Where did you get your grommets from?  Wondering why they seemed more substantial. 

        Eric Caron 

> On Jun 30, 2023, at 12:23 AM, Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Progress report:
> -The vent lines, 2 to each of the two vapour tanks, were rotten
> -grommet/seal in the top of the two vapour tanks had rotted right in half,
> with the bottom half having fallen into the tanks
> -fuel gauge o-ring was leaking
> -three grommets in the top of the tank and the main filler tube grommet all
> seemed ok, but when compared with new grommets, I could see that the fit of
> the 10 year old grommets had been a bit sloppy; AND ALSO the new grommets
> seem to be heavier and more substantial..
> 
> WRONG!
> I thought I needed to tip the tank towards the pump in order to get the
> last drop out of the tank.  WRONG.  The supply pipe and return pipe are
> both visible through the tank openings -- these pipes continue inside the
> tank and draw and return to and from the bottom-most, central part of the
> tank.  Seems to me that you only need to keep the tank horizontal to get
> the most out of your tank.
> 
> Additionally baffles are visible inside the tank.  Are these baffles
> arranged to assist with gas mixing, settling, or preventing slosh?  (Slosh
> might have an upsetting effect on the vehicle stability during enthusiastic
> cornering?)
> 
> Drove the van around the block -- no more gassy smell in the driveway!
> Yay!!!
> 
> cheers,
> gabby
> 86 wbx
> 
> 
> On Tue, May 30, 2023 at 5:22 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> Water can get into the fuel supply from a number of sources. While not
>> common these days you can also get contaminated fuel from a station.
>> Even without known leaks it happens that water will condense in the fuel
>> tank during storage. As temperature change whenever the air is warmer than
>> the tank or the fuel in it there can be condensation. I have had gearboxes
>> stored indoors get filled with water during winters.
>> 
>> From the failure point of view the crossover tubes at the top of the tank
>> are a common failure. There is also the expansion tanks and vent lines in
>> the wheel wells. There is also the inlet valve near the air filter the
>> connections to the carbon canister. While rarely done having the system
>> inspected and tested once a year or so is good insurance.
>> 
>> Now for the bad. Water and the resulting rust is bad for many parts of the
>> injection system and can also damage the engine. After purging it out
>> enough to get you running some "Drygas" will help to keep it in suspension
>> util it all gets burned out. The fuel filter will try to catch some of it
>> so change that often. If you see signes of rust yu have had a problem for
>> some time.
>> 
>> And this event is one where you would appreciate a Syncro. There is a
>> filter inside the tank that is replaceable.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric
>> Caron
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 4:59 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Water in the Gas Tank
>> 
>> If you don’t remember when this was last done it probably needs to be
>> done!
>> 
>> If you have long arms and a positive attitude you can likely do it without
>> dropping the tank fully if at all.  I would leave the sender alone as it is
>> the least likely problem.  You can inspect the grommets and find the
>> problem.
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 
>> 
>>> On May 30, 2023, at 2:22 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>> 
>>>       Another likely suspect is the Hole in the top of 1 or Both of the
>> Fuel Evap’
>>> 
>>> Expansion Tanks which are located in the Wheel Wells directly below
>>> the Driver
>>> 
>>> & Pass’ Seats,,, There is a  Grommet around a Breather Valve in the
>>> top of each
>>> 
>>> tank which can & does go bad & disappear allowing water flung by the
>>> tires to be
>>> 
>>> introduced into the Fuel Syst’ ~
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 30 May , 2023, at 11:24 AM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> The water enters the gas tank probably from one of those 4
>>>> holes/ports you see here. A new fuel tank or a reseal kit.
>>>> 
>>>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgowe
>>>> sty.com%2Fproducts%2Ffuel-tank&data=05%7C01%7C%7C5d28697c5c64487b0e93
>>>> 08db6150cdd1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C63821077193
>>>> 1246047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiL
>>>> CJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=N7MAhnH6vNu74PRRs
>>>> JoJkxidLwhFFgtgvU535LVVZBs%3D&reserved=0
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Tue, May 30, 2023 at 10:00 AM Gabriel Hourtouat
>>>> <ghourtouat@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Hi friends, it seems like ages since I have had anything to add.
>>>>> Glad to be back:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I had to drain water out of my gas tank after lurching, coughing and
>>>>> sagging onto a campsite this past weekend.  Not sure how the water
>>>>> got in there -- gas tank sender?  It had been raining.  Pointers on
>>>>> where to look for the point of ingress would be appreciated.  I
>>>>> assumed that the water would be on th bottom of the tank so I purged
>>>>> according to the method I describe below.  My trip home was
>>>>> uneventful so I initially assumed that my purge was successful since
>>>>> I had continued to purge off the bottom of the tank until the gas
>>>>> looked clear and clean.  HOWEVER, thinking back: the crud that came
>>>>> out of my tank (and fuel line) separated into two phases in my
>>>>> inspection bowl.  What is troubling me now, is that the bottom
>>>>> liquid was clear, and the TOP looked like an emulsion.  So if the
>>>>> emulsion was floating on top of the gas in my inspection bowl, should
>> it not have also been floating on top of the gas in the tank?  Harumph.
>>>>> 
>>>>> For reference in case it's handy for anyone else:
>>>>> -An effective draining/purging of the gas tank; -take precautions to
>>>>> NOT CATCH FIRE OR BLOW UP.
>>>>> -front right tire elevated 4.5" onto three 2x6" board thicknesses
>>>>> -front left tire elevated to near max height of the vehicle jack
>>>>> which was also elevated about 1.5" off the ground -use fuel hose
>>>>> clamps to control fuel flow***.  Allow zero leaks.
>>>>> -disconnect hose to the prefilter and catch the gas and crud into a
>>>>> suitable inspection vessel such as a (CLEAN!) clear disposable food
>>>>> container -drain small batches (half litre) at a time so you can
>>>>> inspect frequently and get a good feeling of when the fuel in your
>>>>> tank is good.  Pour the purged fuel into a suitably rated fuel can
>>>>> for later disposal (alternately, you can just drain large amounts
>>>>> directly into a fuel can?) -give the prefilter a shake and rinse it
>>>>> in some of that convenient clean fuel since it's almost off anyways,
>>>>> reconnect -disconnect the fuel return line from the other side of
>>>>> the fuel tank (I took the rigid tube out of the flexible hose) -run
>>>>> the engine while catching the crud that you are purging out of the
>>>>> fuel supply loop into your inspection vessel or fuel can -reconnect
>>>>> the return line -run engine and inspect for leaks. DOUBLE CHECK.
>>>>> 
>>>>> ***I keep two fuel line hose clamps (orange plastic/nylon
>>>>> pliers-style clamps made for closing off hoses) in my driver's side
>>>>> door pocket for emergency closing of fuel or coolant hoses.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Purging the fuel line was worth the trouble because that's where the
>>>>> ugliest stuff was hiding.
>>>>> 
>>>>> gabby
>>>>> 86 waterboxer westy
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 8:49 PM Tom C <thomas.casal@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Oh yea I changed all the fuel lines including the plastic got rid
>>>>>> of the firewall failure point etc… I resealed the tank also this
>>>>>> was all about 6 years ago. Tank reseal just failed last week not
>>>>>> sure where yet have to burn off fuel so I can drop the tank. I’m
>>>>>> guessing the rubber o ring for the fuel sender failed.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 8:31 PM Chris Cary <chriscary48@yahoo.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I might’ve missed it. But did you do the lines that go to the two
>>>>> little
>>>>>>> plastic tanks that are inside front wheel wells?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>>>>>>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F
>>>>>>> overview.mail.yahoo.com%2F%3F.src%3DiOS&data=05%7C01%7C%7C5d28697c
>>>>>>> 5c64487b0e9308db6150cdd1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C
>>>>>>> 0%7C638210771931246047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDA
>>>>>>> iLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
>>>>>>> ata=lmywuny%2FLygFPY%2F0g8DdTaxmyIbY1gElZhQwqWFbXeg%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Saturday, December 11, 2021, 4:51 PM, Tom C
>>>>>>> <thomas.casal@GMAIL.COM
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Thanks fellas. Sucks when the fuel tank reseal fails after 5, 6
>> years.
>>>>> I
>>>>>>> have to start looking into higher quality rubber seals especially
>>>>>>> that rubber o ring around the fuel sender. I have a feeling that’s
>>>>>>> where
>>>>> it’s
>>>>>>> leaking.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>