Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 18:29:50 -0400
Reply-To: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: fuel tank replacement
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Just because it leaked from the top during a fill-up, doesn't mean that
you need a tank.
Both of my Vanagons did the same thing, and both times it was the plastic
vent Y-fittings that had cracked.
You can drive around this way for awhile, being careful not to fill all the
way up. Or you can bite the bullet and drop the tank to have a better look
at everything (hose, fittings, fill and vent grommets, sender/ seal,
overflow tanks, lines, etc.).
I was able to epoxy and wrap my cracked fitting as a repair. I don't
think they're available.
I cleaned everything up and lubed all the grommets, replaced the
cloth-covered hoses, clamped all the lines and blew air backwards from the
fuel line through the sump screen to clear out any debris at the bottom.
It worked great with no leaks after that.
YMMV,
Mike B.
----- Original Message -----
From: "pepperd" <heymrpep@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 1:12 PM
Subject: fuel tank replacement
> hey all
> just finished about 900 miles of travel from ri to downeast maine,
> checking out a lot of the little communities from ellsworth to jonesport.
> saw about four vans the whole 6 days, including the two ladies from maine
> who took the last site at lamoine state park (we were second to last 20
> minutes earlier) right next to us. saw a bay westy on 295 in portland
> heading back yesterday. the whole time the van ran great, yet, alas a
> problem. instead of the sometimes regurgitation of gas out of the filler
> when the pump popped to indicate a full tank, two small leaks in the fuel
> tank within a few minutes of filling. one is at the seam, passenger rear,
> where there was quite a bit of rust. grabbed some epoxy stick and it
> seemed to do ok.
>
> foiled, the evil and calculating tank decided to leak on the next fill up
> on the driver side, near the top center but i can not really see from
> where it is coming(the wife didn't need to hear about the second one, she
> barely got in the van after the first). we drove the rest of the way home
> putting no more than 9 gallons in at a time(once we got near 1/8th or so
> on less than accurate gauge), and no leaks. one repairable leak i can
> live with, but since i need to drop the tank to find the driver side one,
> i'm gonna replace it. the questions:
>
> in replacing the tank, what parts should/must i replace besides the tank
> itself? grommets? filler tube? overflow? all of above? others? i want
> to make sure i have all the parts on hand when i start the job.
>
> i have a 1981 ac parts van---will the tank from it, if in good shape, fit
> my 1984 boxer(11/83 manufacture)?
>
> has any one posted a good how to/ how not to do a tank job?
>
> what parts should i think about replacing that dropping the tank will give
> me access to? i did my coolant pipes earlier this year, figures i have to
> drop the tank now(damn murphy's law). my emergency brake rod is pretty
> rusted up and that was the first thing that sprang to mind. Others?
>
> thanks for thoughts
>
> don p
> 84 westy
> carolina ri
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Luggage? GPS? Comic books?
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