Date: Tue, 30 May 2023 13:00:06 -0400
Reply-To: Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Water in the Gas Tank
In-Reply-To: <CAA5WjggERT9ofqJb79kAvV39pbXSUMgsg6kSfVi3Vx8VMNQX4Q@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi friends, it seems like ages since I have had anything to add. Glad to
be back:
I had to drain water out of my gas tank after lurching, coughing and
sagging onto a campsite this past weekend. Not sure how the water got in
there -- gas tank sender? It had been raining. Pointers on where to look
for the point of ingress would be appreciated. I assumed that the water
would be on th bottom of the tank so I purged according to the method I
describe below. My trip home was uneventful so I initially assumed that my
purge was successful since I had continued to purge off the bottom of the
tank until the gas looked clear and clean. HOWEVER, thinking back: the
crud that came out of my tank (and fuel line) separated into two phases in
my inspection bowl. What is troubling me now, is that the bottom liquid
was clear, and the TOP looked like an emulsion. So if the emulsion was
floating on top of the gas in my inspection bowl, should it not have also
been floating on top of the gas in the tank? Harumph.
For reference in case it's handy for anyone else:
-An effective draining/purging of the gas tank;
-take precautions to NOT CATCH FIRE OR BLOW UP.
-front right tire elevated 4.5" onto three 2x6" board thicknesses
-front left tire elevated to near max height of the vehicle jack which was
also elevated about 1.5" off the ground
-use fuel hose clamps to control fuel flow***. Allow zero leaks.
-disconnect hose to the prefilter and catch the gas and crud into a
suitable inspection vessel such as a (CLEAN!) clear disposable food
container
-drain small batches (half litre) at a time so you can inspect frequently
and get a good feeling of when the fuel in your tank is good. Pour the
purged fuel into a suitably rated fuel can for later disposal (alternately,
you can just drain large amounts directly into a fuel can?)
-give the prefilter a shake and rinse it in some of that convenient clean
fuel since it's almost off anyways, reconnect
-disconnect the fuel return line from the other side of the fuel tank (I
took the rigid tube out of the flexible hose)
-run the engine while catching the crud that you are purging out of the
fuel supply loop into your inspection vessel or fuel can
-reconnect the return line
-run engine and inspect for leaks. DOUBLE CHECK.
***I keep two fuel line hose clamps (orange plastic/nylon pliers-style
clamps made for closing off hoses) in my driver's side door pocket for
emergency closing of fuel or coolant hoses.
Purging the fuel line was worth the trouble because that's where the
ugliest stuff was hiding.
gabby
86 waterboxer westy
On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 8:49 PM Tom C <thomas.casal@gmail.com> wrote:
> Oh yea I changed all the fuel lines including the plastic got rid of the
> firewall failure point etc… I resealed the tank also this was all about 6
> years ago. Tank reseal just failed last week not sure where yet have to
> burn off fuel so I can drop the tank. I’m guessing the rubber o ring for
> the fuel sender failed.
>
> On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 8:31 PM Chris Cary <chriscary48@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I might’ve missed it. But did you do the lines that go to the two little
> > plastic tanks that are inside front wheel wells?
> >
> >
> > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
> > <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>
> >
> >
> > On Saturday, December 11, 2021, 4:51 PM, Tom C <thomas.casal@GMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> >
> > Thanks fellas. Sucks when the fuel tank reseal fails after 5, 6 years. I
> > have to start looking into higher quality rubber seals especially that
> > rubber o ring around the fuel sender. I have a feeling that’s where it’s
> > leaking.
> >
>
>