In a message dated 8/5/98 8:52:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cruiseone@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< snip>>I am amazed at all the VW fires posted here! Why the fires? We can't
say the fires are due to VW design flaws; or can we?  <<snip>> Are the fires
gas / oil  or electrical in nature? Are they due to design flaws, negligence,
maintenance, lack of cleanliness, laziness or what?  <<snip>>>>

James--

Most of the fires on VW's are due to a combination of two things: a
"questionable" design, and negligence toward maintenance. In our vans
specifically, from 1972(?)-on, the motors are fuel injected. The VW FI
system/set-up makes use of cotton-braided rubber fuel lines that carry fuel
under fairly substantial pressure (about 30 psi).

These fuel lines are wrapped around your motor, laying in close proximity to
the heads. Because of their location, they are exposed to a great deal of
infra-red radiation during their duty cycle, and also endure a substantial
heat rise (to I would guess 225 degrees) for about 10 minutes every time you
turn your motor off. Many car companies (Ford, Honda and Toyota for example)
use metal fuel lines in similar areas on similar systems. Not VW.

Hose gets old and brittle, springs a leak, 30psi = nice spray all over the
motor, distributor yields a spark, POOF!

Opinions vary on how often you should replace the fuel lines. Opinions also
vary on how much life insurance you should carry, so take my recommendation
with a grain of salt. Replace your fuel lines every two years. They are really
cheap, about $25 for the whole motor. Replace any questionable clamps at the
same time, using the VW dealer type clamps, which don't chew into the hose
like the el-cheapo screw type; buy the little injector seals at the dealer,
cause now is the time to replace those, too. It will take you about 2-hours
and you will sleep better at night.

One last thing...having purchased a perfectly good VW van that had completely
toasted its motor, I think VW was STUPID for changing to a Plastic motor
cover. Duh. They metal motor cover is the only thing that stands between your
van, and a fire in the motor box. no place for plastic.

gmbulley,
cary, nc