In the "for what it's worth column"--
Subject: firewall blanket protection.
Several months ago I was removing my exhaust system for top overhaul/Jet
Hot coatings and was particularly interested in my firewall blanket and
several areas of the aluminized coating had come loose and or off. I started
to remove some of it and I discovered that BEHIND a perfectly normal piece of
the blanket I had a blackened/totally charred 6 inch in diameter piece of
pre-preg firewall.
My analysis was that during an exhaust crack event well over a year ago had
sprayed exhaust on the firewall blanket from a distance of about 14 inches and
while the blanket had not discolored or gave any indication of
thermal distress--the pre-preg behind it had not fared well at all.
After repairing the pre-preg I repaired the original blanket and put a
2000° Thermo-Tec blanket on top. I have since tested that combination-- and I
am not too pleased.
I would have to say that the blanket protection we have is marginal at
best. While my cracked exhaust event was probably in the neighborhood of two
hours or more exposure-- I sincerely think we need to have a indication of
what is going on in our assessory section. We need to have a system that is
error and false alarm -free. A verification system of some sort to prevent
panic/overreaction.
I am currently looking at--
http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R67-UVTRON.html
backed up (verified) by a standard outside air temperature gauge placed in
gascolator area.
Anyone have a better idea?