Vanagon EuroVan
Previous (more recent) messageNext (less recent) messagePrevious (more recent) in topicNext (less recent) in topicPrevious (more recent) by same authorNext (less recent) by same authorPrevious page (June 1997)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Wed, 25 Jun 1997 14:33:20 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Ken Wyatt <whyknot@compuserve.com>
Subject:      80 - 83? GAS TANK REPAIRS [longish

Stephen White wrote<spw@users.anet-stl.com> My gas tank has a 1/4" by 1/8" hole under where the heater tube runs. It=

seems to be in good shape otherwise. My _plan_ is to fiberglass the outside of the hole for structural rigidit= y and then to slosh the inside of the tank with sealer to keep the gasoline=

from eating through my patch. Is this a feasable plan? If not, What can i expect to pay for a rust-free used tank, or even better, what can i expect to pay a professional welder to fix my little hole? -------------------------------- Hi Vanagoners, In response to the above gas tank query I had a similar problem when I bought my 82 westy. I had major rust in the same spot which is common. = I first went to a radiator shop to see about repair. They could do it but said no guarantee, it could last 30 days or a year. =

I ended up searching the junkyards for a replacement here in Salt Lake City, Ut. I found a few. The cheapest was 60 bucks but were bent and crushed or had holes. The last one I found was from the rip off place he= re called Allsmall. They have lots of Vanagons and buses but charge about 1= /2 of new cost. I ended up paying out the nose/butt ($225) for the Allsmal= l used one. AVOID THAT PLACE EXCEPT LAST RESORT.

It has worked for 3 years. I posted a while back that I have gone throug= h three fuel filters in the past 6 months. Last month I pulled the tank to=

inspect and repair. I did not see any rust inside. Cutting open the use= d filter showed lots of rust. On the Vanagon tank there is a lower section=

of the tank where fuel is sucked from. It is sealed from the rest of the tank except for a very small hole. Water and gunk also settle here. It=

is very inaccessible. Taking it to a repair shop did not help. They could not figure out how to clean and seal the lower section. Also there=

is a plastic hose inside the tank which could be broken or eroded with acid. I am fearful of adding the tank sealer as there are a lot of small=

vent tubes on these tanks which could get plugged. ANYONE DONE THIS WITH=

SUCCESS??

I am still at odds on how to remedy this. ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOME. Whil= e the tank is out I decided to check and replace all rubber fuel lines and rubber seals. Been doing that for a month now as I keep having to order seasl and gaskets from VW and wait. =

The vapor expansion tanks in the wheel wells had very bad seals. One ha= d no seal at all as the fuel vapors had eaten the rubber gasket turning it = to silly putty. Dirt griome and water was entering the system this way. =

CHECK THOSE EXPANSION TANK SEALS!!!!! Vapors eat them for dinner. I am currently waiting for these seals which were $7.50 each from VW. (yikes)

Also I could not find the big fuel line (7/16 or 1/2 inch) which connect= s to the filler tube. I spent most of last saturday searching everywhere f= or this line. VW was the only place in town with this hose. When they sa= id is was $10.14 per foot ( not 1.014 but 10.14) all I could do was burst o= ut laughing. SO I BENT OVER AND BOUGHT 2 feet. 20 bucks for 2 feet of fuel=

line, sheesh!!!!! Anyway I will have all new lines and seals so I will b= e set for another 10 - 15 years.

I took the gas tank to a high pressure car wash and shot the little high pressure squirter into the tiny little hole to the lower section of the g= as tank. I just kept squirting and chunks of rust kept coming out. I guess = I will reinstall it and change filters 6 times a year if needed, (not the best option). Also you know when the filter is plugging as you hear that=

whine of the pump as it struggles to pump throught the clogged filter. =

This was mentioned a day or two ago by a listee who thought his pump was going out. CHECK THAT FILTER FIRST, $5 versus $140 - 300.

In the meantime I will look for a another tank.. Hopefully I have remov= ed most of the flakable rust at the car wash. ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO GET ONE = OF THOSE BIG GLASS FUEL FILTERS WITH REMOVEABLE ELEMENTS or A HIGHER CAPACI= TY FILTER??

One other option the gas tank repair guy suggested was to clamp and weld off the old fuel out line and install a new one above the lower section s= o it wopuld not suck up the rust. I do not like this idea as then water would collect in there and never be removed causing more rust. =

Sorry this has been so long and rambleous but it has consumed my life the=

last month and continues. That about all I know. If anyone made it thi= s far and has suggestion on a better fix, I would love to hear about it.

Have a great day. Ken Wyatt 82 westy kokopelli@sprintmail.com


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.