Date:         Tue, 24 May 2005 16:31:33 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Harris <rdh24@CORNELL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Harris <rdh24@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject:      fuel leaks
In-Reply-To:  <001e01c56099$38309d20$0400a8c0@speedy>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

While we are on the ever scary subject of engine fires and how to avert
them...  When I got my bus, among many other neglected items it had a fuel
leak just behind the firewall (out of sight up over the transaxle)... it
was making such a fine mist you could barely see it but sure could smell it!

Turned out the leak was coming from the back side of the plastic barb
fitting that takes fuel thru the firewall into the engine
compartment.  (white plastic barb on the forward wall of the engine
compartment)  Fuel line comes from the pump to the back of this fitting up
out of sight behind the firewall, where there is a junction (not even
clamped on my bus, just a pressure fit!!!!  a leak waiting to happen which
indeed it did)... then inside the engine compartment another short section
of fuel line goes from the barbed side of the fitting to the engine itself.

Anybody know what the heck this barb fitting is supposed to be good
for?  Other than adding two potential leak sites to the fuel system!  I
think it is like the human appendix... a useless relic of evolution,
usually does no harm but if anything were to go wrong you really wish you'd
had it OUT already.  If replacing fuel lines I would say get rid of this
fitting and run a single piece of fuel line from the pump all the way back
to the engine.

best,
Robert Harris
84 Westy "Busaru"
5lb ABC extinguisher!