Sorry to hear that ... the crap they put in California gas (which we pay a
.20� addl per gallon over the Federal formulation) called MTBE is a big
contributor to premature fuel line failures here, resulting in an inordinate
number of vehicles going up in flames. Not only kills us in the ground
water, but it roasts us too! The fact is it doesn't even help clean the air
as purported (UC Davis study), but it decreases fuel mileage -- so you have
to burn MORE to get where you're going!

----- Original Message -----
From: "gojira" <gojira@PE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 4:13 AM
Subject: CHECK YOUR FUEL LINES!

I'm a new subscriber to this list and a new Vanagon owner. Unfortunately the
Vanagon I own is a charred wreck. After owning the 1986 GL for a whole week
it met with disaster in front of my home when I started it one evening. I
heard the ignition of fumes not unlike the starting of a gas barbecue and
immediately saw smoke. Unfortunately with no hose in the immediate vicinity
I had to call the local fire department (3 blocks away). By the time they
arrived I had flames coming from the side air vents that reached several
feet above the roof of the van. Though we had insured the van just a couple
of days earlier we opted not to get the full coverage due to the relatively
small initial investment. If anyone is interested in anything forward of the
rear seat let me know. And please check your fuel lines. This van was in
amazingly good condition which led me to believe that there was no hurry to
get myself dirty by crawling underneath it. This is a serious issue with
Vanagons not just the source of a few interesting pictures you see now and
then.

Jason
Murrieta (Southern) California