[alfa] 164 fuel leaks and fire hazard

[C M Smith <cmsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I beg to disagree in a thoroughly restrained way of course with those who 
suggest the 164 does not present a significant and exceptional fire hazard.

I have owned a number of cars in my time, including British models of 
dubious quality control, and I can state without reservation that the fuel 
seepage problems suffered by the Alfa 164 present an absolutely ridiculous 
fire hazard not experienced in any of my previous cars.

How a modern car can leave the design stage with such an awful fuel system 
is beyond my understanding. I have had fuel vapour or raw fuel seepage from 
my Alfa for the majority of the time I have owned it. Granted that most of 
the time this was short term from the engine fuel rails, and relatively 
easily repaired, but one cause was so obscure and ultimately ridiculous as 
to be beyond belief. This is typical of Alfa's sloppy attitude to 
engineering and manufacture that have driven it from this market twice 
already. No excuses can be made precisely because no other modern 
manufacturer has these problems and the fixes are so simple the factory 
SHOULD HAVE DONE THEM FIRST AT THE FACTORY.

For comparison consider how ridiculous it would be to permit seepage from 
brake lines. If you can seal hydraulic fluid, why not the even more 
dangerous fuel?

Alfa is rightly castigated for this significant fire hazard not shared by 
other non iron curtain vehicles.

Cheers all, and ...er... let the flames begin!
Michael Smith
White 1991 164L
Original owner
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided