In a message dated 5/14/99 7:59:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
firestream@MINDSPRING.COM writes:

> Was taught in firefighter training never to put water on a Volkswagen
>  engine.  [I'm a volunteer in our small town] Some have a magnesium alloy,
>  is what we were told, and the water will explode on contact.
>
This is a good point, and it also applies to magnesium and aluminum  wheels.
All of the opposed 4 cylinder engines are a magnesium alloy, both air and
water cooled.  If enough heat has built up so that the engine case or heads
are burning, this is a substantial fire, and should be left to the
professionals.  Magnesium contains its own oxygen, so once it gets started it
will burn from the inside, and is very difficult to deal with.  My previous
post dealt with how to handle very small fires only, and even then it can be
dangerous.  When in doubt, back off and leave it to the professionals.
Zoe Ann & Roger
1987 4x5 Adventurewagen