Actually on my '85 California Westy the filter was
after the pump - i.e. nothing between the tank and the
pump.  I'm pretty certain this was the stock setup -
and stupid.  I will be running 2 filters from now on.

Cleaning the tank was cheaper than buying a new one -
$85 vs $200 for a new one (once you add shipping in).
Had 2 different menchanics not assured me that they
had successfully cleaned 100's of tanks I would have
just replaced it in the first place.  While I'm only
out $85 for the wasted cleaning, I have to either pay
the R& R labor for the tank again or figure out how,
where and when to do it myself.  Plus a ruined fuel
pump.  I have enough projects to do without doing some
twice - sucks!

--- Mike Rouby <mikerouby@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> The filter IS before the pump!  The fact that the
> fuel tank is in the front of the vehicle is what is
> confusing you.  The fuel goes from the front of the
> vehicle (where the tank is) thru the filter THEN to
> the pump.  The whining of the pump is because the
> fuel filter is clogged.  C'mon, you don't think
> those Germans would put a filter after the fuel pump
> do you??
>
>   It's always better to get a new tank.  It costs
> the same as cleaning your tank.  It sells on Ebay
> for appx. $169.
>
>   All the best.
>
> Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>   Greg -
>
> I agree - this never made sense to me either. Is
> there any reason why
> someone couldn't replace the filter before the pump?
> I have even hear of
> people who put a filter before and after.
>
>
> On 10/18/06, Greg Potts wrote:
> >
> > Hi Volks,
> >
> > This sort of thing is exactly why I question the
> wisdom of VW's
> > migration of the Vanagon fuel filter to place it
> BEHIND the fuel pump.
> >
> > A filter before this pump would have saved it.
> Damaging fuel
> > contaminants can indeed be smaller than the outlet
> screen on the tank.
> >
> > Happy Trails,
> >
> > Greg Potts
> > 1973/74/75/77/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> > www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
> > www.busesofthecorn.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 18-Oct-06, at 2:11 AM, Curt Newsome wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks to all who responded to my earlier post
> about
> > > my noisy fuel pump. The story is not over but
> I'm
> > > getting close.
> > >
> > > To make a long story short my fuel pump was
> noisy and
> > > eventually failed completely because it got
> plugged up
> > > with a fine rust colored silt from my just
> "cleaned"
> > > tank. While the ruined pump is apparently my
> problem
> > > (shop taking no responsibility for this), they
> have
> > > offered to re-remove the tank and send it back
> to
> > > Seatle Radiator to be re-cleaned.
> > >
> > > I'm wondering if I should just replace the tank
> - I
> > > guess I'm just skeptical of anyone's ability to
> really
> > > clean out the old one and am pretty sick of
> dealing
> > > with this. And i really don't want to ruin
> anohter
> > > fuel pump (this one was new in June!).
> > >
> > > The guy at Seattle Radiator seemed pretty
> baffled that
> > > a tank he had just cleaned could have had gunk
> in it
> > > and claimed that they had never had a problem
> before,
> > > but was more than willing to redo the work (more
> than
> > > I can say for my soon-to-be-former VW mechanic).
> Any
> > > opinion on which route to take? While it would
> be
> > > cheaper to let them re-clean, the last thing I
> want is
> > > any more trouble out of this - ever.
> > >
> > > What would you do? Any advice on backyard
> Seattle
> > > mechanics who could install a new tank
> cheerfully
> > > accepted!
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help!
> > >
> > > Curt Newsome
> > > '85 Westy
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot
> of work)
> 86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
> 85' GL (sidelined but to be resurected in the near
> future)
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr.
> We'll help. Yahoo! Small Business.
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com