Mike --

What a sad story.

Unfortunately, it's not at all uncommon.  I have an '81 Westy, my
fuel lines were beginning to weep something like 5 years ago.  I
replaced 'em all.  Probably should do it again, since I used the VW
cloth-covered hose, and apparently there is better hose out there.

Lots of folks on this list have lost their vans to fire.  As tragedies
go, it's nice that usually no-one seems to get hurt, but still...
must come as quite a blow.

        Gary

On Mon, 21 Sep 1998, Mike Jones wrote:
> List -
> I was the proud owner of an 81 air-cooled Westy - for about 8 hours.  It
> caught on fire on its maiden voyage and was destoyed. We had a fire expert
> look at it, and he says it was probably a fuel injection hose failure,
> although I'm not sure he knows VWs well.  Can someone tell me:
> 1.  Are engine fires in Westy's common? If so, is there any database or source
> of info regarding causes, etc.
> 2. Are there known problems with fuel system hoses, components?
> 3. I've heard that there also may be known probs with the fuel supply lines
> and fuel tank. Thanks ... and don't leave home without your fire extinquisher.
> Mike J.
>

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Shea                                       shea@xmission.com
Salt Lake City                      http://www.xmission.com/~shea