Yes they do go bad. The lower screen rusts out causing the carbon to
fall out and clog the vent tubes. Remove the lower hose, if there is any
carbon there, the filter is bad. The smell may also be due to a leak
some where.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Bob Worrells
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 3:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Charcoal Filter and Gas Odor

My 86 Westy as a STRONG odor of gas that seems to be coming from the
charcoal filter. Do these things go bad. Am I in danger of burning? I am
ultra-paranoid to this since my van caught fire last summer and was
"totaled"  (mechanic's fault).