Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 1996)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:14:58 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Shawn Wright" <SW@smus.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: '82 Diesel, fuel, where did it go?

On 30 Jun 96 at 1:07, DHaynes57@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 96-06-29 12:16:09 EDT, robertc@snowcrest.net (Robert > Crawford) writes: > > << I had my Bently book with me, that made the job a little easer. > After siphoning the tank the fuel line was removed from the bottem of the > tank untill no fuel came out. After the tank was enpty (I banged on it, it > was empty) my guage still said it had about 1/4 tank left and when it was > refilled it took just under 12 gal to fill my 16 gal tank. Where were the > other 4 gal hiding? >> > Is it possible that the tank was once upon a time damaged fron a floor > hoist or jack pushing in the bottom? Some brain service people think the > tank straps are actually frame rails and they use those to lift the van. > Belive it or not, my experience shows that 4 gallons is the amont of damage > and the gauge does not read empty due to the tank bottom now holding it in > the air. Just a thought, > > Dennis. Another possibility (long shot): on my Dad's '81 Rabbit Diesel, soon after we were towed in for waxed up fuel after skiing at -26 C (brrr!), the car ran out of fuel. Then it took only 6-8 gallons to fill up. This happened twice before he took it in to be looked at. Turns out the mechanic who had checked things after the tow had removed the air intake hose for the fuel system from its place near the injector pump. The hose then flopped around near the alternator belt, and eventually rubbed enough to melt the end of the vinyl hose shut. The suction of the pump on a closed fuel system had actually collapsed the fuel tank!! The VW dealer who discovered this could not believe it either, until he checked the hose and figured out what had happened.

Likely not your problem, but anything *is* possible...

Shawn '88 Westy 331k (Kyra) '85 Jetta TD 349k (Jenni)


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.