Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:44:11 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Does this look like a fuel leak?
In-Reply-To: <D8F62156-2D18-4A24-A13E-81DC68AC4E42@peterkrogh.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Don't drive it until it's fixed. Possibly the wrong type of fuel hose or
bad clamping technique. I'd just order a correct kit from one of the list
vendors and re do the whole mess. The rails can leak a bit on the crimped
end covers, but cracks would really pour out.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Peter Krogh
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 5:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Does this look like a fuel leak?
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=
