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Topic: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it? (Read 1037 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #25
Mike, I thought the washers were suppose to be plastic in case of engine fire the insulation would drop and help smother the fire!

Wishful thinking. I know I will get some nasty PMs but you ask my opinion.

The old style insulation that is black foam it is nothing but kindling and you don't want it any where near a flame.  The newer grey that has K-O wool stuffing is a heat insulator. If you have a fire in the engine compartment of a DP it most likely will be either fueled from an oil line or diesel fuel that is being fanned by those radiator fans. Law of averages if the blanket came down it won't land on the hose with a leak. If someone wants some fire suppression then get a good fire system that is available.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #26
Chris,when I redid mine,the old insulation was glued but I did reuse the old plastic washers which were in good shape.
When I did mine I scraped all the old stuff off the metal panels in the engine compartment,put one layer of the reflective Noico
and then 2 layers of the foil stuff ,used the washers and glue to hold,been on about 5 years no problem.My thinking is if you
put anything over the old stuff it's still going to keep falling and disintegrating on the engine.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #27
I found the best way to get the old crumbling insulation off is with a shop vacuum. Just take the hose and kind of scrape it off.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #28
Wishful thinking. I know I will get some nasty PMs but you ask my opinion.

The old style insulation that is black foam it is nothing but kindling and you don't want it any where near a flame.  The newer grey that has K-O wool stuffing is a heat insulator. If you have a fire in the engine compartment of a DP it most likely will be either fueled from an oil line or diesel fuel that is being fanned by those radiator fans. Law of averages if the blanket came down it won't land on the hose with a leak. If someone wants some fire suppression then get a good fire system that is available.

Mike
I was actually worried about swatting a hornets nest in regards to this subject. I 100%agree with Mike on this. Every fastener that goes threw a fireproofing material is a weak link and will propagate a fire path. In an attempt to fireproof aircraft compartments a rigid product called gill liner is used. All seams must be taped with fire rated tape to help reduce air flow and flame propagation. The goal is for the compartment to remain sealed so suppression systems can do their job effectively and run out of air effectively blocking the fire triangle. Our coaches are open to the bottom so that's a bigger issue. Curiously I have taken a propane torch to a sample of this Gill liner and after extended flame exposure although denigrated it remained airtight. Very impressive results IMO. I probably should be collecting scraps before I retire for such projects. Downside is it weighs as much as a fiberglass panel the same thickness. FAT coach gets Fatter.

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #29
Think the bottom line here is keep the engine area oil free and clean and practice preventive maintenance and you won't have a fire,seems to be 2 schools of thought on the engine compartment,one is fire prevention/surpression and one is heat build up in the coach,some do a little of both,think the gill liner is overkill but your "price is right".
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #30
Think the bottom line here is keep the engine area oil free and clean and practice preventive maintenance and you won't have a fire,seems to be 2 schools of thought on the engine compartment,one is fire prevention/surpression and one is heat build up in the coach,some do a little of both,think the gill liner is overkill but your "price is right".
Yes I wouldnt want to order a sheet and pay full price. Like so many of the products we use much is thrown away do to born on date or in this case too short to use. Would be great for the absorption fridge area also

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #31
My thought behind the fan was not really about heat transfer into the bedroom, one day I will replace the completely missing insulation.  I was mainly thinking about heat around the engine, and keeping that baby happy.  The engine and trans run like a well oiled sewing machine, use no fluids, have plenty of power, and I'd prefer to keep the ole mechanical 8.3 happy than to deal with newer ones with more "systems".  I think I'll start with the resonator, and go from there.
1992 Foretravel 36' Grand Villa ORED - VC22RD Chassis - 8.3 Cummins

Re: Adding engine compartment fans, worth it?

Reply #32
I found the best way to get the old crumbling insulation off is with a shop vacuum. Just take the hose and kind of scrape it off.

That's my plan.  95% of it is gone anyhow.  Foil faced Roxul is what I plan to use in place of it.
1992 Foretravel 36' Grand Villa ORED - VC22RD Chassis - 8.3 Cummins