Pan American Highway progress updates

[Shopkeep]

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not but does the engine cover serve any purpose other than being cosmetic? Would it be best left off the diesel models when being used in higher temps?
Also there was some suggestion a while back from the beard strokers that using a dry powder extinguisher would cause catastrophic or severe long term damage to your engine when used on an engine bay fire, any view on this now you have lived it?

 

[pmatusov]

I understand that to be a longstanding misconception (primarily in the US, it emerged on Jeep forums). I had the same question following initial research and had a chat to ARB when I purchased it, who indicated this is incorrect and that they store stock on its side in both the warehouse and retail outlet. It is however not to be operated in a horizontal position.

Here are the storage instructions from ARB:

STORAGE​

Store Jack with the shaft fully retracted (Jack lowered), the handle retained in the rubber bumper and the hook in the upright position.​

Ensure the Pressure Relief Button is not depressed while in storage. Storage with Pressure Relief Button depressed may cause oil leakage.​

When not in use, the Jack should be stored within the supplied carry bag.​

If the Jack is transported within a vehicle, ensure the Jack is adequately restrained so as to not become a projectile in the event of a collision.​

That said, if the oil seals are compromised OR the Pressure Relief Button is depressed it will lose oil when in a horizontal position (but not in the vertical - note the storage instructions are presuming it’s on its side), hence it’s important to periodically remove and inspect/test it as mentioned earlier. The other method is to store it in it’s original plastic sleeve, in which case any oil leakage is immediately visible (and contained).

In Australia they are most often kept in the bag and carried in (tossed into) the loadspace or tub, no problem. Thank you for the heads up though, I very much appreciate the good intentions!

We have witnessed the ARB hydraulic jack in operation after horizontal storage - not that it was a deal-breaker, but it added a few frustrating minutes of furious lever pumping.

 

[globalgregors]

We have witnessed the ARB hydraulic jack in operation after horizontal storage - not that it was a deal-breaker, but it added a few frustrating minutes of furious lever pumping.

I haven’t found it with this one but I have seen that in the past. Perhaps there’s a bit of variation in them? I note the same with bottle jacks, I guess I’d associated this with hydraulic solutions more so than storage. Other than that, how have you found it? I really don’t use ours in anger often.

 

[globalgregors]

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not but does the engine cover serve any purpose other than being cosmetic? Would it be best left off the diesel models when being used in higher temps?
Also there was some suggestion a while back from the beard strokers that using a dry powder extinguisher would cause catastrophic or severe long term damage to your engine when used on an engine bay fire, any view on this now you have lived it?

I asked the same question on the engine cover, I understand it acts to contain heat as well as mitigate acoustics, implication being that you want the heat in there to a level.

The dry powder is a bit nasty, it becomes acidic in contact with moisture. I was unable to wash the bay down prior to repairs due to exposed wires, so each component was removed and washed away from the vehicle.

It does cause skin irritation though, so being in a tropical workshop it was a bit of an itchy, rashy week. I did also note that it had been drawn through the HVAC and had finished off the (already filthy) cabin air filter.

 

[globalgregors]

That's more than was in the cargo area when you passed through Oregon. I was actually a little, ummm, uncertain how far you would make it with as little as you had then.

After seeing your truck I was wondering if we’d brought enough car, forget about equipment.