Engine fire in Newmar 2016 Dutchstar Model 4369

[judgebobk]

After putting my lawyer/judges cap on I decided to let it burn. Deductable is the same but the outcome quite different. Damaged vehicle months to repair and damaged goods to sell or trade vs. New unit to replace the unit almost certainly totaled. It's not the cost of a suppression system I care about it's the outcome.

[jerichorick]

As a fellow full-timer, I truly feel for you. I hope you can come up with a long term but temporary plan that will keep you from blowing your budget totally out of the water. I am praying for a quick resolve to you problem. I know that there are volunteer positions available at certain camps that include housing. You might consider finding one of them.

You have many sympathetic ears listening here.

Rick Y

[swberry]

Very sorry for the situation here. I don't want to steer this discussion in the wrong direction, but would like to bring something up related to an engine compartment fire.

From the research I have done on a fire suppression system what I have discovered is that the fire bottle is activated by an overheat condition. Once the heat buildup reaches a temperature trigger the fire bottle blows the extinguishing agent into the engine compartment. There is no indication inside the cockpit that a fire exists. There is no indication inside the cockpit that the fire has been contained. Everything takes place remotely and the principles inside have no clue what is going on unless they can smell the smoke and can shut off the fuel supply.

The engine fire suppression system won't do any good unless it can shut off the fuel supply. If there is a fire and it is unknown to the principles inside the fire suppression system will simply deploy the extinguishing agent and once that is complete the busted fuel line will still be spewing fuel all over the place and the fire will reignite.

If there is a more sophisticated fire suppression system that I am not aware of do tell. Someone said they will stand back and watch it burn and I feel like this might be the best way to handle an engine compartment fire unless there is a system that can close the fuel valve once the temperature trigger has been reached.

Thank you very much for posting this and I apologize if I went a little off topic here, but this is something I have been looking into myself. Best of luck getting things back on track.

[rvbiker45]

Thanks, good way to look at the issue of an engine compartment fire.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by swberry

From the research I have done on a fire suppression system what I have discovered is that the fire bottle is activated by an overheat condition. Once the heat buildup reaches a temperature trigger the fire bottle blows the extinguishing agent into the engine compartment. There is no indication inside the cockpit that a fire exists. There is no indication inside the cockpit that the fire has been contained. Everything takes place remotely and the principles inside have no clue what is going on unless they can smell the smoke and can shut off the fuel supply.

The engine fire suppression system won't do any good unless it can shut off the fuel supply. If there is a fire and it is unknown to the principles inside the fire suppression system will simply deploy the extinguishing agent and once that is complete the busted fuel line will still be spewing fuel all over the place and the fire will reignite.

If there is a more sophisticated fire suppression system that I am not aware of do tell. Someone said they will stand back and watch it burn and I feel like this might be the best way to handle an engine compartment fire unless there is a system that can close the fuel valve once the temperature trigger has been reached.

Diesel fuel is actually pretty difficult to make burn. Once the fire is out and extinguishing agent is everywhere and has cooled things off a bit, it's very possible it would not reignite unless an electric arc of high intensity is still occurring. Hopefully glancing out the side mirrors would show some indication of smoke and you would get off the road and shut down.

[Puffdaddy51]

A short update on the 2016 Newmar Dutchstar engine fire. Today I attended the fire investigation conducted by Newmar, Freightliner, Cummings, electrical engineers and insurance fire specialists. They are generally in agreement that this engine fire was caused by a power steering hose routing situation that allows for abrasion of that hose, resulting in a rupture. This is very near the starter.
I can provide more details to anyone interested but all Freightliner chassis owners within a wide range of manufacture dates should be concerned.
There is an existing recall out there but it doesn't include all of the manufacture dates that it should. This extends beyond the Newmar product line.
Still hoping that Newmar and Freightliner will help us to resolve this serious situation but no one has owned this yet.

[Puffdaddy51]

Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 10
Here's the latest on the 2016 Newmar Dutchstar engine fire investigation. Freightliner is accepting responsibility for the fire. They will need to expand the existing recall which is to correct the routing of the power steering hose. Currently, it can rub on the starter's power lug, and once it exposes the inner steel braiding, which is grounded, it causes a short and an electrical arc. This arc can sever the power steering hose; the fluid is very flammable and the result is a big fire in the engine compartment.
I'm our case the fire melted the main fuel line which added yet another fuel source and greater damage.
There are quite a lot of late model Freightliner chassis's out there that may not have received a recall notice yet, but I'm pretty sure they will soon. Meanwhile, take the time to check your's out so you don't have to experience what we did.
We're full timers and have lost our coach for a long time; repairs have yet to start.

No help being offered so far from either Newmar or Freightliner.

[Boomertx]

May I ask that when you have a moment please report this issue to the NHTSA.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

[marjoa]

Originally Posted by Puffdaddy51

Freightliner is accepting responsibility for the fire.

No help being offered so far from either Newmar or Freightliner.

Just so I can understand correctly—Freightliner is accepting responsibility for the fire and will replace or fix the coach BUT neither Newmar or Freightliner will help you with out of pocket expenses while you're displaced? Is that what you're saying?

Gosh, I feel so bad for you guys FTing and being in this situation.

[thedjjack]

Originally Posted by swberry

Very sorry for the situation here. I don't want to steer this discussion in the wrong direction, but would like to bring something up related to an engine compartment fire.

From the research I have done on a fire suppression system what I have discovered is that the fire bottle is activated by an overheat condition. Once the heat buildup reaches a temperature trigger the fire bottle blows the extinguishing agent into the engine compartment. There is no indication inside the cockpit that a fire exists. There is no indication inside the cockpit that the fire has been contained. Everything takes place remotely and the principles inside have no clue what is going on unless they can smell the smoke and can shut off the fuel supply.

The engine fire suppression system won't do any good unless it can shut off the fuel supply. If there is a fire and it is unknown to the principles inside the fire suppression system will simply deploy the extinguishing agent and once that is complete the busted fuel line will still be spewing fuel all over the place and the fire will reignite.

If there is a more sophisticated fire suppression system that I am not aware of do tell. Someone said they will stand back and watch it burn and I feel like this might be the best way to handle an engine compartment fire unless there is a system that can close the fuel valve once the temperature trigger has been reached.

Thank you very much for posting this and I apologize if I went a little off topic here, but this is something I have been looking into myself. Best of luck getting things back on track.

on boats the fire suppression systems are usually custom... My work boat we added heat sensors in the engine room and helm to meet transport canada requirements. at the helm is a simple panel that has a green light when on and red light and alarm if issue detected. We went with a lower cost manual system of two fire co2 fire extinguishers and a port into the engine room. The sister ship got a system that you pull a handle from the helm to release the co2 and close air vents to engine room. The panel and sensors are cheep like under $400 cdn with good marine wire... heat sensors come in varying ranges. I would not want fully auto as we have had 3 false alarms due to sunlight, engines running and a need to relocate the sensor to avoid... but false alarms are great fire drill practice... on a vessel getting a fire out is important... on an rv if everyone is out priority is different....

Hope you great a speedy resolution to the fire....

[Al n Cindy]

"This would be a good time for the rest of us to sit down with out insurance agents and start asking the "what if" questions, get the policy adjusted for those occurrances and, perhaps, pay the increased premium for the proper coverage."

Excellent advice. I did exactly that a couple years ago, but changed insurance companies last year and did not do it then. Will do so next week.

We are full timers too. Currently our policy limits living expenses to $750. I 'll definitely ask for expanded living expense coverage, hopefully a good deal more than the $2000 mentioned in another post. Regrettably, living expenses are strictly defined by insurance policy clauses, and warrantees generally have provisos for only repair or replacement of the product. Only a lawsuit might recover those expenses, or perhaps some sort of legal arbitration. I have no experience with either.

We recently had to stay in a motel for 2 nights and two full days of meals out. [Wonderfully "generous" Good Sam extended service plan would cover only 1 day at the generous rate of $100. Different topic, so I won't go on. But I cancelled that policy for this and other reasons.]

Our best wishes for a proper settlement that includes totaling the rig with replacement coverage and perhaps some additional monies to cover interim expenses.

[JBDALHB]

This from Nov 2016
https://www.trucks.com/2016/11/22/da...-truck-recall/

Thanks for sharing you experience and we all wish you speedy resolution. Although we don't yet FT, will be giving a closer look at my policy.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by mpierce

Push HARD for a totaled out coach. HARD!

Even after MONTHS of repair, who will want to pay top dollar for it when you sell? You will be stuck with it FOREVER, unless you sell at a steep discount.

The one thing I have learned from this thread is that if I get a major fire started in the coach and once I get wife, dog, toad (as needed/if possible) and what ever else I can get...I'M WALKING AWAY! Not gonna screw with any debate about repair.

[BillJinOR]

All good points .. from this I've learned review insurance, DW OUT ( no pets) "go bags .. meds thumb drive of important data etc ...by door and grabbed and phone to call for help and take photos .. watch burn from safe distance to insure no question on "total" .. begin looking for new coach
[emoji15]