In a message dated 11/10/2009 10:25:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        My take on this situation  is that VW at some point in time started
fitting that small box plastic filter  between the tank and pump to protect
the pump.  Then they had problems  with fuel pumps burning up under
warranty because the filters were not  changed out when needed so they required the
dealers to remove  all those filters.  Not really sure if that's all true
but that's what  I have been able to discern.  I use them on my van, ALWAYS,
and change it  once a year.  It's good to look and see what's been trapped
in  there.  Better yet if you can find them in clear plastic so a glance can
tell you what's going on.  ALL the ones I get in here from my supplier  are
opaque white plastic.  Also, because of my extensive driving in Mexico
with unsure gas quality, actually it's been quite good in recent years, to keep
 from destroying my pump from dirty fuel.  Small plastic filter between
tank  and pump protects the expensive pump, large can filter between pump and
injectors protects the expensive injectors.  Change them both yearly and
check inside to see what's been trapped to be safe and secure on your  travels.

>>>>>I was just wondering why they stopped using  them in later vans.
Is there a reason why I can't keep running with my  filter as adapter?  Do
they cause any problems?  It seems to me  that filtering the fuel before the
pump is a good  thing.<<<<<<<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)  -
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/)  a VW Camper  camping event,
Almonte, ON, June 11 ~ 14,  2009