since oil travels through that breather hose..
oil fumes ..
sure you could use heater hose , but it will deteriorate slowly, on the
inside.

See if you can get evap/fuel hose in that size.
Sometimes you can.
I have seen a coil spring inside  some of those breather hoses..
to keep them from collapsing.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: Need hoses, dont know what they are called, help needed

> At 07:39 PM 6/24/2011, David M wrote:
>>Mechanic who worked on my van noticed two deteriorated hoses in
>>engine compartment going between crank case breather and in boot of
>>air flow meter. One is kind of horse-shoe shaped, the other is about
>>4 inches long and a regular round hose. They join in the middle by a
>>metal fitting.
>
> Use heater hose.  Measure the little heater in the middle of the hose for
> size.
>
> VW p/n is N 900 725 01, buy it by the foot.  They say 18x3.5 mm.
>
> Yours,
> David