I just coiled a bit of bailing wire around a 1/2' pipe so that it would
fit inside the hose.  Make it long enough to go end-to-end, minus the
fittings and insert it into the hose.  Voila!

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Max Wellhouse" <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: Oil dipstick pushed out of the tube

> Alan:  Thanks.  With regard to your breather hose, I had trouble
> finding oil resistant hose that's semi flexible.  I bought some
> expensive hose from Autohausaz or Bus Depot(forget which).  Sans that
> availability, I suggest that you find a flexible spring or two that
> fits inside your soft OE hose to prevent the collapsing.  I couldn't
> find a suitable spring at our local hardware store, so I found a
> piece of soft copper pipe to stick inside.  It didn't have to be  a
> snug fit in there.  Just enough to keep the airflow uninterrupted.
>
> A stop gap measure to keep the dipstick in it's place might be to put
> a slight bend in it adding resistance to it's exit.  I haven't looked
> at the Vanagon stick specifically, but didn't the old air cooled
> sticks have a second piece of metal next to the grip that could get
> spread like a cotter pin for more friction?
>
> DM&FS
>
>
>
> At 10:34 PM 10/4/2008, Allan Streib wrote:
>>This afternoon I removed the rubber tubing between the breather tower
>>and the intake.  It seemed a little soft, but I didn't have anything
>>suitable at had to replace it.
>>
>>I removed the breather tower and noted that it had been sealed to the
>>case with RTV.  I cleaned that off and made a gasket, and reinstalled it
>>after checking it for blockage and finding none.  Likewise I did not see
>>any blockage on the intake side.
>>
>>Took the van out for a drive; I had received word that gasoline was
>>$3.19 a gallon in the next town ( about 15 minutes away ) which is about
>>$0.40 less than it's selling for here.
>>
>>I noted that the radiator fan never came on (though the temperature
>>gauge was right in the normal zone for the entire drive).
>>
>>Back at home, I checked the dipstick and it was pushed out again.  I'll
>>hunt up some tubing to replace the old piece and see if it makes any
>>difference.  I'm doubtful, but seems like a reasonable next step.  I
>>also slipped a couple of fingers through the (upper) front grille and
>>the radiator was cold.  I wonder if it's half full of air?
>>
>>Allan
>>--
>>1991 Vanagon GL