Date:         Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:55:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      See The Inside Of Your Gas Tank
Comments: To: Wetwesties <Wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Well, maybe not yours but one from a Vanagon
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https://plus.google.com/photos/110381589973177080718/albums/5871209999801530865
>
I was just at Porbug in Edmonds, Wa, the shop that does all the work on my
'90 Westy.  He had a Vanagon gas tank cut in half that he had to show how
they are built inside.  The filter/hose toward the top of the picture is
the scavenger/fuel feed that goes out to the fuel pump.  And the bottom
filter is the return line from the FI system. You will note the depression
in the center fhere these are mounted.  That is a plate welded over a
deeper depression that protudes from the bottom of the tank.  And the
scavenger is attached (glued?) to a hole that goes into that cavity, that's
where the gas is picked up from. See any problem areas?  First, that sump
is going to collect any rust/crud that develops in or gets into the tank.
Especially if that filter assembly breaks loose where it is attached to the
bottom of the tank.  And now that nasty stuff, based on recent experience
at that very shop.  A new tank was installed in a local Vanagon.  Fuel
starvation problem followed shortly.  Examination revealed the following.
Although the fuel feed and fuel return lines had been plugged before
shipment to keep them clean none of the big holes in the top (filler,
overflow, sender) had been plugged.  In transit there had been a lot of
chaffing against the cardboard shipping box.  And there were cardboard
fibers plugging not only the filters but all the way out to the fuel pump
and fuel filter.

Lesson here?  First, and this has been a Vanagon no no for a long time,
DON'T LET YOUR TANK GET BELOW 1/4 FULL!! If you do you are taking a good
chance of picking up any crud that has built up in your tank over time.
And especially if that pickup filter has broken loose from the tank and
allows such crud to get down into the very bottom area.

And as for the cardboard in a new tank problem just be aware that this can
happen and look out for it.