Quote:
Originally Posted by adschantz
Found some incidents back in the mid 80's of ambulance fires. Seemed like it was due to the exhaust system heating the fuel tank to the point that it spurted fuel out and started fires. Ford instituted a major recall to install heat shields to avoid a lawsuit. Guess this is why most ambulances are diesel?
Seems the long idle periods could be feasible if I could come up with the heatshields and some way to provide an audible warning of cooling and/or oil pressure issues. Not sure how to work a hand throttle, but there has to be a way. Is it possible to retrofit the high idle, believe ford calls this SEIC?
Adam
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I'm sure you can order the factory heat shields, but without the high hotel load, I don't think heat will be a problem for you. It has not been for me, and I have used my van for stationary AC power at the track for hours on end, even if 110F weather. AC worked fine (there's usually a few crew members taking a nap in a back at any given time), and there has never been any evidence that fuel has vented, which it would do it if did start getting hot.
The fuel systems in the 80's vans have zero in common with current E-series, other than they both carry fuel.
Shuttle busses and other commercial vans also idle continuously, and they do not require any extra heat shielding.