire would be going again by the time you reached the
side of the road...

If you are really lucky there will be fire fighting equipment waiting there
for you just like at the race tracks.

If you're not all that lucky and you didn't buy a back up fire extinguisher
then you my have to resign yourself to roasting winnies by side of your
Vanagon fire. :(

Bill