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Subject:Re: Does this look like a fuel leak?
From:Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski
Date:Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:28:41 -0600

On Jan 31, 2013, at 12:36 PM, Don Hanson wrote:

>  When you do replace the fuel supply components of your van...be
> careful to anticipate where the hoses and fittings will actually lie and
> how they'll fare against various hard parts of the chassis and against
> other things.   Rubbing or continuous flexing will eventually lead to
> leaks, and a pressurized gas leak is dangerous as hell.

Don makes a really good point that I think gets overlooked regarding fuel lines. The standard routing of the fuel lines in a WBX runs the hose over some serious chaffing points. I have always been quite proactive about replacing fuel lines, thankfully, since after one such change I noticed the hose was nearly worn through! Now, I use the same method Don explains about wrapping fuel lines in heater hose at any point there's possible abrasion, although I use zip ties to hold the heater hose in place instead of clamps:

> 
> When I did my lines (after a close call with squirting gas and the
> exhaust manifold) I used some heater hose that I split lengthwise, slipping
> that over the fuel new fuel lines anywhere I used a zip tie,  or wherever
> the fuel line was in close proximity to anything else that could abrade
> it.   I also used normal hose clamps and re-tightened them carefully after
> about a week of driving with the new hoses.

I do this now even with my Bostig conversion. 

-Jarrett