Date:         Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:36:06 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Does this look like a fuel leak?
In-Reply-To:  <CAMuoOU7BLAoKEe52ap3HtKZQjYv0usd+fFLm6fsUYMJ9DK8y9Q@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

     When you do replace the fuel supply components of your van...be
careful to anticipate where the hoses and fittings will actually lie and
how they'll fare against various hard parts of the chassis and against
other things.   Rubbing or continuous flexing will eventually lead to
leaks, and a pressurized gas leak is dangerous as hell.

  When I did my lines (after a close call with squirting gas and the
exhaust manifold) I used some heater hose that I split lengthwise, slipping
that over the fuel new fuel lines anywhere I used a zip tie,  or wherever
the fuel line was in close proximity to anything else that could abrade
it.   I also used normal hose clamps and re-tightened them carefully after
about a week of driving with the new hoses.

   If you smell gas, you should find out where the smell is coming from,
right now!....Waiting is NOT a good idea...In my case, I was so frigging
lucky and I didn't deserve it at all.

  I was following along behind an old Chevy and I smelled raw gas.   I just
assumed..."hey, that guys car really stinks!" and then he went straight and
I turned right....I still smelled gas, then I noticed my gas gauge was
dropping like a rock!...That was an 'Uh Oh!' moment for sure.....I quickly
developed my plan on how to stop....I kept going slowly as I rehearsed my
moves, and I didn't panic, but I knew I had no time to waste and I had to
get it 'right'....having seen a few car fires during my  racing
days.......I knew of a flat wide spot coming up soon on this familiar
road.  I knew where my extinguisher was..I thought it all through, then
pulled into the wide spot and jumped out with the extinguisher in
hand....Sure enough, there was gasoline squirting out all around my left
rear wheel.....right where the exhaust manifold is on my  inline VW powered
van is....  I reached in and shut off the motor and the gas flow quit,
leaving me sitting over a puddle of raw gas on the street.   I quickly
PUSHED the van forward off the gas puddle......Luckily, no explosion!

  I found that one of the original gas lines, with the woven covering, had
split....I spliced in a short piece of hard line to get me one mile to the
auto parts  store and spent a few hours in their lot, re doing my fuel
lines correctly before I dared move again....

   This happened before I'd read all the warnings about burning vans here
on the list.   Be warned.....We're not kidding, it is a real danger,
vanagon fuel fires.



On Jan 31, 2013 7:53 AM, "John Meeks" <vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Peter ~
>
> FYI the fuel pump only runs for a few seconds with the key in the on
> position. Once the engine turns over it will run continuously.
>
> It's possible that the fuel line clamps weren't crimped tight enough.
Check
> to see if they move on the rail nipples. That crimp tool is good to have
if
> you're going to stay with the Oetiker type clamps.
>
> John Meeks
> '91 Vanagon MV Phoenix
> Northern Michigan
>
> Vanagon Rescue Squad <
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon-Rescue-Squad74.htm>
> Android and iOS apps
>
> www.vanagonauts.com
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 8:40 AM, Peter Krogh <peter@peterkrogh.com> wrote:
>
> > I've noticed the smell of gas in my engine compartment, and it looks
like
> > I may have multiple fuel leaks back there. I suppose it's also possible
> > that what looks like fuel stains could have come from some penetrating
> > solvent used in the fuel line repair over the summer. Or perhaps the
stains
> > have simply been lingering around since the repairs over the summer.
> >  Wondering the wisdom of the list.
> >
> > Here's a movie showing what I see:
> > https://vimeo.com/58572336
> >
> > Background
> > The van sat in the driveway for several years undriven. Last summer I
> > hired a work-from-his-house vanagon-only mechanic to do some basic
repairs
> > - brake lines, brakes, shocks, gas tank breather, and fuel lines as
well as
> > a few bushings.  You can see the new fuel lines and the crimp-on
connectors
> > in the video.
> >
> > There have been a number of other issues I'm slowly working through on
my
> > own as best I can.
> >
> > Next step
> > After 28 years, I really don't want to lose the van to a foreseeable
> > engine fire. Does this look like a fuel leak?  I can't really see how
the
> > leak could be happening - lines are new, connectors look tight (as best
I
> > can tell). Do the rails ever crack and leak?
> >
> > Should I spray down the engine compartment with engine cleaner and see
if
> > the staining comes back? Should I stop driving it immediately?
> >
> > I tried leaving the car ignition turned on (car not running) for a half
> > hour or so to see if any fuel seemed to leak further, but could not find
> > evidence of that.  (I assume that the fuel lines are pressurized when
the
> > ignition is turned on.)
> >
> > I've been driving the car a couple times a week, nothing longer than 20
> > miles for the last 5 months. At this point, I need to put the car into
> > local service on something like a daily basis, so I'd like to resolve
the
> > safety issues ASAP.
> >
> > The guy who did the work is 60 miles away, so driving to have him look
at
> > it only works if this is not a dangerous condition. I have sent him a
link
> > as well, but not yet heard back.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight.
> > Peter