Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:20:08 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: fuel lines: if it ain't broke
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hmmmm.
well, fear of messing something up is not a good reason to NOT repalce
something with the potential to cost you your entire van.
What I would suggest, is do one or two hoses, .....and see how that goes.
Replace them, then watch it for a week or two.
If it looks like the hose you used is right ( I believe there is some chance
of getting what is thought to be the really right hose...but it's not
actually )
and you want high quality new screw type hose clamps..........
So don't tackle the whole thing at once.
do part of it and see what result you get.
no reason to be afraid of the injectors. For sure don't bang the tips of
them as suggested .....but there isn't anything weird or scary to worry
about removing them.
It can be hard to get the fuel hose off the injectors or fuel rails. Once
a while the large rubber ring disentegrates on them.....but the smaller seal
....
I seldom see one of those that won't work. I use gasket sealer on them. I
don't think I've even seen an air intake leak at one. If they're shot of
course, new is the way.
there is a very handy tool I use .......it's a 'hose pusher offer'.
It's like a pliers with forked tips.
You insert it between the end of the hose you want to push off, and what you
are pushing the hose off of, squeeze the handle......and it pushed the hose
off.
Very handy., Just pulling on the hose just makes it grab tighter of course.
btw ...workmanship tip .
*always* .............always, leave a bit of room at the very end of any
hose you insert over a fitting. If you push it right up to the end, it makes
it that much harder to get off later, since it's harder to get a tool under
the end of the hose. Minor detail........but it's the details that make
things really right.
In both fuel leaks and fires, and overheating incidents.......
the 'whole thing' is how quickly you catch it.
I've gotten vehicle fires out at least 4 separate times .........within
about one minute of them starting.
I hope everyone is watching for smoke, guages moving like they
shouldn't...........smells, etc .
Story :
Heck, I have this pretty nice white 87 GL .........got it inexpensively
after an engine fire that didn't do much to the van at all really, just
melted the snot out of *everything* on top of the engine ( yet a very fresh
rebuilt 2.1 was under all that black mess .....a fine engine I am driving
today ) .......
They guy had pulled into a car wash for some reason.
He happend to notice wisps of smoke coming out of one of the rear upper air
intake grills.
And he didn't even check it out.
Didn't peak in the license plate door, didn't walk over an put his nose near
the intake grill........just got in and drove off.
Talk about an avoidable loss of a vanagon !~
oh ......constantly monitoring - examples......
every time you get out of the van, walk back and sniff at that left upper
air intake grill.
Any smells in the engine compartment will be quite evident - whether
anti-freeze, fuel, burnt electrical, etc.
that plastic fire wall fitting - always just eliminate those. Other than a
new hose clamp ........no parts are even required to elminate that needless
and source of fuel leak, part.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy C. Nunes" <randycnunes@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: fuel lines: if it ain't broke
> Mark,
>
> You asked this question to the wrong list. I don't think there is a
> single
> person here who would recommend NOT CHANGING your fuel lines.
>
> Just have a look at Ben's website for some photos of why this pretty
> simple
> job is worthwhile.
>
> Randy
> http://www.fermentationtrap.com
> Home Brewing and Winemaking Supplies
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Mark
> Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 8:08 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: fuel lines: if it ain't broke
>
> Hello all -
>
> I'm replacing my gas tank and while I have it out I'm thinking of
> replacing
> all the fuel lines too. Got the GoWesty fuel line kit - HOWEVER - I'm
> re-thinking an entire fuel line replacement job. I got the little plastic
> bugger out (the one prone to breaking and causing fires) - and I think I'm
> going to stop there. Just based on how difficult, and messy it was
> getting
> that one line out - I'm thinking I won't mess with the injectors, injector
> rails, and seals. The lines appear o.k. and I fear messing something up
> in
> finishing this job (never pulled an injector before). Any thoughts out
> there? Should I stop - or go for it! The engine has 152,000 on it.
>
> Mark
>
> --
> Mark
> 1990 Westy (2.1 - manual)