Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 14:14:25 -0400
Reply-To: Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Fuel line connection check - heads up!
In-Reply-To: <A817922C9DAF504580C0D892C3436776011AB158@GNBEX01.gnb.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Pascal,
Don't know that I would replace the metal fuel line connector with
another plastic one. I'd stick with the metal one unless it is rusting
through, which is highly unlikely I think. It is the old plastic that
people say you should replace. Plastic gets brittle with age and is
somewhat brittle when new.
Old fuel lines get brittle, particularly in the area just before and
under the clamp. Then the clamp can no longer work to prevent leakage,
no matter how much you tighten it. Over tightening may worsen the
cracking.
Don't over tighten new lines - it will hasten cracking. They need
enough compression to prevent leaking, not more than that.
I had the same leak on my Syncro in its last WBX days. Found it while
stuck out of town during the heavy snow storm in Feb of 03. Literally
everything in MD was closed and all the roads in the state were closed.
Luckily I was in a friend's garage. I finally figured out that the last
1/2 inch of both hoses clamped to that metal connector were dry, hard
and showing slight cracking no matter how tightly clamped. I had enough
slack in the line to take about 5/8th inch or so off the end of each
line. Then I had fresh rubber that hadn't been clamped down for years.
Reattached everything and watched it carefully and frequently for a long
time. Both several long viewings before driving away when the lifted
the travel ban and for days and weeks afterwards. Never saw any signs
of leakage. None anywhere else. Was going to replace all the lines and
clamps, but then did the conversion.
I think everyone who doesn't know when the last time the fuel lines were
replaced on your van should at least plan to watch it run for several
minutes after starting cold today or sometime very soon. Then, if you
don't see leakage, go drive it around and get it good and hot and stop
and watch it run. (If you see leakage after the cold start, you don't
go out and drive it for any more checking.)
Not a bad idea to replace the lines if it hasn't been done any time in
recent years, but certainly go check to make sure there is no leakage
now. Look carefully around each injector and all other connections.
My weekender came with new lines that were installed when it got a
rebuilt engine a few months earlier, and, of course, the conversion in
the Syncro has all new lines.
If anybody needs it, I have one VanAgain fuel replacement kit here along
with the injector gaskets. I'll ship it to you cheap USPS for $48,
shipping included.
--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD
89 Syncro GL, Zetec Inside
85 Westy Weekender
85 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel - to become veggie oil powered
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