Plumbing in extinguisher

[captainpugwash]

Want to fit a plumbed in extinguisher system in a hillclimb saloon, there are 2 outlet nozzles, where's best place to point them? 1 obviously in engine bay, other in cabin, but where? Thanks

[Krikkit]

For the cabin most extinguishers would make sense pointing at your legs - mounting is typically just under the dashboard into the footwell.

In the engine bay it depends what you think is the most likely ignition source (presuming you have a single outlet of course), I'd probably go for the area around the fuel piping and inlet in case of a leak, as that should be the main source of combustibles.

[Jacobyte]

Engine bay: From above the engine onto the top of the engine so that gravity helps it to cover fuel rails and exhaust.

Cockpit: Nozzle just above knee-height under dash, aimed towards your stomach area, so your man bits are covered as well as your torso.

[Weslake-Monza]

Gravity will only work if the car is the right way up when it's on fire. If the car is inverted...

[cptsideways]

Please ditch the standard pull cables & use SS ones, the standard ones will have corroded solid by the time you need them, guaranteed. Seen it many times.

[anonymous-user]

cptsideways said:

Please ditch the standard pull cables & use SS ones, the standard ones will have corroded solid by the time you need them, guaranteed. Seen it many times.

You are supposed to test them before every event.

Lubricate them properly and they wont corrode.

[captainpugwash]

Thanks

[lee_fr200]

Engine bay- fuel rail and if you have 2 the other at the manifold you would be surprised how many fires happen because of oil or fuel hitting the manifold

Inside-- legs and electrics or if you have an internal aftermarket fuel tank at that

[bucksmanuk]

One in the engine bay, pointing towards the most likely source of ignition, turbo, injectors, fuel rail etc.… take your pick. The other one, pointing at your knees/shins is a good compromise.

As a scrutineer, I could take the easy option and just say “read the blue book”. In reality, talk to someone who has had an under bonnet fire and see what they recommend. Being in a burning car certainly concentrates the mind… so I have been told…. I’ve been in the co-driver’s seat of an upside down rally car with a very strong smell of petrol…

The extinguisher system is not really there to put the fire OUT, the bottle is usually not big enough for starters - it’s to buy you time (5-7 seconds) to get out of the car.

As mentioned above, keep those cables free/lubricated, common fail in the bay for the first race or 2 of the season.

[grumpy52]

And please ,please ,please get into the routine of making the thing live when actually competing !
I lost count of the number of cars I attended in 36yrs of marshalling that still had the pins in the extinguisher systems .

[pikeyboy]

grumpy52 said:

And please ,please ,please get into the routine of making the thing live when actually competing !
I lost count of the number of cars I attended in 36yrs of marshalling that still had the pins in the extinguisher systems .

Marshals usually check them while you're in the holding area, but yes I agree its easy to leave the pin in.

[bucksmanuk]

Scrutineers check for this too. At least a quarter of the field still have them in when held the assembly bay until told. Perhaps some of the more idiotic drivers may like to comment as to why they need telling 3 times about this in 10 minutes, like someone did on Sunday, or use the “best” response heard so far…
“I’ll take the pin out when I’ve had my crash… “ .....

[Gingerbread Man]

My mechanic friend used to say one at the groin and one at the wallet. Priorities.