Date:         Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:29:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rob <vwrobb@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: See The Inside Of Your Gas Tank
In-Reply-To:  <CAH32RNb-KRYG8z9NNEbhuUgFNQ-GL3juUKVyLJ5jexOf_mjrjQ@mail.g
              mail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I'm not allowed to view google plus photos it seems, but here are
some from the Samba of late model tanks.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=446713
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=434980
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250206
and here are some from the tanks of an '84
http://s197.photobucket.com/user/becida/library/84%20Fuel%20tank?sort=3&page=1

Rob
vwrobb@gmail.com


At  4/26/2013 12:55 PM,Loren Busch wrote:
>Well, maybe not yours but one from a Vanagon
><
>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.