[sevensor]

One of the more memorable experiences of my youth was watching a VW microbus burn. It had been stored over the winter and evidently the fuel line had either deteriorated or been chewed on by an animal. After idling for a few minutes it went spectacularly up in flames. The firefighters weren’t expecting magnesium and were quite surprised by the intensity of the fire and the bright white flames from the puddles of molten metal.

[incanus77]

This is a common problem with rear-engine VWs if the fuel lines aren’t maintained. Fuel pumping through rubber hoses directly over hot exhaust is a recipe for disaster. It’s generally recommended now to replace the lines at least every ten years. You don’t see them wearing as they do so from the inside. Things can even start up after sitting for a while after driving since the exhaust is still hot and there is pressure in the lines.

[alnwlsn]

On the '65 beetle we have, I always heard that the main culprit wasn't the fuel lines themselves, but the brass flange for the fuel hose being a (not great) press-fit into the zinc carburetor. And that's after the fuel pump, so if that flange comes out the loose end of the hose sprays gasoline all over the engine. It's not uncommon to tie that end of the hose on with some safety wire, just in case.

[incanus77]

Makes sense. I'm talking mostly from the perspective of fuel injected Vanagons. Connections generally seem good; it's usually the hoses.

[sevensor]

If only we'd known! This was decades ago, before the internet, and perhaps the word had not yet got around. I loved that Microbus.