Hi Frank:
Your information is persuasive, but why is my '86 Wolfsburg Base Camper
rusting on the lower seam of center panel on the left side of the van?  No
fridge, or utility outlets for water leakage or condensation.  I don't know
if there is any fiberglass insulation in between the panels, though.

Cary

----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 5:04 AM
Subject: Re: fridge exhaust cover

> In a message dated 30/04/2004 12:54:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> (this is  probably why the rust
> started inside there in the first  place!)
>
> Not true !  Some water  may get into the fridge vent when washing the van
or
> in violent rains storms but  the fridge vent leads to the SEALED
combustion
> chamber and it has a drain below  the fridge door that you are supposed to
use
> to drain the combustion chamber in  the event water does get in there.
The
> rusting of the Westie side  panel is caused mostly from condensation due
the
> change in temperatures  between the inside and outside of the van.  Also
when the
> fridge is running  there is heat produce back there causing condensation.
The
> condensation is  collected and held there by the Fiberglas insulation and
> there is no drain on  the floor pan in this area.  So.......the water
produced by
> the  condensation collects in there at the floor level and rusts out the
> lower  seam.  The rust also starts around the cut outs for the services
because
> the Fiberglas is retaining moisture there and the edges of the cut outs
were
> left naked by Westfalia.  Also the horizontal box section support rib
about
> mid way on te side collects moisture because it has numerous openings  in
its
> cross section, has no rust protection and therefore rusts  heavily.
> See my _VW Vanagon Westfalia Dometic  Fridge Maintenace_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/fridge.htm)  for more information.
> Cheers,
>
> Frank  Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
> '87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
> Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
> (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  &
_CCVWC_
> (http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
> _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _Frank Condelli &  Associates_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> or  http://frankcondelli.com
>
>