My '85 (Cal) has only the metal can.  First pump went out after around 250K
(I've had it since it was a pup).

BTW, Scott, sorry we missed you on our trip - no time northbound and a sick
wife southbound.  Next time.

Karl Wolz

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
|Scott Daniel - Turbovans
|Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 3:31 PM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Re: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|Then one wonders why VW thought it adequate on 86 and later vans to have
|only the large downstream filter.
|I don't regard the pumps as delicate or very vulnerable to anything coming
|from the tank.
|They seem to be able to endure  almost anything, more or less.
|
|  ----- Original Message -----
|  From: John Rodgers
|  To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans
|  Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|  Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 2:48 PM
|  Subject: Re: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|
|  I have that little square strainer on all three of my vans - two 88 GLs
|and one Carat. Dunno who put them there, but there they are, and I'm glad
|of it.
|
|  But I think you have missed the point(s) (1) The strainer is to PROTECT
|THE FUEL PUMP from the large particles of crude  that could damage the
|internal components of the pump. (2) The can type filter is there to
|PROTECT the fuel injectors by taking out the very fine stuff that could get
|caught in the  nozzles of the injectors. Having a larger can filter
|downstream of the pump gains  no advantage in protecting the pump. Only
|something upstream would do that - whether a screen in the tank or a
|strainer before the pump. Unless it is known for certain there is a screen
|n the tank, I certainly would opt for the small strainer in front of the
|pump. Good insurance.
|
|  John
|
|John Rodgers
|Clayartist and Moldmaker
|88'GL VW Bus Driver
|Chelsea, AL
|Http://www.moldhaus.com
|  On 10/6/2010 4:06 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
|    re
|    "Both are lifetime filters and do not require replacement under normal
|    circumstances."
|
|    That's  totally silly, I hope you don't believe that for a second.
|
|    I would say this book does not match vanagons exactly.
|    it's a 'digifant' manual.
|    Digifant Vanagons  ( 2.1 wbxr engine ) use one 'large silver can fuel
|    filter' downstream of the fuel pump.
|    that's all they have ..
|    unless you count  some sort of strainer or screen that is likely in the
|fuel
|    tank.
|
|    the 'small square filter' as we know is used on DigiJET Vanagons with
|1.9
|    engine ..
|    and it's before the fuel pump, and it's the only fuel filter on those
|vans
|    ( it's always better to eliminate that small filter and put the larger
|metal
|    can filter on those vans, downstream of the fuel pump )..
|    And it is a filter for sure, not a strainer.
|
|    I never take Manuals like this as Pure Gospel ..
|    They are very much in the ball park about most things ..
|    but they are more 'system' related, rather than specific vehicle
|related,.
|
|    I regard them as an overview to find out how the system they cover
|works. .
|    and not so much for vehicle specific  details.
|
|    Scott
|    www.turbovans.com
|
|
|    ----- Original Message -----
|    From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
|    To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
|    Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 1:26 PM
|    Subject: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|
|
|       In working with my two vans that were stored for 10 years, I have
|had
|      to deal with many issues. One was getting the fuel delivery system
|      working again. This included opening it up, and flushing all the old
|      fuel and junk from it. The injectors were frozen and would not work,
|so
|      had to send them out for servicing. They work fine now. And the fuel
|      pump on my Carat was seized so that had to be dealt with. By removing
|      the pump, and spraying carburetor cleaner into it and allowing it to
|sit
|      over night, then repeating the process, the pump freed up and now
|works
|      just fine.Then there was the issue of the fuel filters.
|
|      In as much as I'm having idling problems, I got out the Digifant Fuel
|      Injection System manual to study. I found interesting remarks
|concerning
|      the fuel filters. In as much as there has been a good bit of talk on
|      this list about the large filter after the pump, and the small filter
|in
|      front of the pump - here is what the book has to say about them.
|
|      ************************
|
|      *Fuel Filters*
|
|      Two types of filters are used on the Digifant system.
|
|      One is a square _*plastic fuel  strainer*_ which is mounted before
|the
|      fuel pump *_to __protect the pump_* from foreign particles.
|
|      The *_main fuel filter_* is a metal cylinder which mounts behind the
|      fuel pump. *_It has a finer filtering mesh to protect the fuel
|injection
|      components._*
|
|      Both are lifetime filters and do not require replacement under normal
|      circumstances.
|
|      *********************
|
|      Of interest to me is the different function of the two filters - the
|      first to protect the pump. the second to protect the FI components,
|ie,
|      the injectors.
|
|      I note that one is  a fuel STRAINER, while the other is a fuel
|FILTER.
|      Quite a different between a strainer and a filter.
|
|      I have read that the square strainer  can be left out, but after
|reading
|      this - I would not. Each filter/strainer serves a different and
|distinct
|      purpose and therefore both need to be in the fuel system..
|
|      Just my $0.02.
|
|      John
|
|      --
|      John Rodgers
|      Clayartist and Moldmaker
|      88'GL VW Bus Driver
|      Chelsea, AL
|      Http://www.moldhaus.com