fuel cell damage from exhaust heat

[martyb]

Wayne at Stohr just sent out an advisory to all of the Stohr F1000 owners pointing out that in some high temp situations they have found some heat damage to the back side of fuel cell bladder due to high temperature. The fuel cell, like many formula cars I suspect, is located under the drivers seat, separated from the engine area by an aluminum bulkhead.

We will be adding insulation in that area on our Stohr, but I'm bringing it up here in case it might be an issue with the Van Dieman conversions, since the fuel cell is in the same general vicinity, as is the GSXR exhaust header.

Marty

[carnut169]

Thanks for the tip.

For some reason we have not seen the heat that Stohr owners have been dealing with. My cel (despite the fire) looks like new. I will be adding aluminum heat barriers to the firewall to help keep the fuel cooler...

[RussMcB]

Thanks, Marty. In my conversion, that has been a hot area. Silly motorcyle engines that should have their exhaust out back (I know, I know).

I'm hoping that a ceramic coated header, heat shields and directed air flow will be enough to keep the temperature tolerable.

Maybe I should add a fuel cell temp sensor, too! :-).

[Tom Sprecher]

At the rate you guys have had rods punch holes through crankcases in that area and start fires some type of shield should be used and a good one at that.

[RussMcB]

At the rate you guys have had rods punch holes through crankcases in that area and start fires some type of shield should be used and a good one at that.

You rotary guys just think throwing rods is so funny, don't you? :-).

[carnut169]

You rotary guys just think throwing rods is so funny, don't you? :-).

People love to talk about things they don't have... in Tom's case, a rod.

[rickjohnson356]

You know you are well liked when they kid you like this!

[Tom Sprecher]

Rods? We don't need no stinkin' rods. Vamos!

[jjstecher]

So your saying basically that the heat reflective gold foil tape isn't enough to keep the temperatures down? On my Stohr DSR I never really found that once I added that tape there was any issue with heat in that area.

I am curious if you Stohr was getting the fuel cell melting to the metal bulkhead or what.

[Fred Michael]

Not all gold foil is created equal. Could this be part of the problem?