Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2018 12:16:06 -0800
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Advice on Leak in Fuel Return Line
In-Reply-To: <68F9E6CE-425F-470C-BCED-EE406166413A@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hmmm..... . My fuel lines have blue pinch clamps, but the lines have been
replaced, and the "fire starter" at the wall replaced by a line passing
through a grommet. It sounds like yours was also. In the factory set up
the line fits onto a spindle type plastic connector (the firestarter) in
the wall, rather than passing through a grommet. I don't know how often
the lines should be replaced, but I believe mine were original when I
replaced them in 2009 on my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile.
mcneely
On Mon, Nov 19, 2018 at 11:42 AM Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Typical repair shop stuff. Sell you overpriced new parts and not advise
> you to replace the fuel lines. Are these guys familiar with Vanagons?
> If you’re planning a trip I’d take a serious look at the lines, if
> the plastic was compromised I’d cut it back and replace the fuel line.
> Do your fuel lines have those blue pinch clamps in them, if so
> they are original.
> Replace the line and check it at you next fill up.
>
> Stacy
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Nov 19, 2018, at 11:29 AM, Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > I would do has Mr. Grisanti did but keep in mind these "walking wounded"
> > vans of ours are getting very tired
> > and many items need replacing. The fuel system cannot get too much
> > attention as negligence can be
> > catastrophic. I'd plan on getting it fixed after your trip as soon as
> > possible and in the mean time keeping
> > a close eye on it.
> >
> > Steven
> > 91 Westy
> >
> >> On Sun, Nov 18, 2018 at 11:16 PM Steve Williams <sbw@sbw.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> I'd welcome some advice on a new leak.
> >>
> >> My '84 Westy was parked for two months. I started it today to prepare
> >> for a Thanksgiving trip. I opened the engine compartment to check for
> >> mice and to watch for leaks and so on.
> >>
> >> https://sbw.org/sbwsty/
> >>
> >> Within a few minutes of starting the engine, I noted fuel leaking from
> >> the return line just forward of where it passes through the grommet at
> >> the front of the engine compartment. On closer inspection, I could see
> >> the fuel was leaking where the flexible line from the pressure regulator
> >> joins the hard plastic line that runs forward to the tank. The flexible
> >> line slides over the plastic line and is secured with a hose clamp.
> >>
> >> Is that the usual setup, with the hard line running forward to the tank
> >> from there? The hard plastic line looks kinda old, which is frustrating
> >> because I had the fuel tank replaced just before my last trip in
> >> September. I wish I had thought to tell the shop to replace the ENTIRE
> >> return line. (The fuel supply line, filter, pump, and pressure
> >> regulator were replaced.)
> >>
> >> I loosened the hose clamp and pulled the lines apart. The plastic line
> >> looks a bit squished near the end. I slid the lines back together and
> >> tried to position the hose clamp over a non-squished part of the plastic
> >> line and tightened it down good.
> >>
> >> I ran the engine a bit more, and it looks like the leak has stopped.
> >> I'll check it again before I leave on my trip.
> >>
> >> I know older rubber lines sometimes will leak when they've dried out,
> >> then stop leaking when they get saturated with fuel. This line doesn't
> >> look very old. The surface isn't checked or cracked. Easy enough to
> >> replace it. I doubt the shop replaced the lines when they put the new
> >> regulator in.
> >>
> >> What's your advice? OK to travel, if it's not leaking when I check it
> >> again? Should I replace the line when it's convenient? Any other
> >> action I should take?
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
>
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