Date:         Mon, 30 Jul 2001 18:08:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fuel Line Alert!
Comments: To: Doss88Wkndr@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Yes, good advice.  Mine actually came completely off while going 60 mph
on the freeway, and it's a miracle that it didn't go up in flames. Also,
the same type of spring clamp is used at the other end of the plastic
line at the fuel filter. Replace this hose and clamp too, as well as the
hose between the pump and filter.  In other words, replace everything on
the high pressure side of the system, and consider getting a new fuel
pressure regulator while you are at it. I don't think the factory guys
shoved that plastic line very far into the hose ends, which is part of
the problem.

Remember, cars are only designed for a 10 year life, and negative
effects from little factory shortcuts like this will crop up all over
the place after ten or twenty years!

Stuart

Brian Doss wrote:
>
> Hi Guys,
>       For those of you who have changed-out your fuel lines, I wanted
> to
> bring something to your attention.  I, like many of you bought Wilfy's
> kit,
> and changed my lines - very glad I did.  I'm also glad I bought a few
> extra
> feet, and a few spare clamps just for emergency sake.  While on our
> Finger
> Lakes trip a few weeks ago, I noticed the faint smell of gasoline.  I
> found a
> small dribble just forward the firewall.  If you look where your fuel
> supply
> hose attaches to a plastic nipple (fitting with a two bolt flange)
> (inside
> your engine compartment), you will find by removing the two bolts
> (10mm) this
> is just a short double male nipple. On the forward side, there is a
> tiny
> length of hose used as a transition splicer to connect up to the hard
> plastic
> fuel line.  Well, there was my leak!  Ironically, the only length of
> hose not
> changed, just 2" long!
>       One other fringe benefit.  I had been trying for months to
> isolate my
> screwy idle fluctuations - minor, but worrisome none the less.  Fixing
> this
> tiny fuel leak fixed the problem immediately.  I figure the leak was
> small
> enough to go unnoticed for some time, but allowed the incoming fuel
> pressure
> to be erratic - sound a little far fetched?  Maybe, but I sure like
> looking
> at my tach at red lights now!
>
> Good Luck,
> Brian Doss
> '88 Weekender, Queequeg