Hi Chris:

I ordered my tank from California Import Parts. Most vendors seem to
sell two types of tanks, the 68 mm opening and the
48 mm opening. I measured my old tank and it was approximately 68 mm,
though according to ETKA, it is a different part number than what I
ordered.

The difference in size between the new tank and the old tank is about 1
mm and this allows the grommet to move around more than on the old tank.
I am not sure if this is just sloppy manufacture on the tank or the
grommet (though the grommet was supposed to be from VW). Anyway I am not
sure if it will seal as well as on the original equipment. I was
wondering if anyone else had this problem? I will test later tonight
with some water to verify before I install the new tank. I was just
wondering if anyone had used a sealer on the main grommet (per
Bentleys).

As an aside there are three grommets are available for the different
tanks. The 251-201-139 (nominally 68 mm OD, and 58 mm ID) for use with
58 mm OD metal fill tubes, the 251-201-139A, 48 mm filler neck seal for
the plastic fill tubes, and the 251-201-139B (68 mm OD and 48 mm ID) in
case you are mixing old tank and new tube. It seems that only the one I
ordered will work.

--Jeff

80 Westy Pokey wrote:

> Jeff are you sure you got the right tank? I too ordered a
> replacement tank for an earlier van but I was told (after it
> was shipped) that the old tanks were not made any more. I
> went to the tater filler neck on the new tank and that fixed
> everything.
>
> Now, for the life of me I can't rember if the newer tanks
> had larger or smaller openings... but it SOUNDS like the
> same problem.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 01:51:17 -0400
> >From: Jeff Strickrott <jstric01@CS.FIU.EDU>
> >Subject: 82 Vanagon Gas Tank Seal/Installation Question
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> >Hi All:
> >
> >I just received the 68 mm opening replacement gas tank for
> my 82
> >Vanagon. This tank is designed for the 68 mm fuel filler
> grommet for use
> >with the 58 mm fuel filler tube. I noticed that the new
> rubber grommet
> >(VW part # 251-201-139) does not fit as tightly in the
> nominally 68 mm
> >fuel tank opening as it does on the old tank. The metal
> fuel filler
> >tube, when fitted into the new grommet on the new tank,
> seems to have
> >more play and does not appear that it will seal
> completely.  I measured
> >the new tank opening with a pair of calipers and it is 69.6
> mm as
> >compared to the old tank at 68.2 mm. Thus the new tank
> allows the
> >grommet to move more and hence does not appear to fit as
> tightly around
> >the fuel filler tube.
> >
> >Anyone know what type of sealant I could use that will stay
> flexible to
> >ensure that the tank does not leak around the grommet?
> >Bentleys also indicates that the grommets on the gas and
> vent tanks
> >should be "sealed if necessary". Anyone know what VW
> originally used?
> >
> >When I pulled the caps to the vent tanks, I noticed a tar
> like substance
> >around the cap, presumably sealing it. Reminded me of some
> of the
> >roofing tar that they use under shingles. Any idea if this
> is what was
> >originally used?
> >
> >Thanks for the help in advance.
> >
> >Regards,
> >--Jeff Strickrott
> >82 Westy, South Florida