Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 12:03:39 -0600
Reply-To: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: leaking gas when engine is on (long)
In-Reply-To: <1446AD2D-6632-43DC-9C02-E560BF79831D@sheilah.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
DON'T START IT if it is leaking at all!!!! Yur gonna get alot of posts on
this and the fix is easy. Wait a minute and check the links as they come
in. Costs about $60. I'm at work, but don't start it. !!!!
Michael in San Antonio
91GL AT 'Gringo'
73 Beetle
On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 11:44 AM, Sheilah Rogers <sheilah@sheilah.org> wrote:
> wow you all, thanks for the warm welcomes.
>
> i went down a rabbit hole yesterday for a solid few hours, checking out
> websites from your various sig lines. my oh my, i've been pretty hands off
> with my own Vanna (ack! six other Vanna White's!), though i have tricked out
> her interior and am told, she's quite comfy.
>
> but you all made me wish i had one of those fancy garages where i can get
> all greasy and such. but alas i'm a city dweller with a rented carport and
> don't know jack about any of it.
>
> short of fixing my GAS problem myself for fun, i might ask my mechanic if
> he'd allow me the opportunity to get under the van with him and see where
> all these gas lines are. (he might consider this a customer nightmare, nice
> as i am. we'll see. i'm open.)
>
> so that's my main problem right now. gas lines.
>
> i couldn't find anything on leaky gas lines though my review of these
> websites though. all i know is that there's apparently a bunch of gas hoses
> (two off each reservoir x2, from the main tank to the engine). all in all, i
> hear there's about 12 or so.
>
> this might explain why i keep driving off in Vanna only to find her leaking
> gas from different hoses. eek! i want this remedied already!
>
> i (perhaps erroneously) figure that if all these hoses are about due to
> leak, then why not replace them ALL at once. isn't that somehow cheaper
> (certainly less of a headache) than one by one they begin a'leaking? cuz
> i've already had 4 leaks and it blows.
>
> fwiw, i've already had done the fuel tank reseal (april 2009)
>
> so the other concern i have is that i need to get Vanna out of a basement
> garage, where no tow (or fire engine for that matter) can fit in. so i'm
> about to get in there myself, and per a friend's instruction:
>
>
> 1/ bring flash light, eye protection, hand protection.
>
> 2/ start engine, find leak. tshirts or rags to wrap gas leak, duct tape the
> rag, or direct duct tape if possible.
>
> 3/ roll it to the hill inside garage with the engine off.
>
> 4/ drive it up the hill with friend standing by with a fire extinguisher
> while i drive up the hill. (gas hopefully held in by rags and duct tape.
> gawd, i love duct tape)
>
> 5/ cut engine at top of hill. then roll it out of garage to a tow-able
> place. (tow trucks don't fit in this garage)
>
> 6/ disconnect battery so engine won't start. remove gas rags.
>
> 7/ call tow. tell them engine won't start. tow to mechanic.
>
>
> ALTERNATIVELY
>
> 1/ i've heard it's actually not hard at all to replace a gas line myself
> and have at it.
>
> SOOOOOOOO
>
> the reason why i'm posting all this is that i'm afraid that the engine will
> catch on fire. i suppose i might be too paranoid about this, but a little
> personal detail about me is that i'm one of those kids that managed to start
> a big ol' kitchen fire (boiling oil) so now i'm ahem, weary of fire. ha!
>
> so anyways, does my plan sound safe?
>
> (sorry for the long post)
>
> s.
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