Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:04:41 -0700
Reply-To: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rubber...Our best friend...Our worst enemy
In-Reply-To: <314082.557.qm@web83608.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
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I don't agree with any of this rationale. I think irresponsible/poor/lazy
maintenance practices is the culprit.
Pilot error. Review each of the examples you listed and if they are each
maintained at reasonable intervals,
there are no failures, let alone catastrophic failures.
bob
On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> Volks,
>
> I am the original poster on yesterday's thread..."Audible" Idiot Lights.
> Still plenty of room for discussions and solutions there.
>
> But, I've been thinking. What is the main cause of Vanagon catastrophic
> failures? Rubber.
>
> Your alternator/water pump belt is rubber...it snaps, you may be toast.
> Your coolant lines are mostly rubber...if they rupture...you're in for it.
> Your fuel injection hoses are all rubber...well, we know what that means.
> And tires....they blow out, yes they do! All rubber. Anyone want to talk
> about gaskets?...more rubber. Vacuum hoses in the engine compartment?:
> rubber, and they can cause infinite frustration and poor performance if
> leaky, along with that rubber thing to the air filter. Power steering and
> suspension and wiper blades and shock absorbers...more rubber things to
> fail.
>
> Now, rubber is an excellent engineering material...solves SO many issues.
> But, at a price...lifetime. The stuff just doesn't last forever.
>
> The logical solution: replace. And replace sooner than you think you
> might need to. Nothing like a roadside breakdown in the middle of nowhere
> to make you wish you had replaced "that" rubber component. So easy in the
> garage with access to Van Cafe, Vanagain, BusDepot, GoWesty, FLAPS...and so
> on (not meaning to exclude anybody here). So EXPENSIVE and trip-ruining to
> do it on the road. Not to mention major damage to your engine, your
> vehicle, or even your body!
>
> So...I've personally had: leaking fuel injector hoses, broken belts, rear
> tire blowout...next on the list is rubber coolant hoses; still have MOST of
> the original there (mechanics have noticed some swollen coolant hoses which
> were immediately replaced). And head gaskets....ugh...time for a new peppy
> engine when that one hits.
>
> I know I'm "preaching to the choir" on this one.....but still. Rubber is
> going to be the downfall of these marvelous Vanagon machines.
>
> Rich
> 85 Vanagon Homemade Camper Conversion with 180,000 wonderful miles
> San Diego
>
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