Samba Member
Joined: Today
Posts: 2
Location: Los Angeles
| Posted: Today 1:18 pm Post subject: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| Hello there! Starting off by saying I know next to nothing about cars, but I've had my '84 WBX Vanagon for about a year now. It's been running great, except for this morning's saga... I started up the van after a couple of weeks of non-op and after about 5 minutes of idling I noticed a big puddle forming under the van, that smelled like gas. After shutting off the engine and poking around, I couldn't find an obvious leak. So I started her up again, and no leak! I did however notice that it looked like something was dripping on my exhaust pipe, see pic.
It's right under the final drive assembly, between the engine and trans. Judging by the discoloration on the exhaust my guess is there's been a slow leak there for a while. Has anyone experienced weird fuel leaks like mine? Does anyone know what could be dripping on my exhaust? Any and all help is welcome, and remember I know next to nothing, so talk slow | |
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Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 1974
| Posted: Today 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| You says it smells like gasoline, and there was a puddle of it. Do NOT run the van until fixed. Do not store van inside until fixed either. Fuel may leak from ... Open the access door and inspect for signs of these issues. suggest you have fire extinguisher handy when doing this. Do not run van until this is resolved. Photos of inside engine bay may help us help you. report back. good luck *** Given the location of wet exhaust, this bulkhead fitting is my first guess, they are plastic and crack, mine failed. this part can be totally eliminated with hose | |
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Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7640
Location: WA/ID
| Posted: Today 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |||||
| All of the above. Not to be an alarmist, but seeing that you joined today it's unclear if you're aware of the many Vanagon fuel lines that can leak and start a Vanagon fire that totals the car. It doesn't happen everyday but it's not at all uncommon. Your symptoms need attention. Preventative maintenance goes a long way to ensure this doesn't happen. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 Many pages of this:
_________________ - Jim
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc. Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). | |||||
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Samba Member
Joined: Today
Posts: 2
Location: Los Angeles
| Posted: Today 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| Thanks for the speedy help y'all I've been lurking on TheSamba for a while, just never needed to post anything. I am aware of the vanagons ability to catch fire, hence now needing to ask for help.
Here's the engine bay from the top. I turned on the Van to prime the pump and looked over the bulkhead, T junction, and both injector sites and didn't notice any leaks. Thanks again everyone! If my engine bay looks sh*tty in other ways let me know! Always open to learn something new. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4545
Location: Richmond VA
| Posted: Today 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| Check the bulkhead fitting on the right side of the firewall. Mine was leaking ahead of the firewall where the rubber hose forward of the fitting clamped to the plastic fuel line coming back from the fuel pump. Best seen from underneath on the passenger side. Mine dripped almost directly onto the starter. Good luck! _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic | |
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Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2641
Location: Philly, mang
| Posted: Today 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| is the puddle still there? if not, it's gasoline, if it is, it's oil or ATF. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic | |
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Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 1974
| Posted: Today 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| Some of your hose appear to be original. others are replaced, some replaced have the wrong, unsafe type clamps. all clamps must be solid bands, Not bands with holes. if bands with holes, over time the rubber extrudes thru the holes, thus loosening the clamp. the plastic bulkhead fitting can be eliminated, just run a one piece hose under the bulkhead. Use modern fuel injection hose, Use fuel injection style clamps On the fuel pressure regulator, replace the cloth wrapped vacuum hose with a high pressure fuel hose and use clamps on both ends of this vacuum hose. If the regulator diaphragm leaks, high pressure fuel will be sent through that vacuum hose to the manifold, but if that wimpy vacuum hose ( which is not rated for high pressure) were to burst, or the unclamped ends blow off, then high pressure fuel will be sprayed all over, some right on to the distributor where high voltage arcs occur!!! Some vans have totally burned down do to this failure mode. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3755
Location: Chicago
| Posted: Today 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: What's Leaking On My Exhuast? | |
| Watch your oil level- and your Automatic Transmission fluid level- you should see RED fluid on the ground under the Vanagon if its a trans leak- plus ATF cooking on the exhaust has a distinctive smell. Engine oil will also leave marks on ground. Hopefully it was never gas leaking onto the exhaust _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple.... '67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone '69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone 2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs 84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto | |
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