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Topic: Melted Engine Compartment Washers (Read 870 times) previous topic - next topic

Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Some months ago I had a gasket failure on my turbo resulting in a small but HOT leak.  It's since been repaired, but it melted about 1/2 of my engine compartment washers and the engine room light fixture.  Bought a 100 count of galvanized round self locking washers from Amazon and it worked out pretty well.  I just removed the screws and reused them back into the same holes through the new washers.  I've got 1/2 a bag left if anyone wants them.  Just email me and I'll send them along.  Probably 50+ left.  Enough to do most if not all of the engine compartment unless you've got OCD.  The bottom left corner is a survivor plastic washer.  Maybe 1/16th to 1/8th larger diameter.  The new washers were effective in restoring the sagging blanket to its native position.  Obviously a new light too.  I went with self locking washers because I wanted to reuse the existing screws and I didn't know their sizes to select a fender washer.  Turns out there were a couple of different sizes so the self locking feature made it simple. 

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #1 –
Mark, you may already know this--the plastic washers are there for safety and obviously they worked.  The blanket is a fire blanket so if you have a engine fire the washers melt and the blanket falls on the engine to hopefully smother the fire.
Chris

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #2 –
Whoops

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #3 –
Chris, Sounds like a good feature. That is new news to us about the insulation being a fire blanket. Is that widely known ?

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Chris m lang –
Mark, you may already know this--the plastic washers are there for safety and obviously they worked.  The blanket is a fire blanket so if you have a engine fire the washers melt and the blanket falls on the engine to hopefully smother the fire.
Chris
As a career firefighter, the effectiveness of a blanket smothering an engine fire is zero in my opinion.

Pierce

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #5 –
So I had to pull back part of my engine heat insulation blanket last week. It was quite secure with screws removed. Used 3"wide duct vise grips to grasp it and pull it free from side wall without damaging it. I seriously doubt it would freely fall if the washers failed. That would also remove protection from the paper thin aluminum sheeted plywood that represents the firewall. I think it's there to protect that, nothing else?

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #6 –
I am familiar with that line of reasoning, but in my opinion it's just not credible.  The chances of the blanket falling sufficiently over the fire would require all the washers to melt simultaneously and all the screw heads to not get hung up.  That would be some kind of fire and I doubt that the insulation would make a bit of difference.  Furthermore the greatest fear at sea is a boat fire, and they use metal fasteners routinely.  If it's good enough for the Coast Guard it's good enough for me.  Engine room fire suppression systems are your best bet.  I wouldn't count on your heat and sound insulation for fire suppression.  No whoops here.  I do understand the different opinions, however, and I appreciate the discussion. 

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #7 –
Quote from: dsd –
So I had to pull back part of my engine heat insulation blanket last week. It was quite secure with screws removed. Used 3"wide duct vise grips to grasp it and pull it free from side wall without damaging it. I seriously doubt it would freely fall if the washers failed. That would also remove protection from the paper thin aluminum sheeted plywood that represents the firewall. I think it's there to protect that, nothing else?

Scott and Kim also make the correct point in my opinion that the fire block is the aluminum sheeting under your sound and heat blanket.  The factory made great efforts at making that barrier tight.  Foamed penetrations and seam to seam sealing.  Thank you for that observation.

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Hach –
I am familiar with that line of reasoning, but in my opinion it's just not credible.  The chances of the blanket falling sufficiently over the fire would require all the washers to melt simultaneously and all the screw heads to not get hung up.  That would be some kind of fire and I doubt that the insulation would make a bit of difference.  Furthermore the greatest fear at sea is a boat fire, and they use metal fasteners routinely.  If it's good enough for the Coast Guard it's good enough for me.  Engine room fire suppression systems are your best bet.  I wouldn't count on your heat and sound insulation for fire suppression.  No whoops here.  I do understand the different opinions, however, and I appreciate the discussion. 
Unlike a boat, the air circulation in an RV engine compartment at highway speeds with the radiator fan added to the mix make fighting or even detecting RV engine fires extremely difficult. Foam, Halon, Dry Chemical are great against a fire while the vehicle is stationary but quickly disapated with vehicle movement. Plus, a boat engine fire can be quickly detected while a diesel pusher engine fire can burn for miles before it's detected. Heat/smoke alarm with a remote sensor can alert you and let you quickly stop and possibly fight the fire or disconnect the toad.

Since most RVs have a remote air intake, all long as the diesel gets fuel, it will run. By the time the fire burns through the ECU wiring or fuel hoses, it's way too late.

Good choice for minimizing the chance of fire is to have a turbo blanket and wrapping the exhaust so any spraying diesel won't ignite. Our Detroit has all the fuel lines wrapped so spray would just be diesel running down the hose. Blanket eeps bed cooler too.

Here is a turbo blanket I just received. Lots at $40-$60 or more with the cheaper ones having poor stitching.  I was able to find a nice one for our T6 sized turbo for $24 including tax delivered. Less than 48 hours later, it was in our mail box. Speedy does mean speedy. T6 HX52/GT40 TURBO TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST BLUE HEAT SHIELD BLANKET COVER WRAP...

Pierce

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Hach –
Scott and Kim also make the correct point in my opinion that the fire block is the aluminum sheeting under your sound and heat blanket.  The factory made great efforts at making that barrier tight.  Foamed penetrations and seam to seam sealing.  Thank you for that observation.
Any aluminum melts like butter in a fire. Most all Foretravels I've seen have black foam that is a fire accelerant and only adds to any fire plus puts off toxic smoke. See my black foam insulation fire test photo.

Pierce

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Any aluminum melts like butter in a fire. Most all Foretravels I've seen have black foam that is a fire accelerant and only adds to any fire plus puts off toxic smoke. See my black foam insulation fire test photo.

Pierce
Aluminum melts like butter!
Yes it does.
I think the thought process was another minute to park safely if possible and in my case collect occupants and FLEE. far enough away upwind to safely watch the show.
So my next question would be, do you pull to the side or leave it in the middle of the road and possibly prevent a secondary fire 🔥

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #11 –
Whatever allows you to safely exit the coach and if possible, safely fight a small fire or that not being the case, unhook the toad. Secondary fire concerns rank way after the family.

I ran over a sharp piece of steel about 5 minutes south of Hoover Dam. I just stopped in the middle of the road and put on the spare. This was my 4107 bus. Baja Highway 1, in many places, requires you to stop in your lane as there is a drop off. Not a big deal as there is little traffic.

Pierce

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #12 –
Pierce, how do you size the turbo blanket? My coach is fitted with the Cummins M11 setup. Also, what fuel line and exhaust wrap do you recommend? Pretty important subject. Appreciate your comments.

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #13 –
I'm not dead sure and you should check before buying but I think the M11 takes a T4 size turbo. If you have a waste gate, it may effect the turbo blanket fit. How about M11 owners chiming in? turbo blanket t4 | eBay

The heat wrap for the exhaust comes in 2" x 50 foot rolls. You choice of colors for both turbo blanket and wrap. Lots of choices and more $$ does not necessarily mean better quality. They all try to have a hook. exhaust pipe heat wrap 2 x 50' | eBay

For fuel line protection, here is a site: spiral fuel hose protector - Google Search Ours came with a wrap on most of the hose but we have one out of the lift pump that does not have a wrap. The wrap needs to be heat resistant. It's designed to lessen the possibility of the fuel spraying, instead letting it leak and run down the hose with a much less possibility of catching fire.

Photos of our turbo blanket installed and the OEM hose wrap. I have not installed the exhaust heat wrap yet.

Pierce

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #14 –
I have not purchased one yet but I believe the T4 is the correct size for our M11

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #15 –
I've been reading a lot about turbo blankets based on your responses, and I have to admit that I'm "warming up" to the idea.  Independent of "keeping the hot side hot and the cold side cold", I like the fact that it will reduce the heat under the bed.  It also protects the engine bay components from high heat.  This whole mess began a year ago by my exhaust manifold warping.  Turns out that is a well recognized problem for the Cummins ISL 400.  After machining the manifold and reassembling the turbo, I developed the small turbo leak.  Reading more about the exhaust manifold I saw reports and pictures of cracked manifolds, and I got to wondering if differential cooling could account for that.  Now I am considering an exhaust manifold blanket in addition to the turbo blanket.  I'm sure this is one big galaxy overthink, but I'd be curious about what others have to say.  Has anyone wrapped/blanketed their exhaust manifold along with the turbo?  I've contacted Advance Thermal Products to see if they have an ISL 400 blanket package in their data base so that I don't have to custom make the manifold wrap.  Waiting to hear back.  I really need to get on the road and stop reading this forum.  It would be more fun and a LOT cheaper!
 

Re: Melted Engine Compartment Washers

Reply #16 –
They do make exhaust manifold blankets for Cummins diesels. A two or three piece manifold may be necessary to stop the warping and cracking. These are also made.

Pierce