Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 20:08:50 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: About Oetiker Clamps
In-Reply-To: <950158844.82639.1692919849903@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi folks,
This brought back bad memories of last summer when a GW fuel injector failed and sprayed gas in my engine compartment during a trip in Canada in Nova Scotia.
It was a very young basically new injector.
I’m pretty sure Jim’s are also new parts so this isn’t a fault of time and use breakdown.
Luckily, like Jim, I caught it in time and replaced.
I changed out all the injectors when I got home.
Also. I was looking at my clamps and it seems like one van has those non adjustable squeeze style and the others are those that screw tighten.
I’m just going to check now and then and keep my nose working.
I’m actually a little concerned as my 84 smells a bit in the front so I will be doing tank reseal and possibly new tank this fall.
And the 85 just smells different. Might be the slight oil seep but I worry about gas.
So, I’m hoping to get my 85 van inspected by a local person that seems very detail oriented. Only it takes months to get an appointment.
Keep a nose and eye on those gas sources!
Eric Caron
> On Aug 24, 2023, at 7:30 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Jim, if it were me, after this trip allow time to replace ALL of those rubber hoses with proper ones that can withstand alcohol like in modern E-10 gasoline. Very important is to really get into it. Like replacing the 2" lines from rail to injector. Our good buddy Ben in Canada (Ben's Place, not sure if still around) had a great synopsis of how to do it. He used an X-acto knife to cut off that old stuff....super simple. Of course, delete the plastic firewall connector (it was only done for manufacturing purposes) and replace with a nice rubber grommet and hose. Yes....you have GOT to do this stuff....only takes half a day. Well for me, a whole day.
>
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> On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 04:02:08 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Great Jim. I had an experience when backing out of garage onto driveway...saw a pathway of liquid...immediately moved forward back into garage while motor was cool. Smelled it. Gasoline...vaporized within seconds later. Close call for me. Fixed it. My first experience with faulty rubber fuel injection hoses.
>
> On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 03:47:57 PM PDT, Jim Crews <jcrews@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Richard, thanks for bringing it over here to the list. That was me posting. Here is the video of what happened as I was about to start on a few hour trip: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ctfpG88ZrY7AKWMj7
> I quickly shut off the engine and went around tightening the clamps. After screwing then down, the leak was gone and I was on my way. Otherside also seemed loose so I tightened those down also.
> My main question is should I be using a different style clamp in those locations or just assume they will vibrate loose every so often. Either way, I’ll be staying on top of those clamps as part of regular and routine checks.
> Jim
>
> On Thu, Aug 24, 2023 at 6:05 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Some guy was having Major fuel leak at fuel rail (on Facebook, Vanagon Owners Group); he had a mixture of Oetiker Clamps and smooth bodied screw clamps (had Video of fuel on rails coming out of somewhere), I thought you might have some thoughts as to my comment, I try to give good advice, lots of them are newcomers, but trying hard:
>
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>
> OK....here's my "opinion". Oetiker Clamps were developed for fast, secure installation at the factory. Install, compress, done. But there is no allowance for the fact that over time rubber loses it's flex....in fact, it actually takes a set. So, for Fuel Injection hoses, it's my "opinion" those smooth sided screw clamps are a superior design (obviously not the slotted worm-drive clamps) in that they allow for snug up over the years. Regarding "springy" hose clamps on water hoses, these things ARE superior over slotted worm-drive clamps in that they are self-adjusting as rubber loses its flexibility. Still, with periodic attention, on water hoses with worm-drive clamps you can always snug up; the problem is, most folks don't and these are sometimes overlooked in hard to reach locations. Again, my "opinion".
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