Fuel Injection Vacuum Hoses by Richard Atwell (c) Copyright 2003-2007

There doesn't seem to be a comprehensive source for vacuum hose diagrams. Bentley, Haynes and others are sketchy, the parts fiche gif images are grainy and have too much detail and mainly verbal descriptions exist in the Type 2 archives and at Bus Boys. I've compiled this information from personal measurements, ETKA and other sources.

Most images are from my Federal 1978 GE engine. I will document the differences for all models (charcoal canisters, egr, distributors) as I obtain the images and perform some image enhancement to hilight the hoses.

Click on the images to enlarge them.

• Master View
• Close ups
• Charcoal Canister
• FI Model Variations
• Air-cooled Vanagon
• Vacuum Diagrams

Master View:

Legend:

All measurements were taken with digital dial calipers rounded for best fit.

Notes:

1. * - Although VW says 3.5mm hose fits O, Q and T I think 4.5mm hose is a better fit especially at the pressure regulator. My bus has seen 18" of vacuum 236 ft. above sea level so I think it worked out.

Close ups:

Charcoal Canister:

General principle: the fan blows air through the canister from the bottom hose. The top hose is how the trapped fumes get blown to the intake. The small breather hose feeds the gastank fumes to the canister.

1980-1983 (mounted in rear passenger wheel well):

• Big hose top - goes to air filter box above EEC valve
• Small hose top - goes to fuel tank breather lines which lead to gas tank
• Big hose bottom - goes to hole on tin just behind alternator

1978-1979 (mounted behind battery):

• Big hose top - goes to air filter box above EEC valve (U)
• Small hose top - goes to fuel tank breather lines which lead to gas tank (YZ)
• Big hose bottom - goes to hole on tin just behind alternator (not shown)

1974-1977 (mounted on firewall):

• Big hose right - oil bath goes to air filter (not shown)
• Small hose right - goes to fuel tank breather lines which lead to gas tank (not shown)
• Big hose left - goes to hole on tin just behind ignition coil (not shown)

1972-1973 (mounted before booster fan):

• Big hose right - goes to air filter box above EEC valve
• Small hose right - goes to fuel tank breather lines which lead to gas tank
• Big hose left - goes to hole on tin just behind ignition coil

Note: 1972-1977 system which pickup the fan output from the right side tin, use an adapter on top of the fan housing when an a/c compressor is installed.

1970-1971 (mounted above battery):

• Big hose rear - goes to fan housing
• Small hose front - goes to fuel tank breather lines which lead to gas tank
• Big hose front - goes to air cleaner

Note: some 1970 models do not have the charcoal canister. It's likely that only CA models did in this year.

FI Model Variations:

The L-jetronic system on busses is largely uniform. It was introduced with the 1975 model (Automatic CA 1974 model in small numbers actually starting with VIN 214 2 132 408) and there were major changes half way through 1976 starting with VIN 226 2077 584. These are some of the details.

	Early models and some 79 models had a dual vacuum dual advance (DVDA) distributor. The retard hose on the back connected to the manifold vacuum system. The advance vacuum connected to the throttle body and EEC valve on the air cleaner same as with the other models.
	Instead of a 3-way tee for manifold vacuum, there is a 4-way tee on early FI models. The fourth hose leads to the EGR valve. The manifold port is also relocated to the left side of the plenum just behind the cold start valve.
	The early EGR valve has a vacuum hose for activation and an electrical connection which means the early FI system has a special harness in addition to it having a 6-pin AFM plug instead of 7-pin. The electrical connection leads to a microswitch on the throttle body which closes the valve at idle and WOT.
	Another difference in the early setup is that the EGR pipe from the EGR valve connects directly to the throttle body instead of the left side of the plenum. This is really hard to reach in this location.

Air-cooled Vanagon:

If you are thinking about swapping a Vanagon engine into your bus (especially if you have carbs) keep in mind that some of the hoses aren't the same length or in the same position. Use this diagram to help make best use of them and to figure out which baywindow hoses you'll still require:

Vacuum Diagrams:

79 CA model (maybe others) had a vacuum diagram on the inside of the engine lid beside the timing instructions. The original diagram sometimes has a print error: the white vacuum hose going to advance side of the distrubutor is offset. In the second diagram I've colored the lines to show where the hoses connect.

The yellow line is the vacuum advance which connects to the nipple on the advance (right) side of the distributor to the EEC valve on the air cleaner to the backside of the throttle body.

The orange line is vacuum retard that connects the plenum to the fuel pressure regulator to the small nipple on the decel valve.

The green line is a dedicated retard line used only a few FI models: the nipple on the retard (left) side of the dual vacuum can (DVDA) picks up vacuum from the bumper side of the throttle body.

Most FI models have SVDA distributors with only one nipple (advance) like the first photo at the top of this article. This would include 76-78/79Fed models. 75-76.5 and 79 CA models have this DVDA setup shown in the diagram above. Thanks to Andy McKinley for the diagram on the left.

Greg Potts has provided these schematics of the vacuum hose system for early and late models:

References:

• Simple vacuum hose schematic by Joey (dead link)
• Exploded view of EEC valve by Alex Wisniewski.

History:

2/18/03 - Created
2/23/03 - Added close-up of beather lines showing other plastic line
4/01/03 - Added fuel tank breather lines diagram.
4/12/03 - Added 79 CA Vacuum Hose Routing Diagram
4/22/03 - Added hose information
5/06/03 - Fuel Sender info
5/16/03 - Added some references
1/05/04 - Added more hose clamp info
2/08/04 - Added 75 - 76 1/2 differences
2/12/04 - Confirmed ABA clamps fit
2/19/04 - Added breather hose photo behind paint can lid
4/12/04 - Added more 10mm hose measurements
4/14/04 - Added 10mm MB clamp photo and correct part number courtesy of Karl Von Salzen
4/16/04 - Added info about N 020 281 1 to N 020 357 1 breather hoses
5/14/04 - Added accurate fuel line hose lengths
5/31/04 - Added vaccum line schematics
7/21/04 - Added bilge cover photo
7/24/04 - Moved fuel hose information to separate page
9/28/04 - Added 72 charcoal canister photos
5/02/05 - Moved carb hoses to separate article
7/14/05 - Added 79 CA vacuum diagram from Andy McKinley
6/11/07 - Added Vanagon engine layout
7/08/07 - Added some charcoal canister house routing info