Fuel line kit replacement clamps: 2nd time finding them loose

[bobbyblack]

Just a shout out on the fuel line replacement I have done, and witnessed my kid's same kit also in need of tightening. Both kits from reputable big vendor.

I had my first experience a few weeks ago, when I noticed a smell and a small drip of fuel under my van. I tightened all the clamps up significantly, to what I estimated to be on the verge of as tight as they could get before breaking the clamp. I am completely sure that I did not break them, and I am completely sure they were well seated. No leak after re-tightening. I drove about 1000 miles, let it sit for a couple of days in an underground safe parking garage. When I took it out yesterday morning, getting ready for another few hundred miles, I was just by luck parked temporarily on the street while the other car was put in the underground spot. I was horrified to see and smell the fuel leak! I am so luck to have not gotten it out on the road and got the engine hot. I found the exact same clamps loose again that were the culprit of the first leak.

This is frustrating. This is scary. I mentioned it to the kid, and he immediately checked his clamps.. We found them to have loosened up on his as well. Not leaking yet, but certainly loose.

What is the deal here, if anyone knows.

Do I take the clamps off and drill the heads so a safety wire can be used? Some other way of making sure they are not just spinning loose/out with engine vibration? Do I add an additional clamp at each location? Maybe the kind that is similar to the coolant hoses that keep tightening over time?

I hope to avoid loosing my rig to yet another fuel leak in the future.

-bobby

[Gauche1968]

Maybe try different clamps?
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

[Vanagon Nut]

I've had this happen with coolant hoses. This also happened to a friends Vanagon. Small weep at one or more fuel hoses at engine after a "fuel line" job.

I see that you tightened the clamps twice but my guess is that heat cycling causes changes in the hose that requires the clamps to be checked retightened as needed. To my mind, this is "normal".

Maybe differences in hose material and-or actual percentage of Ethanol in the fuel you were using figure into this?

I've used the Gates Ethanol, FI rated 5/16" hose on two or more fuel line jobs. No fuel weeps or leaks on either job.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[ALIKA T3]

Put a picture of your hose clamp to see the type?
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[RicoS]

[timichango]

[timichango]

[bobbyblack]

RicoS

I am not able to get a shot of it 'til tonight, van is at home, I'm in town at desk.

Here is a link to the kit(s) we used:

http://www.van-cafe.com/fuel-line-replacement-kit

Order date was 6/23/16, and work done shortly after arrival.

Leaking occurs at the fuel regulator junctions. But, the other clamps seem to loosen as well. All clamps were able to be tightened a little each occurrence.

Thanks
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[greebly]

I prefer these fuel injection clamps. http://www.ebay.com/itm/132153714880

[Ahwahnee]

So this is the clamp in question...

I know there will be differing opinions but this is what I have used and I experienced no loosening nor need to re-tighten:

[timichango]

[bobbyblack]

Ahwahnee,

Thanks for the suggestion. I feel rather ill that this has happened, and that I have to go through all these and do them again. But, as I SEE this happening, and start to wonder how I came to order a kit that seems inferior now, I will have to do something before I run Flossie much more.

Maybe 1 year of mostly sitting around (I put on less than 3000 miles since the replacement) with 100% gas (not ethanol blend) wasn't easy enough on my rig

Much appreciated.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[vanagonjr]