....then my Bus went POOF!! (pic)

SteelersBus · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:26 pm Post subject: ....then my Bus went POOF!! (pic)

Now that I got your attention. That is almost what my story ending was today. I filled up with gas. Went into the station, paid, then on my way out, I LUCKILY looked back at the rear of my Bus. I saw something dripping from the spare battery tray hole.(driver's side) I go back and smell gas immediately. Shocked

I calmly...well, almost calmly, pushed my Bus away from the gas tanks. I go to inspect and find a puddle in the spare battery tray. I wiped it all up, gave it a bit to air dry and pondered whether to drive the 3 blocks to my house. It didn't drip anymore, so I decided to drive it VERY slowly home. Grabbed both my extinguishers, pulled the pins, set them on the passenger seat and drove home 3 blocks. When I got home, another gas puddle had accumulated on the tray. I then grabbed a flashlight, looked up into the area of the air vents, kinda underneath the spare wheel well. Low and behold I saw a rotted fuel hose. It measures about 3" long. I took a cloth and dabbed it to check for wetness. Yes, it was wet. I reached up in and pulled on the hose. It immediately ripped in half.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

It didn't even have clamps on the ends. Is that normal? My other question, which I am more concern about.....Is that the only hose that is in that area? Is there another fuel hose above that one that may have dripped onto the one I removed, making it wet with gas? OR, did I get lucky, and find the problem hose to make problems solved?? THANK YOU for any help.
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Granny Grose's Buses 20
June 5-8, 2025
Millmont, PA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333391253346965/

70 Campmobile, 70 Sedan, 71 SO-69 Westy, & 74 Westy

SteelersBus · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject:

WOW!!

SORRY!! I see that this is a repost after just seeing velokid just had the same problem. Guess that just shows...ya never know!!
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Keys by Code, Locks & Keys Supplied,
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Granny Grose's Buses 20
June 5-8, 2025
Millmont, PA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333391253346965/

70 Campmobile, 70 Sedan, 71 SO-69 Westy, & 74 Westy

Hippopotabus · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject:

Get some of that super strong nylon tubing (race cars have it) or get some Steel Braided tubing. That is pretty scary.
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Celer, Silens, Letalis
www.2dreconbn.net

velokid1 · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject:

Yep, check my post from last weekend. Exact same thing happened except there was no missing the leak I had, it was a gusher. Lost about 2 gallons of gas in about 10 minutes.

Scary indeed. I didn't know it was even possible for a pump to overfill a gas tank like that. (No, I wasn't "topping off." I'm not patient enough to stand there doing that. Very Happy

)

Glad you're safe and not roasting weinies on your bus.
_________________
1976 Westy... almost there.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/210442.jpg

SteelersBus · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject:

Is there just one hose in that area? Or are there others I need to be worried about?
_________________
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Granny Grose's Buses 20
June 5-8, 2025
Millmont, PA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333391253346965/

70 Campmobile, 70 Sedan, 71 SO-69 Westy, & 74 Westy

westy78 · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

That's the only hose in that area but it shouldn't have liquid gas flowing through it. That is why there is no clamps. That is part of the fuel vapor recirculation system. Did you over fill the tank? That should be the only way for fuel to flow through that hose instead of just vapor.

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Jasan C.
'78 Westy

VW Campmobile, it goes on vacation with you.

SteelersBus · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject:

I didn't fill it up more after the pump stopped the first time. Could it have been flowing so fast that maybe it overfilled a lil by itself? Is it possible that there is a leak somewhere else that is just dripping from that point? Thanks!
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Volkswagen Locksmith
27 yrs experience
Keys by Code, Locks & Keys Supplied,
Key all your Locks to one Key.
[email protected]

Granny Grose's Buses 20
June 5-8, 2025
Millmont, PA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333391253346965/

70 Campmobile, 70 Sedan, 71 SO-69 Westy, & 74 Westy

ronan.b · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject:

glad to hear you and yer bus are ok. Very Happy

could have been disastarous
_________________
my bus came with the optional ferrous oxide performance pack (gets lighter as more rots away, and therefore faster)......

78 nine seater

cree

I am not an expert. I guess that the fuel lines/tank are a closed system. I think I have the non-venting gas cap on or one that vents under x amount of pressure. There can be vapor pressure built up in the system that is closed. If the gas tank is filled up above the return line or while going around a corner and the fuel level goes above the return line spot, then liquid can be pushed, by the vapor pressure, inside of the tank, to exit a crack in the hose ( that connects the two vapor lines). The pressure can not enter the carb because of the float valve stoping the flow. In a FI closed system the vapor pressure can not push on the fuel and enter the injector unless it is opened electricly. In the FI system the vapor under pressure is supposed to go to the charcoal can, condense, and then back to the tank, at least I think. If the gas cap were vented (like the old ones) no vapor pressure would build and no push of the liquid to where it could excape. I don't know why the gas caps are not vented or do vent with enough pressure? Is it because of not wanting to vent gas vapor to the atmosphere or something slse. At this point with these Buses being so old I would think that a little gas vapor would do less damage than the occasional fire resulting in a tremendous release of gases to the atmosphere.
In a perfect world everyone would have their systems working perfect and there would be no fires and all gas vapor would be condenced and go back into the tank. This is far from a perfect world. I will either get my system working perfect or will drill a vent hole in the cap, and when emissions testing time comes around I will put on a nonventing cap. I'll probably make sure the fuel recovery system is working right. Whatever, I do not like to see anyones Bus go up in flames.

vdubyah73 · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject:

Was it a hot sunny day? The gas comes out of an underground tank and it,s cool under there, Now the gas is in your tank rite in front of a hot engine on a hot sunny day. The gas warms up, starts to expand, vaporize and pressurize your system. the pressure and vapor is supposed to vent to your charcoal cannister. The piece that leaked just happened to pick that day to go ahead and leak! No worries just make sure all your lines are good and your OK.
Bill

SteelersBus · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:13 am Post subject:

After replacing that piece of hose yesterday, I went to my family cottage which is a 25 mile drive. No problems whatsoever. Very Happy

I had my extinguisher within reach the whole ride to the cottage. Drove home today, and all is well!! Very Happy

By the way, I have a locking gas cap that does not have a vent.
_________________
Volkswagen Locksmith
27 yrs experience
Keys by Code, Locks & Keys Supplied,
Key all your Locks to one Key.
[email protected]

Granny Grose's Buses 20
June 5-8, 2025
Millmont, PA
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333391253346965/

70 Campmobile, 70 Sedan, 71 SO-69 Westy, & 74 Westy

sluggo · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:19 am Post subject:

I was reading this on Ratwell's site last week and checked mine. Crumbled in my hands. Replaced it immediately. Now I'm really glad I did after reading everyones horror stories lately.
_________________
'77 Sunroof Bus.
-----------------------------------------
Itinerant Air-Cooled Forums
http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com

Amskeptic

VWMIKE76 · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Anyone know where to find the 15A "T"? the part number is 211 201 405 atleast thats the one i need, it is small on one side that goes to the front wall charcoal canister and the other two sides are larger.

[/quote]
_________________
Mike
77 westy Mac n cheese aka "Mac"
71 crew cab "Damien" sold and missed lots!
78 westy "Doc". in very good hands of a fellow samba member!
79 hardtop landmark "Shaggy II"

atmellovw · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject:

An auto parts store should have a suitable "T" fitting.
_________________
1972 Westy ("Bubbles") - Pastel White - 1700(1974 MT) - Dual Solex

RatCamper · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:59 am Post subject:

VWMIKE76:

i got a replacement rubber T piece that fell apart after a few years. Ended up replacing it with a barbed brass T piece that I got from a hardware store and small sections of fuel hose.

That diagram seems to be missing a sneaky hose.

On the right hand side of the engine bay, the right hand metal tube coming off the T piece has (at least on my van, 75 model, but it looks OEM) one of those short lengths of hose where the pipe passes through the mount for the diagnostic connector.

Was having trouble with fuel smell recently. The one I just mentioned ended up being the culprit. The rest are pretty new. It kind of helps that I removed the spare tyre well though.


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