Date:         Tue, 15 May 2001 22:21:25 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject:      Change your fuel line NOW
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Since I just by luck found a fuel leak from my fuel line which has been
dousing the starter motor for some time it seems, I am offering a Public
Service Announcement even though it's been said on the list before:

CHANGE THE RUBBER FUEL HOSES!

I really feel I got lucky catching the leak before some disater happened. I
was under the bus looking for a coolant leak and noticed the rubber fuel line
was soaked with gasoline where it goes through the firewall. Although I had
been under there before because I thought I smelled gasoline there seemed no
sign of leaking. I guess the gasoline evaporates quickly--so if I hadn't just
turned off my bus I would have missed the leak again.

I noticed the rubber hose after the fuel pump had signs of weeping as well on
close inspection. I'm going to get the kit from Ken at Vanagain this week and
replace all the rubber hoses. Really doesn't look like a tough job. The
existing rubber on close inspection is dry cracked and a recipe for
disater--although from a few feet away it looked fine. So beware.

(I understand the plastic fuel line does not need routine replacement. If I
am wrong please let me know.)

Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA