As far as I know, all diesel engines use some type of water separator.  The
Vanagon unit is built into the fuel filter.  Opening the valve at the bottom
allows accumulated water to drain.  I drove a Chevrolet diesel that had a
full fuel/water separator.  Every quarter mile or so, the engine would
stumble and a puff of steam would come out of the exhaust.

Mike Snow
1982 Westfalia 1.6TD
Camp Pendleton, California

>      Does the diesel Vanagon have a water seperators in there fuel
> system? Anyone know if all diesel motors need these? Our new (to us) Tow
> Truck obviously is missing this unit. I'm wondering if we need this and
> what kind of problems we are going to get into without this?
>     Diesels are new to me. Gas engines are begining to have much less
> of an appeal. This truck obviouly is getting around 18 MPG. This
> is as good as my Syncro with the drive shaft in.
>
>             Eric                   86-VW4x4
>             vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
>             Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler