Fuel line kit from Van-cafe

stevey88 · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: Fuel line kit from Van-cafe

I have ordered and received the fuel line kit from Van-Cafe. Instead of 2 feet 10mm fuel line as stated in their web site, I have received 2 feet of 12.5mm fuel line. When I called Van-Cafe, they said this is the line their mechanic use but do not want to say the web site description is wrong. I do not have a warm feeling of this. My interpretation is that they do not have 10 mm fuel line in stock so they send me 12.5mm ( 1/2 inch ) that CAN BE MADE to fit.
Does any body know the exact dimension of that particular section of fuel line used in a 87 Vanagon?
_________________
Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

Perales · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject:

I ordered my kit from them last September. I still haven't replaced that line yet so I just measured it and in fact, they sent me the 12.5mm line as well. This is obviously not just a short term "out of stock, send the other" kind of thing. I have to assume that it is correct. Their reputation is too important to risk like that. I haven't tried the fit yet however, it's an early spring project.
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

bucko · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Well, both of you three (??) made me go and check the kit I ordered from VAN CAFE; it came with several feet of "V Fuel D8x13 BMW 16 07 >CR/CMD/NBR<" hose (at least 15 feet) and 3 feet of 1/2 inch (12.7mm) hose.

Plus clamps galore.
_________________
Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

ChesterKV · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel line kit from Van-cafe

stevey88 · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: Fuel line

Thanks for the replies. I feel better now.
Looks like Some of you are just like the way I operate - if something need to be replaced/fixed some day, buy the parts first and wait for the urge to install appear, or the right phase of the moon.
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Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

Perales · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

By the way Steve, Welcome to the Samba. This is how we do things here. You will find lots of help, advice and piece of mind here. Changing your fuel lines is a wise thing to do. Do you have a Bentley?
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

[email protected] · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Fuel line

stevey88 · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

Perales,
Yes, I do. I actually bought the Bentley a few months before I bought the GL.

Steve
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Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

PDXWesty · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject:

I'm not familiar with their kit, but isn't it the inside diameter that is critical? Maybe the 12.5 mm hose has a thicker wall with the same inside diameter as the 10mm hose they previously described.

Perales · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

PDXWesty · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

wow, that IS a big difference.

syncrodoka · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

I have replaced fuel line sections with the bmw fuel line from VolksCafe without any problems for over a year- in 2 vans. I walked into the store and asked questions as soon as I saw the hose. They told me that is what they use and recommend. Looking at the description of the fuel line kit they list 2' of 12mm fuel line.

mr_vanagon · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

Remind me, what's the big hose (whatever size it's supposed to be) for? Does that replace the cross over pipe that sits on top of the tank or am I forgetting something that also uses a larger hose?

My .02, while replacing the fuel lines, also replace that dried up, brittle hose cover stuff in the engine bay. I put the cover over all the 7mm fuel line on the entire van. I found that VW still has it so I ordered some from the dealer for about the same price I could find it online (BD~3.50/meter). The dealer is quicker and didn't charge shipping.
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'68 Autostick Bug Mom bought new
'89 Tintop Vanagon Dad bought new

mellow cat · Samba Member Joined: September 21, 2006 Posts: 236

big hose=fuel tank to fuel pump, and return line to tank.

small hose=eveything else.

Super coolio hose clamps with blue paint....when the job is done it looks "tight"...My customers dig that.

I am a fan of using a brass coupling instead of the the plastic/firewall fitting. I'm just "that guy"

it's a great kit...I have install quite a few of them.

MC

mr_vanagon · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

"big hose=fuel tank to fuel pump, and return line to tank."

That makes sense. My '89 has a low pressure filter between the tank and the pump. I added it when I replaced the tank and couldn't find the later style with the filter inside.
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'68 Autostick Bug Mom bought new
'89 Tintop Vanagon Dad bought new

germansupplyscott · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:08 am Post subject:

the large fuel hose is 11mm ID. not sure why anyone would use 1/2" hose on a VW because there is no hose that size on the vehicle from the factory. the 11mm hose we use in our baywindow fuel line kits is very expensive, i can tell you that.
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SL

OilNBolts · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

Perales · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:20 am Post subject:

Perales · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:28 am Post subject:

Does Van-Cafe monitor the Samba? I think it would be useful for them to address this situation and explain to us what is going on. A 2.5mm discrepancy is significant, especially when you are talkning about something that could potentially start a fire if it leaks from being over sized.

By the way, I notice that as of now, the Van-Cafe website lists the hose as 12mm.
_________________
-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino)

markz2004 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:11 am Post subject:

On my "to do" list is to change my fuel lines. I am deciding wether to make my own kit, or purchase their kit. When I saw this posting start yesterday I sent a question to Van Cafe and go the following response.

Mark / Steve
Sorry for our not handling this correctly on the phone - sounds like we
may have caught us at a busy moment. Looks like I had incorrectly
written that description on the site and this is the first time that
someone pointed it out to us. When my employee told me about the phone
call, I had checked the website and seen that there was the error and
immediately corrected it this afternoon - the hose on the one side of
the pump is indeed 12mm, it is not pressurized and the hose that we sent
both of you is the correct one for that application - it will work
fine. Again sorry that our guy did not take the time to look into it
during the phone call and resolve it on the spot.

Thank You,

Peter

http://www.van-cafe.com (Vanagon Online Parts Store)
831-426-1244 (Phone)
831-426-9316 (Fax)
_________________
87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 Wink

, 16" wheels


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