I almost agree with Stan on this.

1) If the magnesium in the engine area burns, steel engine covers will
gain you some time to remove your valuables from the van. But the
likely-hood of putting the fire out is slim.

2) Magnesium is so active at combustion temperatures it will burn under
water by splitting oxygen from the H2O molecule and consuming it, also
releasing hydrogen which will also burn so the fire department will do
little good.

3) Magnesium will burn in a pure carbon dioxide environment, so CO2
extinguishers will do little good. Magnesium burns so hot, and at
burning temperatures is so chemically active a metal, that it will split
the oxygen from the CO2 molecule and consume it, thus the fire keeps
burning and tremendous amounts of pure carbon are released.

4) If enough CO2 is sprayed on the magnesium flame, it may be possible
to chill the metal to a point below combustion temperature, but I
personally have never seen that achieved.

During WW II engine manufacturers used magnesium extensively in the
aircraft engines, particularly the ones used in bombers, in an attempt
to make the engines lighter so the aircraft could carry a bigger bomb
load. Although there were fire suppression systems on board, pilots knew
that if they had an engine fire, it was a given they were going to lose
a wing, because with the wind of flight fanning the flames of a burning
magnesium engine case, the engie mount, aluminum skin and spars in the
wings were going to get hot enough to bend if not burn. Thus an engine
would come off the airplane and there would be wing failure and crash.

Though all this sounds terrible and the implication is bad for Vanagons,
it is still prudent to do what one can to fire protect the vehicle, and
make it possible to salvage as much as possible in the unfortunate event
of a fire.

I was told once about the  difference between a recession and a
depression. A recession is when your neighbor is out of work. A
depression is when you are  out of work. Statistically, not a lot of
vehicles burn, but when it's your's, that's 100% to many.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Stan Wilder wrote:

>Steel engine covers will not stop the fire from going into the interior of
>your Vanagon.
>There are still magnesium parts on VWs. Like the fan shroud, tranny cases.
>Stan Wilder
>www.engineceramics.com
>
>