Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 22:32:13 -0400
Reply-To: "Russell, William" <william.russell@UW-INC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Russell, William" <william.russell@UW-INC.COM>
Subject: Re: Leaking Gas Tank
In-Reply-To: <009901c205eb$536226b0$c8231a42@gumby>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Wow. I actually drove it across the entire country in this state.
Pretty dumb in retrospect. Your points are very valid. I think I'll
take your advice. Thanks!
\/\/i!!y
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of G. Matthew Bulley
Sent: May 27, 2002 22:00
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Leaking Gas Tank
First off, this isn't water or tomato puree pouring out of your van, it
is GASOLINE.
These dipsh*ts evidently don't care whether you and your family go up in
flames, as long as no one lives to file a multi-million dollar law suit
against the repair shop.
It isn't just leaking at the gas station, I guarantee that. Every curve
and hill you encounter is causing sloshing out the vent hole, and you
are a traveling torch, unlit. Meet up with one idiot butt-flicking
smoker who thinks our world is his ashtray, and you are toast.
Second: The Vanagon fuel tank and vent line system is complicated, and
requires some very specific VW grommets and nylon TEE's to keep from
leaking. In actuality it is a REALLY stupid design, but it is what is
there so you have to deal with it. It (typically) does require the tank
being lowered to take care of any problem with this system. If these
guys are clueless, find a dealer, and have the van towed there at the
garage's expense.
DO NOT drive this van in this condition.
Pax--
G. Matthew Bulley
Mount Olive, NC
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Russell, William
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 7:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Leaking Gas Tank
So, while my baby (van) sat waiting for me to come and pick it up in
Vancouver, I decided to have my brother drop it off at a local shop to
get some work done. I don't have the name with me right now but I will
send it to everyone later as I would NOT recommend that anyone use this
shop. I needed a new gas tank so I asked them to replace it.
Unfortunately, I was not aware of the genuine vs. knock-off argument for
tanks and the shop decided I didn't need to make that decision and
installed a knock-off. That's fine. I can deal with that. They
replaced it and put $10 of gas in it. Thanks. Unfortunately, the next
time I filled it up (and tried squeezing every drop that I could into
the tank) I gave the gas attendants a heart attack. My baby was peeing
gasoline out as quickly as I was putting it in. Upon inspection I
realized that there were hoses missing that connect the tank to the
overflow reservoir on the driver's side. (nice job) I immediately
returned to the shop quite pissed off and they quickly threw on a couple
pieces of hose.
I thought it was fixed and headed off across the country.
Unfortunately, at the next fill up I realized that now instead of peeing
gas in a nice even stream, it was just gushing from the bottom front of
the tank. The tank itself does not seem to be leaking, it's got to be
somewhere in the lines.
I looked at Bently and I notice that there is a line that connected the
overflow escape on the top/front/right hand side of the tank to the
overflow on the top/front/left hand side of the tank. I suspect that
piece is missing. Does anyone have any other ideas? If not, do I need
to remove the tank in order to replace that piece? :(
\/\/i!!y
1980 Westy "Jazzy"
