Date:         Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:02:45 -0800
Reply-To:     Sheilah Rogers <sheilah@SHEILAH.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sheilah Rogers <sheilah@SHEILAH.ORG>
Subject:      Re: leaking gas when engine is on (long)
In-Reply-To:  <A8E7FEBD45EC4A91BF2CBFEC36C20594@pat43d5bf70c66>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

thanks to everyone for helpful urls, offers of help, and sound advice. i've printed a bunch out as a check off list. also printed out the rescue squad url. wowza, that's a good one to keep in Vanna.

thanks to all your comments, i'm now opting to NOT start the engine to see the leak (rapid dripping, not spurting) which appears to be over the engine (though could have been traveling down a hose, like it did in the past). still, what's visible is too close to the engine for my personal comfort, plus you all had a lot to say about the basement being a crappy place to have a fire. point taken. 

i'm currently looking into having it pulled out by someone, or if that's a no-go, figuring out how and when to use two AAA tows to get this out of the garage and then into a shop. 

i'm currently most concerned with this: getting it out. that garage is not ideal for this scenario, with low clearance, turns, one ramp uphill.  at least it's wide for maneuvering.

a concern i have is that AAA won't tow a vehicle with gas leaks unless the fire department's been out to deem it safe. fire engines, loud and colorful and shiny as they are, run extremely counter to my continued efforts to remain on the down low at this garage. i think i may stand to lose my privilege as a visitor renting a spot if i bring in Big Red all too often (twice in one year? shee-it!). so yeah, fire trucks, not always fun to have around - lots of people looking over at me while i whistle into the air and pretend it's someone else's trouble. ha!

so i'll let you all know how it goes. 

i'm sure i don't have to tell you about the wince in my heart when i saw the photos of those poor vans that caught fire. 

thank you all again and again for all the advice and offers and links. so much to look at. i'm going to review it all before i talk to a mechanic too. once i get the van out, my next step will be how to prevent a fifth leak from happening. 

-sheilah

my vehicles:

1986 Vanagon Westy (watercooled, 2WD) ~ Vanna White
2003 Diesel VW Golf ~ Moxie 
2008 SMART car ~ Gizmo 

(next up: i'm drooling over a cushman or an interceptor, but no way, not yet)
(and for fun): my dad owns a 1979 VW convertible Beetle, still cherry, with approx ~17k miles

but first things first, loving Vanna. my first true vehicular love. ;)




On Dec 9, 2009, at 6:13 PM, Pat Sloan wrote:

> HI Sheilah,
> 
> I’ve just lived through a leaking fuel crisis on my 1982 Vanetta, “Otter”.
> Finally completely fixed by Ed the Magnificent at The Bug Shop here in
> Vancouver. It turns out that there were leaks in multiple places – mostly at
> the top of the gas tank, so it didn’t leak until you filled it up at the
> pump and drove away. Then it would drip about 1 ˝ gallon over the first
> miles driving. Otter and I have only been together for about a month, so
> this has “only” happened about 3 or 4 times. Discovered it by accident a
> couple of days ago.
> 
> Like you, I am completely freaked by gas leaks and would never have driven
> it in that condition – if I had known. At least it was always outdoors
> instead of in a parking garage. I totally agree with everyone else who has
> sounded off on this – just do not turn that ignition key.
> 
> Possible solution: Do you know anyone with a quad ATV who might be able to
> tow it out of the parking garage for you?
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Pat
> 
> 82 Vanetta “Otter”
> 
>