Date:         Thu, 8 Apr 2010 17:30:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: fuel leak - or not...
In-Reply-To:  <0708D6D63BC34649B4F528AD2C13F3B3@Bohemian>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My first question is: Have you changed your fuel lines throughout the entire
circuit* and eliminated the firestarter fitting, as is recommended? If you
haven't, then I strongly suggest you do it, and see then if you still have
the leak. 
If you have done that, then I'd start at the injectors and work my way
backwards. If there's enough getting out that you can see it on the ground
after percolating through all the crap around the engine then you have a
real (and not potential) problem. Hell if it's leaking at all you have a
real problem. I suggest not driving it until you have it solved, in fact.
You can get a fuel pressure tester and check the system pressure. It may be
that you have a problem with the regulator/return side, or the initial
pressure is overwhelming some connection until it evens out, so to speak.
All that would mean to me is that it's on its way to failing for good and
for real.

*Part of the circuit is hard plastic line that may not need replacing. 

Cya,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Matthew Snook
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 5:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: fuel leak - or not...

With all the recent talk of fuel leaks, again, I thought I'd repost a
previous question of mine to see if anybody had any thoughts on the matter.

I have an '84 1.9 Westy, and here's the problem.  Occasionally when I first
start the thing, there is a drip of gasoline from either side of the engine!
Sometimes right, sometimes left.  Most of the time there is no leak.  But
maybe half a dozen times over the last year, I've started it and then
noticed a drip from the splash pans that prevent me from seeing up into the
engine, so I don't know where it's coming from.  At first I immediately
turned it off, unloaded the paraphernalia and lifted the engine hatch, then
restarted it only to have the dripping not reappear.  Since then I've also
tried just leaving it on, but in this case it has still stopped the leak by
the time I've gotten the lid off to look at it from the top.

So the leak only happens, or I only notice it, when the thing is first
started.  It has dripped from either or both sides.  It stops if the engine
is stopped and then restarted, or within a couple of minutes if left running
(while I try to get the lid off).  

This is not a leak at the hose where it comes through the wall - I've looked
at that each time, and besides the drips come from both sides.

Any clues?  It doesn't happen often enough for me to just start the thing
over and over - only once every few months.

Matt