Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 11:28:05 -0600
Reply-To: Ken Wyatt <nrogm.kwyatt@STATE.UT.US>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wyatt <nrogm.kwyatt@STATE.UT.US>
Subject: Fuel leaks/fuel lines/clamps, etc., 82 westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Hi Volks,
I am having a dilemma with fuel injection leaks around my connections that is making me paranoid to drive. Last year I replaced all of my fuel lines to prevent the classic VW melt down. Last week I was tuning up the engine in anticipation of doing the yearly emissions test.
When I opened the engine cover I smelled gas. I noticed that the joints around the Cold Start valve was seeping gas as well as a few other joints.
I also noticed that the vacuum line connecting to the fuel pressure regulator was cracked and had disconnected. Thinking the lack of vacuum was causing the pressure regulator to mal-function causing excessive pressure to build up in the lines thus causing the gas seepage, I clipped off the rotted end of the vacuum line and reconnected it to the Fuel Pressure regulator.
Today, I noticed a small seep again. When I replaced my lines last years I used 1/4 inch 300 PSI fuel line from the FLEHOH (Friendly Local EVCO House of Hose). The list recently has been mentioning 7 mm line as the line to use. A simple conversion of 1/4 inch to mm gives 6.35 mm. So the 1/4 inch line is not too big but actually smaller than 7 mm so I should not be leaking due to a larger line. (I am unsure what the Inner diameter is).
I am wondering if the rubber lines could shrink over the winter as the van sat most of the winter. It ran all last summer without leaking. Any chance the lines could have shrunk and not expanded once warmed up this spring? Or is there a chance the fuel pressure regulator is failing allowing pressure build up and causing leakage?
I used the old clamps that screw on with 2 screws and clamp all the way around the hose. I have also tightened each one up again this spring. These were the original clamps. I am considering getting the 7 mm hose from a list vendor and re-doing it.
Maybe I should have used permatex sealer on the lines- steel tube connection when I re-installed them. TIA for ideas. Anyone else have this type problem?
These are my possible causes.
- Is it the 1/4 inch hose vs 7mm
- lack of sealer on connections
- Fuel pressure regulator failure
- gas eating fuel lines
- clamps just need more tightening after sitting all winter.
- should have replaced clamps (old ones were not rusty)
Ken Wyatt
82 westy
www.gasserleakerparanoiawesty.com
Salt Lake City, UT