Date:         Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:43:52 -0800
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: How long should fuel tank grommets last? (a little long)
Comments: To: T Collins <tonycollin@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <aeea9b480912100633g3f184ddcw4d6104b28f296ac@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 RE: How long should fuel lines last?
Strange timing on this question, especially about the Medusa's Head on top
of the gas tank.  I had all soft lines replaced and the tank dropped and all
grommets and hoses replaced in Dec 2005, complete with new (now NLA but some
vendors have a replacement) crossover piping.  And started to get gas smell
and then noticeable overflow on fill up again after only a couple of years.
And it got worse recently and I had my current mechanic tackle the problem
just a couple of weeks ago.  But it was not normal deterioration.  The work
done previously had used small screw clamps on many (all?) of the fittings.
These are barb type connections for the small hoses in the crossover network
and aren't meant to have clamps on them.  The clamps had caused the ends of
the hoses to split in several places.  BTW, my mechanic, because he has
small hands and knew exactly what he was doing, was able to do the
replacement without dropping the tank, a small miracle.  So, how long should
they last? I expect more than two or three years when done right.  I'm sure
others with more direct experience will have other comments on this
question.