Ken,

The steel ones I got for my 84 last year were also from RSA. I know the
earlier ones are different but I dropped the tank. I don't know if I had to
but my obstical was getting then over the rear axel.

Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 12:00 PM
Subject: Looooooong Coolant pipe replacement (not too long message)

> Well after delaying the inevitable for about a year, I finally have come
> down to replacing the long plastic coolant pipes in my '91 Carat Vanagon.
>
> Some background:  As long as I have owned the van I had some coolant
usage.
> I could never find a leak, but the level would go down very slowly over a
> period of months.  I resealed the heads and this seemed to slow it down
even
> more, but it would still use some.  Then I was going to a VW show and the
> red blinking light came on.  Coolant was pouring out of the front of the
van
> near the spare tire carrier.  The plastic pipes have a metal piece bonded
> into the end, and this had separated from the pipe on that end.  At the
time
> I was on the road so I just pushed the metal piece back up inside the pipe
> as far as it would go and clamped the tar out of it with a new clamp.  It
> stopped leaking or using coolant until about a few weeks ago.  Now the
clamp
> will no longer hold and pipe replacement is required.
>
> I got my new pipes at the dealer for around $250 for the pair(ouch).  An
> interesting note is that my original pipes say "West Germany" on them and
> the new ones say "RSA" (yup South Africa!).  They seem to be made out of
the
> same material which I believe is PVC.
>
> I just had the gas tank filled and wanted to at least attempt pulling
these
> without taking down the gas tank (hey it was worth a shot).  It took some
> work reaching on top of the gas tank to cut all of the 55 tie wraps that
VW
> put on these pipes (someone's brother must own a tie wrap factory!).
> Unhooking the pipes and trying to direct the coolant flow into a container
> was a fun challenge.  I got a coolant bath for my troubles, but it almost
> felt good today in the heat :)
> I was able to pull them out from the top of the tank without dropping it.
I
> just used a pair of ramps in the front.  It would be way easier (and
> probably neater) if you had a lift.
>
> I am currently inside drying off.  After lunch I'll go back out and see if
I
> can put them back without dropping the tank.  I'll try to post the
> conclusion then.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> http://www.vanagain.com
> Phone: (856)-327-4936
> Fax: (856)-327-2242
>