fuel issue
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
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fuel issue
I need some trouble shooting help.
As you may have read in other threads i've been having fuel pump issues due to an old leaky one then a nightmare of rebuild kits and aftermarket pump.
I finally found a used 40hp screw inlet type pierburg pump and thought i had it running pretty well. It was never running as good as it used to but i chalked tht up to a tired diaphragm.
Now im having an issue where the car starts up fine and drives fine for about 5 minutes then starts bogging down.
I swapped out the carb with a spare and had the same symptoms.
So let me know if yall have any ideas- Im rebuilding a 36hp right now so id much rather spend $200 on a new 36hp muffler than a vintage werks fuel pump.
As you may have read in other threads i've been having fuel pump issues due to an old leaky one then a nightmare of rebuild kits and aftermarket pump.
I finally found a used 40hp screw inlet type pierburg pump and thought i had it running pretty well. It was never running as good as it used to but i chalked tht up to a tired diaphragm.
Now im having an issue where the car starts up fine and drives fine for about 5 minutes then starts bogging down.
I swapped out the carb with a spare and had the same symptoms.
So let me know if yall have any ideas- Im rebuilding a 36hp right now so id much rather spend $200 on a new 36hp muffler than a vintage werks fuel pump.
60 beetle
78 bus
78 bus
- SlowLane
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Livermore, CA
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
Heat riser clear? Pre-heat hose in place and functional? Measured the fuel pressure with your new pump? Does your exhaust actually provide a correct path for the gasses through the heat riser (ie. Does it have a path from one exaust port to the tailpipe, or does it simply connect the #2 and #4 exhaust ports?) Functioning thermostat?
'81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
Thanks slowLane- it looks like i need to get my hands on a fuel pressure gauge.
I cleaned out the heat risers 2 yrs ago- i hope they are not clogged again.
Exhaust is the stock setup
I cleaned out the heat risers 2 yrs ago- i hope they are not clogged again.
Exhaust is the stock setup
60 beetle
78 bus
78 bus
- SlowLane
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Livermore, CA
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
I was focussing on the heat riser and pre-heat system in my suggestions because the symptoms sound more like a carb icing problem than a fuel pressure issue.zabo wrote:Thanks slowLane- it looks like i need to get my hands on a fuel pressure gauge.
I cleaned out the heat risers 2 yrs ago- i hope they are not clogged again.
Exhaust is the stock setup
'81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
You *need* to jump on it exactly when it occurs. Drive it until it screws up. Now try to define the variables. Does it get worse when you demand more fuel?zabo wrote:I need some trouble shooting help.
starts up fine and drives fine for about 5 minutes then starts bogging down.
I swapped out the carb with a spare and had the same symptoms.
Does it recover if you let it idle a few minutes?
Does it stay unhappy even if you let it "recover" by idling a few minutes?
Colin
(fuel filter clean?
(do you have a tank outlet sock/screen?)
(coil hot?)
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
Just wanted to update this thread.
About 3 months ago I finally gave in and spent the cash to get a Vintage Werks fuel pump.
-money well spent.
I put it in the car and it fired right up. Drove fine for about a week then one day after work I
couldnt get it started.
I pulled of the top of the top of the carb and the bowl was empty, sticking needle valve.
I had another in my ashtray so swapped them out and was on my way.
Happened again a week later. Both of these valves where from recent rebuild kits.
I checked my parts box and found an old one marked solex and it has been smooth sailing since.
About 3 months ago I finally gave in and spent the cash to get a Vintage Werks fuel pump.
-money well spent.
I put it in the car and it fired right up. Drove fine for about a week then one day after work I
couldnt get it started.
I pulled of the top of the top of the carb and the bowl was empty, sticking needle valve.
I had another in my ashtray so swapped them out and was on my way.
Happened again a week later. Both of these valves where from recent rebuild kits.
I checked my parts box and found an old one marked solex and it has been smooth sailing since.
60 beetle
78 bus
78 bus
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
You can do a feel test on the heat riser (before it gets to branding temperature, hello) to see if heat is radiating through.zabo wrote:Thanks slowLane- it looks like i need to get my hands on a fuel pressure gauge.
I cleaned out the heat risers 2 yrs ago- i hope they are not clogged again.
Exhaust is the stock setup
If your symptoms occur on a thoroughly warm engine, you can move beyond the temporary bogging that a clogged heat riser would give you.
Does your fuel tank outlet have a mesh sock?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
yes. i did end up removing the risers and cleaning them out real good.
the tank has the mesh sock but i am seeing a lot of junk in my fuel filter.
i had a radiator shop clean and coat the tank abt 8 yrs ago. i guess its that time again.
the tank has the mesh sock but i am seeing a lot of junk in my fuel filter.
i had a radiator shop clean and coat the tank abt 8 yrs ago. i guess its that time again.
60 beetle
78 bus
78 bus
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
Seeing as I have six classic cars all but one of which sit for embarrassingly long periods of time and have never ever had a fuel tank or crusty filter issue with any of them, amy I ask if you keep your tanks full, refill between 3/4 and 1/2 down, and do not let them sit for so much as a week without topped off tanks?zabo wrote:yes. i did end up removing the risers and cleaning them out real good.
the tank has the mesh sock but i am seeing a lot of junk in my fuel filter.
i had a radiator shop clean and coat the tank abt 8 yrs ago. i guess its that time again.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- zabo
- Old School!
- Location: earth
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: fuel issue
hmm the past few years i was driving it daily so filled up every week and a half when it hit reserve. guessing it was probably low when it sat for a few months during the time i was having fuel pump issues.
60 beetle
78 bus
78 bus