Is this a standard hose setup ?

[Jones]

Hi everyone I've been reading the forum for a while but this is my first post as I now have a camper

Its a 1985 American import Westfalia at some point its had its original 1900cc engine changed for a 2100cc watercooled engine and also been converted to run on LPG.

Its going in for a service on Friday and I also want him to change a hose thats looking a bit ropey, the trouble is the mechanic has said that the hose configuration is different to the U.K ones he's seen

He's going to take the hose off try and clean it up and look for a part number but I'm getting a little worried as I'm now having visions of him phoning me to say he's knackered the old hose getting it off and can't get another anywhere

So can any of you experts take a look at this pic and tell me if it looks like a standard setup I've put an arrow to the hose in question, its the one below the belt and it joins to the expansion tank.

If it isn't a standard hose what are my options ?


Thanks in advance
Steve

[Ye Olde Syncrospares]

the fat hose next to the air con pump is not right,it looks like you have a early systym with some later bits added on,the expansion tank is in the wrong place,without seeing it in the flesh its hard to say,theres a metal pipe missing on the left with a switch in it,cheers cj.

[Jones]

the fat hose next to the air con pump is not right,it looks like you have a early systym with some later bits added on,the expansion tank is in the wrong place,without seeing it in the flesh its hard to say,theres a metal pipe missing on the left with a switch in it,cheers cj.

Thanks cj, whats the missing metal pipe for ? is it anything important

It runs and drives really nicely but I'm starting to regret buying it now as I can see it being a nightmare trying to get parts for it

Cheers
Steve

[Aidan]

It's a hybid early system modded to work with later engine by the looks of it. Does it have an oil cooler between the block and the filter?
...if the hose you want replacing is equal diameter at each end then it won't be a problem to find a replacement - it's only the wierd funny shaped and sized pipes that need replacing pretty much like for like and some of those are now obsolete (or expensive).

[Simon Baxter]

...theres a metal pipe missing on the left with a switch in it,cheers cj.

There won't be a switch as it's a injection engine, the switch you speak of is for the relay of the manifold heater, for a carb.

Also, we never got any Pre '86 injection engines, so that set up may be correct for the US market.

'86 on we got the different waterpump and cooling system, thats an early system but injection, we only got carbs before '86.

You need a copy of the US ETKA as it is different to ours.

[Simon Baxter]

What engine code was your original engine?
ETKA lists 3 different metal hoses for the one across the top of the engine confirming my suspicions.
I've never seen one to be honest

[skell]

The pipe you have arrowed looks quite similar to the equivalent pipe on the UK models with the early cooling system. If you measure the outside diameter of the metal pipe it connects to, the diameter of the bit at the other end (not visible but I think a plastic joint en-route to the expansion tank), and let me know the approx length I could give you a good guess as to whether the UK part will fit. I got part about 5 months ago either from VW, but they have already deleted a number of the hoses for the early cooling system.
If not a good source of bits and bobs for cobbling something is Car Builder Solutions:

http://www.nfauto.co.uk/cbs_products_new.htm

[andylen]

ANDY IN GARAGE HERE.
HAVE PRINTED THE DIAGRAM OFF ETOS AND THINK HAVE FOUND THE HOSE BUT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND NO PART NUMBER FOR IT EITHER, SEE YOU IN THE MORNING TO DISCUS THIS PIPE AS ANDYVAN MAY HAVE ONE.