Date:         Tue, 24 Apr 2001 23:31:51 EDT
Reply-To:     JKrevnov@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: ??Syncro Fuel Leaks??-FOUND MINE
Comments: To: Doug@beaconmarketing.net, zol@foxinternet.net
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 4/24/01 2:58:29 PM, Doug@beaconmarketing.net writes:

<< I am having the EXACT SAME experience. A faint whiff while walking by the

van >>

First order of business: Zoltan, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!  If you had
not suggested moving the fuel lines around while they were under pressure, I
might not have found the source of the gas smell before it was too late.

Today, I spent about an hour under the van trying to ferret out the leak with
no success.  Since I had no helper to keep a steady foot on the brake pedal,
I could not muster the gonads nor foolishness to crawl under the van with the
motor running while it was on ramps.  Instead, I started it every so often
then shut it down before I climbed underneath.  I thought that the leak must
be so small that the residual fuel pressure would remain long enough for me
to find it.  I was about to give up when I thought of something I learned
long ago: if you can smell it, there IS a leak.  So, I started it up and
poked around the engine compartment.  When I yanked up and down on one of the
plastic fuel rails, a small moist spot formed on the bone dry dust which was
covering the fitting.  The leak was at the fuel injector to fuel rail joint.
I was able to create the same leak on the other side.  I snugged up the
clamps and all was well.  I also have ordered in some stainless steel clamps
which are the same style as the OEM clamps just to be safe.

Rich