van is burnt

[AdrianC]

I just replaced the short rubber section from plastic pipe from filter to plastic bulkhead mounting - when replacing the coolant tower, I must've nudged it, and the original 1987-date-stamped hose decided that was the last straw. I replaced it with an all-in-one to the metal t-piece to the injector rails.

Bear in mind that, over here in Europe, we don't seem to have anything LIKE the same amount of engine bay fires as you guys - must be different fuel chemistry.

Anyway, the new hose lasted TWO DAYS of running, then split underneath the inlet manifold. Fuel was pouring over the engine, to the point it wouldn't idle smoothly.

I replaced it with new hose, from the car parts store I'd stopped just round the corner from, using the bulkhead joint this time.

That lasted FOUR HOURS. Then the engine cut, half way round a bend. The end of the section from pipe to bulkhead had ballooned and burst. Replaced it again, in the middle of nowhere.

That section was already noticeably soft to to the touch the next morning, so I replaced it with some of the stuff that'd at least lasted a couple of days. That got us to a car parts store where I bought some stuff that was at least marked-up as fuel hose, which got fitted that night.

It's actually possible to change the bit from pipe to engine bay tee, with one caveat... Remove the final pipe-to-body clip before the joint. The pipe seems to be staying in place just fine, but it gives you enough movement that you can pull it all through far enough to do the entire job from the engine bay.

Not, hopefully, that you'll have to do it this often!
_________________
Adrian
Zookeeper of a miscellany of motoring silliness, from 0.75bhp to 9ft tall.
Living life on the road in an '88 2.1DJ Westfalia Club Joker Hightop.
www.WhereverTheRoadGoes.com

[ib-bus]

I just bought and installed the above hose from NAPA and it's actually made by Gates , it also has the inner lining like Goodyear's and was about $4 per ft.

[ib-bus]

Since I can't find the Goodyear fuel injection hose locally in 5/16 , what do you guys think about this one from NAPA ? seems to be similar to the Goodyear if not better , anybody has used this ?

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=NBHH358_0006447045

There is some good information if you click on the "features and benefits" PDF link.

[Jake de Villiers]

[Tooharsh]

That is what I was thinking. A small say 2" section of hose just before the connection point. That would provide for a little movement, but 95% of the line you would never have to worry about again.

[GreenMachineVW]

In the oft criticized air-cooled models, the engine compartment fuel lines are mostly steel, with short rubber pieces to allow for movement instead of breakage. While the short sections are subject to the same deterioration risks as any fuel lines, the short sections are much less prone to rupture.

[Tooharsh]

Bump, anyone use steel fuel lines?

[SCM]

[vanagonjr]

[SCM]

How about the hard plasic line that connects between the fuel filter the firewall fitting? Any reason to keep that vs running one contuous 7mm line from the engine, through the firewall, right up to the fuel filter>
_________________
'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[dobryan]

[dubbified]

I replaced with Napa's 350PSI rated line.. its a multigrade and was very very beefy.

I wouldnt think again about spending the 4$ a foot. Although.. metal.. that could work, too..

although.. I'm curious.. would a fire supression system be an ideal investment?

I'm seeing these systems look pretty straight forward.. connecting them to a mounted bottle... may be a good call. some of them even trigger electronically.. used in racecars..

http://www.amazon.com/3-375-Liter-AFFF-Mechanical-...mp;sr=8-28


a cheaper system.. http://www.racingjunk.com/Fire-Suppression/2434417/Firecharger-AFFF-Fire-Suppression-System.html

but if you're handy.. I bet you could make one, and cover the impotrant areas.. to keep this from occuring..

[Tooharsh]

Has anyone ever replaced the long run through the firewall with a steel fuel line? Wondering if there is some reason everyone seems to replace with rubber, and then keep replacing in different intervals. Your thoughts?

[Timwhy]

[WonkaVan]

[70coupyel]

[SteelB12]

[Ahwahnee]

Thanks for that simple yet abundantly clear photo essay.

Now if someone woyuld do that for the '84 coolant hoses that would be just great.

BTW -- w/o wanting to start another debate on this -- there are alternatives to that plastic tee fitting (aka "Revenge for Dresden") that accomodates the fuel lines passing thru the 'firewall'.

[WonkaVan]

This was my first job I did on my new van. I felt all the photos I found floating around the internet and even in the Bentley were lacking in clarity and simplicity. 1987 Vanagon. These are the fuel lines one must replace! Attain them where ever you like. I like Van Cafe and GoWesty because they have good internet sites. Its fun dreaming about everything there is to do to the WankaVan in the years to come.
On the left side I drew in the return line to fuel tank because I forgot to model it in the original photo. La paz sea contigo!

[akyrie]

question about fuel lines. When I redid the seals on my fuel tank (86 1.9 manual)|, I used a seal kit from one of our vendors. I noticed that the kit didn't come with hose clamps for the overflow tanks on either side. I used zip ties like I had seen here on the samba. The hoses fit snug and it's not under large pressure. is this safe? I looked around at a couple flaps(orielly, and carquest) but I couldn't find hose clamps that would fit.


Thanks,

akyrie
_________________
Although I got a funny message from the Porsche guys, it read, "what a mighty ship that you must sail"
....has anyone else received that?

82 AHU DK, 1950's Puch-black