At 10:57 AM 2/16/2013, Steve Williams wrote:
>the leak, so I could safely drive to the shop.  But GoWesty uses
>clamps with no adjusting screw that require a particular tool, with
>which I'm not familiar.

Ah, crimp clamps.  Very inexpensive and can be very effective if you
have the application tool.  VW used them on a number of small hoses
when building the vans.  They're not adjustable though, and I
strongly question GoWesty's justification for using them instead of
proper fuel-system screw clamps which do *not* have the flat spot
they mention in connection with regular band clamps.  I think they
used them because they're inexpensive, not because they're the best
choice.  Of course they're not inexpensive for you unless you already
have the crimping tool.

>Peninsula prefers not to have the fuel line pass through the
>firewall, even with that grommet.

I'm very much inclined to disagree with them on that one, especially
since the true firewall is farther forward under the back seat.  But
it's a good fitting, similar to the OEM metal galvanized fitting that
was used on some vehicles.  It should last forever.  And while one
could be cynical about selling you a 25-euro part instead of
nothing,  I imagine they're sincere in their belief that it's the
Right Way To Do It.

>Peninsula used screw clamps, and I notice they arranged the clamps so
>the heads of the screws face up, making it easier to tighten or
>remove them when the time comes.  I trust GoWesty, who eschew screw
>clamps, but I trust Peninsula, too.  I'd welcome your thoughts on this.

If you go to www.vanagain.com and search for p/n Fuel1, you'll see
the type of special screw clamp that's designed for high-pressure
fuel injection use.

As to positioning, anyone who installs a hose clamp should be
thoughtful about later access for adjustment, removal or
whatever.  Sometimes that's easy and obvious, and sometimes it leads
to some very odd-looking orientation.

>Certainly the manifolds can be damaged, but I haven't read anywhere
>that they fail solely due to age.  In this case, Peninsula says the
>hoses were leaking.

In the Salt Zone(TM) the clamp rings holding the cap onto the rest of
the fuel rail corrode and burst, at which point the cap jumps off
leaving the end of the rail completely open.

Yours,
David