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Date:         Mon, 30 Dec 1996 01:30:20 PST
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         alcoha@juno.com (Alfred P Coha)
Subject:      Re: VANAGON digest 1212

This is a possible solution to Gary Millang's VW Freezing Problem. Many years ago I had a similar problem with a US car that should relate to Gary's problem. The problem turned out to be water in the fuel tank/line. Water has a higher specific gravity than fuel and is relatively immiscible. Water also collects in the lowest point of the fuel system. When the temperature is above freezing (32 degrees F.) the water is a liquid and does not interfere with the passage of the fuel. However at temperatures below freezing the water changes state from liquid to solid and this can restrict (evidenced by loss of power) or completely block the flow. The water can come from a filling station tank or be the long term result of condensation. There are 2 ways to fix this problem. 1. Remove the fuel line at the lowest point, drain it and reinstall it or 2. Add an alcohol based solvent that will dissolve the water into the fuel and be carried through the engine and exhausted. These alcohol based solvents are available at auto supply stores or denatured ethyl alcohol could be used. I hope that this works for you. Another comment: A water soluble oil can be added to the glycol-water coolant to prevent corrosion in the cooling system, particularly the cylinder heads, and to lubricate the water pump bearing. Al Coha


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