Steve wrote: "One concern I have with replacing fuel lines is that it may
create a hazard where none presently exists...if it is not done right."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'm not ragging on Steve, he has a legitimate concern. Like anything in
life, and on your van, if you aren't conscientious, you will reap a foul
harvest from your carelessness.

This leaking fuel line thing is hard for some folks to appreciate...I know,
you are thinking, "how bad can a little fuel leak be???" Allow me to paint
a little word picture, for those of you who have never seen this Bosch
D-Jetronic/L-Jetronic Fuel Injection "leak" thing in action. I have...twice
(three times if you count the 1976 I watched catch fire and burn...).

Imagine you are working in the garden, and you fit the hose up to the
spigot securely, then turn it on to water some plants. On the end of the
hose, you have fitted a trigger-type nozzle, which snaps closed, shutting
off flow when actively squeezed, you know the type I mean.

We have all experienced the annoying out-spray that can happen when one of
the washers becomes old and compressed, either on the nozzle end, or on the
hose connection. You are watering your philodendrons, you let loose of the
trigger-grip on the nozzle, and within seconds, thin steams of water are
shooting out a few feet from the fitting, a fine mist of water spraying
everywhere.

I am not exaggerating one bit when I tell you that is EXACTLY what this
fuel leak looks like. It isn't pretty.

Your fuel lines run at about 30 psi. When you turn off your motor, the
residual heat of the motor bakes them. They go through hundreds of
temperature shifts (freeze/thaw/bake/freeze) each year. Chemicals in the
air break them down.

The nice part is, they are cheap (<$45 for line and clamps), and they are a
breeze to replace. You will need a screwdriver, an X-Acto knife, and 1
hour, 30 minutes. Some may post a "special technique". I just disconnect
the batteries, clamp off the main hoses at the tank (Replace those last) at
work my way clockwise around the motor.

Keep your leaky garden hose, if you like, but don't let your Vanagon catch
fire and go to be with Jesus and the little lambs and harps and clouds.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Steve [SMTP:sxs@concentric.net]
Sent:   Thursday, April 22, 1999 3:02 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: fuel lines replacing

One <<SNIP>>