Should I install a fire extinguisher system?

Right then, due to the high number of debates, rumours, ill advised comments, unethical product sales pushes by a certain company, as well as genuine helpful advice that is not being listened to, lets answer this question once and for all!

Why are we seeing more aircooled campers go up in smoke?
The reason we see more images and videos is as follows :
1) With social media a story can be shared rapidly so we tend to see stories more often than the days before facebook when we just had forums.

2) A certain company (beginning with B) is pushing their products via franchised dealers. Sadly this is often in the form of burning bus videos and scaremongering (fake news). They also spam and push their products from fake Facebook accounts during online discussions in Facebook groups. I have seen it many times. Don’t get sucked in, do your research and make up your own mind 🙂

3) Aircooled vehicles were designed to be used everyday and maintained regularly.
Its an oldschool way of thinking that is lost on modern vehicle owners. Yes anyone can go out any buy a VW camper or beetle but not everyone is prepared to research and learn how to keep them running and safe. As well as regular servicing and tuning, safety checks should be carried out.

The following being the most important :

Does my fuel line, fuel pump, fuel tank or carburettor have any leaks?
Does my fuel line have any cracks or signs or deteroration?
Am I using the correct fuel line size and type?
Is the fuel line secure and positioned away from any hot parts of the engine?
Am I using the correct fuel line clips that dont pinch the fuel line?
Do any of my electrical components includint HT leads have exposed wires or do any of the wires them selves have breaks in their insulation?
Do you run a dynamo, if so do you have the cover that covers the brushes installed?
Is my battery clamped down and does it have a cover?
Is my fuel filter securely clamped so it cant move and away from any hot parts of the engine?

4) Aircooled vehicles were designed to be used everyday and maintained regularly. When they are not used everyday, especially if left sat for months at a time the ethanol in fuel can damage the rubber fuel lines, caburettor seals as well as fuel tank linings. If fuel is kept moving it is less like to eat away at rubber components. If you have to leave your vehicle for months at a time then either use a fuel stabiliser, drain the fuel or replace your fuel lines and rubber carburettor seals before you use your vehicle again.
For more details on ethanol and what it can do to our classic cars look here.

What should we should be doing before considering a fire suppression system?
If you don’t know how long ago your fuel line was replaced then now is the time to do it.

Replace it with the minimum of R9 grade fuel line.
If you have a stock pump and carburettor most aircooleds have 6mm connectors. 5.6mm fuel hose is specifically designed to fit properly on your standard 6 mm metal piping. By fitting a fuel hose slightly smaller than the pipe it needs to fit on it will be stretched allowing for a frictional gripping force and tight seal.
Fit the correct fuel hose clips. Never use standard jubilee clips as they cut in to rubber hose. For rubber R9 5.6mm hose use 11-13mm fuel hose clips.
Ensure your carb inlet barb well seated. These can come loose so check and permanently attach them with a fuel resistant glue / sealer such as JB Weld.
Are all your electronics isolated? Ensure all wires have the right covers, renew any bare wiring or connectors that show bare metal. This includes your ignition leads and alternator connectors as well as battery connectors. This will reduce the chance of a spark igniting fuel should you suffer a leak.
Fuel filters : The fact of the matter is most air cooled vehicles left the factory with no inline filter. That’s because they have a mesh filter fitted to the outlet of the fuel tank. Its also because fuel tanks were clean and not full of rust when they were new! Personally I re-seal and restore fuel tanks on my vehicles and run with a new fuel tank mesh filter. That way there is one fuel line running from the tank to the pump without breaks. Its how VW did it so it’s good enough for me. The only change I make to this is when I run twin carbs and need a pressure regulator, I run a Malpassi regulator and filter as it traps potential water in the system which I see as a distinct benefit. For the naysayers, the people who run filters and scream when they see plastic filters in other peoples engine bays…..well each to their own If it works for you then fine. But I’ve never seen a plastic filter explode (they get a bad rep from the dodgy batch that was out there 15 odd years ago). I have seen more leaky glass filters than plastic ones due to the rubber perishing. But like I said whatever works for you.

Lost in translation
A well maintained vehicle that is used regularly shouldn’t have any issues. However there are no guarantees. This is why in addition to the above I also run a fire suppression system.
I recommend them only after advising on the above. Skipping the above and solely relying on them is not only foolish but dangerous.
I have also seen fire suppression systems fail to kill the fire completely and thus failing to save the vehicle due to secondary fire from a hot engine component or tank fire. The fire suppression systems are only effective in the engine bay, if lit fuel or fire has spread to the tank, the ground or interior of your vehicle the system won’t help you. Yet another reason I always carry two additional fire extinguishers and ensure the above maintenance and safety precautions are in place.

What I reccomend
I have no affiliation to any particular companies selling fire suppression systems, however I have fitted and used many myself.
I recommend VW Aircooled Works as they take the time to write all the details you need to know, offer a quality suppression system as well as ethanol resistant fuel line, cut off solenoid and correct fuel hose clips. They are based on the UK and active in the right way in VW forums and groups.

Also Firetec have a good reputation and I have used them personally too. They are more difficult to get hold of unfortunately.

There are some great companies out there, however one sadly pushes sales rather than knowledge sharing, this is what can happen if you decide to fit a fire extinguisher system without any additional precautions.