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Date:         Mon, 21 Sep 1998 14:02:02 PDT
Reply-To:     Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: WHY? Engine fire totals my 81 Westy
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM, RMinCal@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain

>List - >I was the proud owner of an 81 air-cooled Westy - for about 8 hours. It >caught on fire on its maiden voyage and was destoyed. We had a fire expert >look at it, and he says it was probably a fuel injection hose failure, >although I'm not sure he knows VWs well.

This JUST HAPPENED to someone else on the list. Everyone needs to pay attention to this kind of thing and learn from it.

>2. Are there known problems with fuel system hoses, components?

Only owners who don't replace the fuel lines.

>3. I've heard that there also may be known probs with the fuel supply lines >and fuel tank. Thanks ... and don't leave home without your fire extinquisher.

If the fire started in your engine bay, it was not related to a fuel tank problem! Likely what happened is that you had old dried out rubber fuel lines in the engine compartment. You failed to inspect them upon purchase and/or replace them and failed to carry a fire extinguisher. A hose burst and gasoline was sprayed into the engine compartment at 28psi. It touched something hot and ignited, and that was it. Unfortunately this happens all too often and there is no one to blame but yourself. :-(

Sean Bartnik Fairfax, Virginia ============================ '81 Vanagon L Westfalia '74 Karmann Ghia convertible http://www.type2.com/bartnik/tech.htm

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