Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 2002 23:26:10 +0100
Reply-To:     Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject:      Re: fuel leak
Comments: To: Ed Sato <edsato@JUNO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

snipped------
under each front fender where the plastic fuel overflow tank is i have a
leak when i full up with gas each time.  does anyone know if i should just
replace the two hoses on each or if i need to replace the plastic
containers.  it looks like the hoses themselves are just soaked from
gasoline.
end snipped------

I just bought the part 251-201-147-B from my dealer.  It is the black hard
plastic formed tube, which has 2 white "Y-connectors" on each end. On the
top of the gas tank, you will see, when you pull the wheel, and look back in
there, past the brake line, this crazy contraption.  On my Vanagon, One tube
was broken from the "Y-connector" and was spilling fuel after filling up...
it is a very common problem.

The plastic containers on the sides are expansion tanks, and do not really
hold gasoline (unless something crazy were to happen).  They just allow the
pressure of the sealed fuel system to remain relatively stable, as fuel is
pumped in, or drained out (and keep gas vapor from escaping all over too).

My advice would be to check all the components of this system (it is
outlined clearly in Bentley) and replace all defective parts... including
the lines running from the tank "Y-connectors" to the plastic expansion
tanks (they tend to rot with age). I have been told that this all can be
done without dropping the tank.  I will attempt it on the next warm weekend.

You should also replace the rubber gaskets on the tank (where the
"Y-connectors" go in), which are part 251-259-371-C I believe, while you are
in there.

<º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{

Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf