Keith, I had this same problem in my 87 Westy. Turned out to be a cracked
plastic crossover vent tube on top of the tank. A pain to replace and
expensive at the dealer. I drained the tank, removed bolts holding it at the
rear and could barely reach up to the tube. Ended up using fuel proof epoxy
to repair! Best of luck , Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Keith Olsen
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 7:42 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Filled gas tank leaking a common prob?
>
>
> If this has been addressed before I'm sorry, but this is my 1st
> water cooled
> van and I noticed this problem before on another van and I'm
> wondering if its
> a common thing.  When the fuel tank is filled to the point where
> the automatic
> gas station pump clicks off, I get a fuel tank leak.  It doesn't do it for
> long but I really hate the fact that  I'm contaminating the
> ground with fuel
> and stinking up the cabin with flammable fumes.  At first I
> thought it was the
> over-zealous pump jockey who tried to top off the tank beyond
> capacity. (the
> first time it happened) But I pumped it myself the second time
> and as soon as
> it clicked off the dripping started as before.  I've been careful
> ever since
> (I'm only on my 5th tankful) to do a rough calculation of my mpg
> and not fill
> it to capacity.  I noticed this problem once before when I helped
> a damsel in
> distress by pushing her (and her 84  westy auto) two blocks through the
> streets of Queens NY to a gas station where she promptly filled
> it to capacity
> and had the exact same leak as I have now.  She said the westy was her
> husband's and she never got to drive it so she was quite startled
> by the leak
> but she thanked me and headed off.   So, any ideas of where to
> check first?
> It seems to be concentrated more behind the drivers seat than the
> passengers
> so I am doubting the failure the junction between the filler pipe and the
> tank.
> Also, what do Vanagon Bently manuals for my 87 go for at the
> dealer?  I just
> missed out on the second one I was bidding on on E-bay.
> Thanks
> Keith Olsen
> VintagePkr@aol.com
> 1987 Wolfsburg Auto Vanagon
> 1985 Golf Diesel
> 1980 Rabbit Diesel P/U  (for sale cheap)
> 1979 Champagne Ed. partial Westy conversion Bus (for sale)
> 1978 partz bus (fs with the 79)
> 1993 Saturn SL (wife's car)
>
> 1978 Partz Bus (also FS)
>