Has anyone tried using a Swagelok-brand bulkhead union to replace the
plastic connector that goes through the firewall?

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vanagon" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 5:48 PM
Subject: Re: fuel leaks

> John,
> I totally agree, eliminating the plastic firewall fitting and replacing
> with
> a continuous piece of fuel line is probably the BIGGEST thing you can do
> to
> help prevent your vanagon from catching fire.
>
> The connection of the hose from the pump to this plastic fitting is the
> MOST
> common leak in the vanagon fuel system.
>
> Doug
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Bange" <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 2:10 PM
> Subject: Re: fuel leaks
>
>
>> I suspect the plastic "firewall" pass-thru is for convenience of
>> manufacturing. Without it they'd have had to leave (at engine install
>> time) a long dangling fuel line which either needed to be cut to fit
>> whatever type engine they were putting in if attached to the body, or
>> have someone crawl underneath and string and fasten fuel line if
>> attached to the engine. The dangerous plastic fitting allowed them to
>> have a short bit of hose on the engine and plug it right there. For
>> us, with only our one Vanagon to deal with, it's just a liability. I
>> replaced mine with a plastic sleeve stuck(like on the return side)
>> through a rubber grommet, and a continuous hose going through it.
>>
>> > Turned out the leak was coming from the back side of the plastic barb
>> > fitting that takes fuel thru the firewall into the engine
>> > compartment.
>> > Anybody know what the heck this barb fitting is supposed to be good
>> > for?  Other than adding two potential leak sites to the fuel system!  I
>> > think it is like the human appendix... a useless relic of evolution,
>> > usually does no harm but if anything were to go wrong you really wish
> you'd
>> > had it OUT already.  If replacing fuel lines I would say get rid of
>> > this
>> > fitting and run a single piece of fuel line from the pump all the way
> back
>> > to the engine.
>