Both my '84 GL 7 pass and my '85 Westy have the plastic firewall fuel union.

Mike C.

MilosKitchen wrote:
> <" 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." >
>
> Almost precisely what I did when I installed the Subaru 2.2L in my '91
> Carat. Instead, I replaced the rubber hose between the plastic tubing coming
> from the fuel pump and the steel fuel inlet fitting on the engine, sans the
> plastic fantastic intermediate fitting.
>
> The plastic fire-wall fitting disintegrated in my hands during the engine
> change while pulling the engine side hose off, and it was indeed scary.
>
> It appears as though it was originally there to facilitate a convenient
> disconnect when removing the engine. Too scary to replace, in my humble
> opinion; I'll remove the fuel hose from the engine inlet when I have to yank
> the engine.
>
> By the way, I believe this plastic fire-wall fitting being discussed is
> found only on 2.1L '86 to '91 2wd vans. The Syncro I have uses a brass union
> instead, and an '85 2wd I looked at tonight doesn't have one either, unless
> someone else had already eliminated it before hand.
>
> Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Robert Harris
> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 4:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: fuel leaks
>
> While we are on the ever scary subject of engine fires and how to avert
> them...  When I got my bus, among many other neglected items it had a fuel
> leak just behind the firewall (out of sight up over the transaxle)... it was
> making such a fine mist you could barely see it but sure could smell 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.
> (white plastic barb on the forward wall of the engine
> compartment)  Fuel line comes from the pump to the back of this fitting up
> out of sight behind the firewall, where there is a junction (not even
> clamped on my bus, just a pressure fit!!!!  a leak waiting to happen which
> indeed it did)... then inside the engine compartment another short section
> of fuel line goes from the barbed side of the fitting to the engine itself.
>
> 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.
>
> best,
> Robert Harris
> 84 Westy "Busaru"
> 5lb ABC extinguisher!
>
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