Date:         Mon, 7 May 2001 21:42:47 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: Do you store your Vanagon over the Winter? Need help
              answering a question.
Comments: To: Wolfvan88@aol.com
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/6/2001 6:48:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
Wolfvan88@aol.com writes:

> An insurance company is telling me that my fuel tank suddenly rusted out and
>  caused the engine problems, because it was not run for about a month while
>  parked.

I stored my Vanagon every winter so far for about 4 years. the tank is in
good shape--and to the best of my knowledge is the original tank. In fact I
believe the previous owners stored the bus for winters as well. While storing
a vehicle can bring on some problems that come with lack of use--one month of
storage is not going to ruin your gas tank.

Having said that I belive the gasoling can turn kind of varnishy and that
could lead to clogging problems of the fule filter ot fule lines and possibly
the fule injectors. But my best guess is that one month will not lead to this
situation.

My question would be why is your insurance company involved at all? And is
the tank rusted so it's leaking or you've got a clogged fuel filter as a
result of crud in the tank? The latter, the clogging fuel filter, it seems
could be caused by condensation and particals  loosening in the tank. And
then the gas could turn bad, as I believe it draws moisture from the air and
that effects its volitility. But even if the gas went bad, to the best of my
knowledge draing the tank should sovlve the problem hoefully. In the old days
the carberators float bowl used to get gummed up by the gas that was in them
when the vehicle was stored which would turn thci and gummy. But again that's
not ususally the case after one month of storage.

And there is a product called "Stabil" which is added to gasloline that is
going to be stored for a while and supposedly keeps the gas from turning to
varnish. Don;t know if there are unwanted side effects.

That's my 2 cents

jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA