[Vwdiesel] Pre-filters

[jon]

Great idea! That will prevent almost ALL fuel leakage (save for a couple 
drips). Vise grips are going in the tool "kit" today.

Really nasty dirty tank story: After one of my diesel vanagon had been 
sitting for almost a year, I finally got around to having the 1.9 put in. 
(Long story, I should have done it myself, but at that point I had more 
money than time) Well, I was driving home from the shop, and got about 5 
miles, and the van lost power and stopped. It was the familiar no fuel 
condition. So, I looked at the filer: clogged. Cleaned it again, and it 
clogged in about 1/2 mile. Cleaned, and clogged again.

So, it was time for a ride home on the tow truck.

I had to drop the fuel tank (which is not a difficult job). You would not 
BELIEVE the crud that came out of the tank when I hosed it out. Man o man, 
those algae critters were livin' it up! I used engine cleaner, high 
pressure water, and then an alcohol rinse (to remove all traces of water), 
and then baked it in the sun for a couple days. Even after all that, I had 
to clean the pre-filter every 50 or so miles. Finally, after a couple of 
months, time between pre-filter cleanings is 6 months or more.

Moral of this story: hmmm, well, add biocide to your tanks, and make sure 
they are full if you are going to let your diesel ride sit.

J

>   A pair of long nose vise grips work really nicely.  Clamp the hose shut, 
> remove the end.  Seals off the tank, no trying to plug a running hose.  :-)