My mate just txted to say there's a van on fire on the A27! Hopefully no one on here! Check your fuel lines regularly people!!
Does anyone know what courses these fires as you don't hear of many in other cars or even beetles we all say its the fuel hoses/fuel filter in engine bay but does any one have hard facts.
Ethanol proof hose: http://www.advancedfluidsolutions.co.uk/55mm-id-100-bio-fuel-hose-diesel--petrol-2015-p.asp Pretty sure this is the stuff - 5.5mm is just under the 6mm diameter of the standard hose. Or this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260780661987&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2143wt_1219 Rude not to!
If not the hose itself, another common problem with old Pict carbs is the brass pipe you fit the fuel hose too can be loose in the carb. I'm naughty here - I had a bus like this and when it came out as I tried to pull the fuel hose off I merely jammed it back in. Later I replaced the carb, but I drove about for a fair old while without giving it another thought... As said, it's almost impossible to be 100% what happened unless you put it out quick and save your bus.
Zed speaks the truth. Worth giving the brass carb union a good tug to see if it's worked loose. I don't think it's true to say it's only busses. I believe type 3s (square back/notchback) VWs suffered from the same, and I'm sure Beetles as well. Reasons I'd say come down to the fuel pipes - nothing very special about the wiring in a bus. The fuel hoses under the bus aren't partic accessible to inspect, and design's not particularly brilliant. As mentioned elsewhere, the fuel tank's higher than the engine, which it isn't on most cars. Noone really expected the busses still to be in use after 30 - 40 years, and virtually will be campers. So...you've got vehicles in regular use still with 70s fuel hose, which'll degrade and certainly isn't up to modern fuels. You've also got camper owners who (no offence) wouldn't think to check them. They'll also have likely had engine changes over the years, with fuel fuel line bodges. I've seen some busses where giving the hoses a good massage would've made them crumble. It's scary. But...change 'em (£30 and two hours work) and they'll be good as new. If sorted, I can't why they'd be more prone to fires than any other vehicle.
