-- [ From: Thomas D. Hanlon * EMC.Ver #2.3 ] --

Me Gee writes about fuel leaking and inoperative odometer:

I suggest that the two items are coincidental.  I have no guess on the
odometer.

On the fuel leaking, most likely, as I have experienced recently, the vent
pipe connecting, above the gas tank, is broken at one of the junctures of
the one of the two "Y's" which feed the expansion tanks, one in each wheel
well and the expansion vent in the gas tank. The fitting is another use of
plastic by VW and it probably has dried out and failed.

You can check the condition of the pipe(s) by feeling the lines leading
into the expansion tanks (the 1/2", more or less that you mentioned) and in
to one of two places on the top of the gas tank.  Feel for a "Y" connection
into each of the expansion tanks and into the gas tank. There is a small
line and a larger line into the "Y".  If one of the "Ys" is broken, you can
replace the four-outlet pipe without removing the gas tank. It is one unit,
and the two "Y" fittings are pressure mounted to form one unit. The part at
the VW dealer is about $33.00, including grommets.  The fitting of the
grommets, I'm told, is a "pryout the olds and insert the news" FITTED ONTO
THE NEW PIPE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSERT THE NEW.  As has been written, it
is a "strong hands" job, aided by some graphite lubricant on the rubber
grommets.

Raise the vehicle in the safe manner.  Turn the wheels, first one way and
then the other, and wrestle the piping as described above, one side then
the other.

As a field expediency, before a 4,000 mile round trip from Texas - Idaho in
my '84 Westy, I "corked" the broken vent line at the "Y" on the tank top,
literally, with a cork from a salt shaker, and I used blessed duct tape to
seal off the small end of the "Y" after blocking it with an eraser from a
mechanical pencil.  

The above arrangement limits the amount of gas to be introduced in a fill-
up to about 10 gallons, but you can avoid the unsafe spill while you order
the part from the VW dealer.  I found no substitute for the part.

I have yet to install the new part.  Let me know if the technique I've
described solves the problem.

Best regards,

Tom Hanlon
Austin, TX