Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:16:01 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Rubber...Our best friend...Our worst enemy
In-Reply-To: <314082.557.qm@web83608.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
You are absolutely right. There really is no excuse for being stranded
because of a broken belt, vacuum line, fuel line or coolant hose. All of
these parts deteriorate slowly and then they eventually fail. Replace them
before they fail and they become a non-issue.
But I'll add one piece of info to your recommendation - never buy any of
these parts from your local "big box" auto parts store. Because of price
competition between AutoZone and Advance, hoses belts and just about every
other service parts these guys sell are made by the millions in some city,
in another country that most of us can't pronounce. And all of these parts
are made to the absolute minimum standards.
One exception would be name brand service parts like spark plugs, oil
filters, oil, etc.
Everything else should be bought from a local NAPA store (they really do
sell good stuff) or one of the online vendors others on this list buy from.
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
256-656-1924
Our Web Sites:
www.kegkits.com
www.stir-plate.com
www.andyshotsauce.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Richard Koerner
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rubber...Our best friend...Our worst enemy
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
