Date:         Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:39:29 -0400
Reply-To:     mordo <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mordo <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      VERBOSE: fuel pump, ethanol, cavitation
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTi=0JZRd54iT2fKnB6OCnCQ8AeQ_LnGQcyCzeC-z@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'd be willing to accept that, Jake except that it does not exhibit the
other symptoms of being choked. Like I said, it doesn't bog down when you
mash the pedal. Previously when my tank was expelling crud, I would lose
power when I accelerated up hill or to pass.

I'm certainly going to pull the tank when I empty it. I have an original
spare that is good shape.



On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:40 PM, Jake de Villiers <
crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:

> It sounds like your tank outlet is restricted.  That 'laminate trimmer'
> noise only comes from lack of volume at the inlet side of the pump.
>
> Do as Scott suggests and run your pump from a hose into a gas can to see if
> that makes a difference.
>
> If the noise goes away, its time to replace the gas tank.
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 7:38 AM, mordo <helmut.blong@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> O, List,
>>
>> I've been reading a lot of the discussion both here and on the Samba about
>> fuel pump cavitation since I had a discouraging failure en route to the
>> Outer Banks Saturday a week ago. I'd appreciate the collective wisdom of
>> the
>> list on this incident.
>>
>> Van is generally running very well tho' I was a bit apprehensive of my
>> instrument cluster after tearing the foil thus worried that any warning
>> signs won't be reported. So, traffic from Springfield, VA on 95S was
>> hateful
>> as usual and that day it was dreadful all the way to 295 interchange near
>> Richmond. Dodged the back up on 64E by going down to 460E, wade through
>> Norfolk area and on to NC 168/158 and am shortly mired in a hellish, 20
>> mile
>> debacle of too many damned vehicles all going to the same place. And, it's
>> hot, hot, hot, approximately 99F "real feel" that day and the rad fan is
>> cycling on and off regularly and occasionally up to high speed (that's a
>> surprising sound). Stop and go, creeping, crawling with the AC on. About
>> four miles before the bridge over the Currituck Sound, I hear what I
>> interpret is a wheezing sound from the cooling system and the engine
>> sputters to a stop. We pull over onto a grassy verge and curse the gods
>> for
>> their cruelty. I try starting again and it kicks over, runs momentarily
>> and
>> the sputters to a stop again. Wheezing sound was present again.
>>
>> After hassling with an ESL support operator at my motor club, I get in to
>> tell the operator the VIN. I crank it over again just for kicks and it
>> starts and runs normally. So, I say, "Never mind, it's running again. I'll
>> call if I need a tow." We drove about 200 yards and kaput. Try to start
>> again and it sputters and coughs and kaput. And then the starter won't
>> crank
>> over. Wheezing sound again. After a long, hot ride in the tow truck cab
>> (three people plus driver) we are at our destination and I ignore the van
>> in
>> favor of several anodyne adult beverages.
>>
>> Next day, I start it and run it and discern that the wheezing is a noisy,
>> whining fuel pump. It was an aftermarket pump, about three years old so
>> I'm
>> willing to believe that it is failing. So, I order a replacement from
>> BusDepot. Replace it and the filter. The old filter bled rusty-looking
>> fuel."Hrmmm," says I. Starts rough but eventually runs fine. On the way
>> back
>> to Baltimore, I start to get the whining fuel pump sound again and
>> occasionally, idling at stop lights, the engine quits. Restarts normally
>> and
>> runs well at high speed, pulls strong all the way to Baltimore. So, to
>> summarize:
>>
>>
>>   1. Hot ambient temps
>>   2. fill up in southern Virginia with 10% ethanol fuel
>>   3. fine rust in fuel filter before replacement
>>   4. new Bosch pump still have whining sound
>>   5. Engine runs well under load, acceleration normal
>>   6. Sputters at hot idle and sometimes quits
>>   7. cleaned the tank three or four years ago
>>
>>
>> I have read of the theory that ethanol-blended gasoline is responsible for
>> cavitation, its specific gravity being lower than straight gasoline. I've
>> read the theory that the generic Bosch pump is too fast for gasohol and
>> that
>> a resistor in line on the pump is the answer. I have experienced the
>> effects
>> of cruddy fuel choking the fuel pump and my experience was inconsistent
>> with
>> previous misadventures. That usually presented as choking and losing power
>> under load.
>>
>> What do you all think is the most likely culprit? I was under the
>> impression
>> that most fuel around the mid Atlantic was 10% ethanol but perhaps I am
>> mistaken. I am suspicious of my fuel pressure regulator - haven't tested
>> fuel pressure in a couple of years.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> --
>> mordo
>> 1990 Carat
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>
>


--
mordo
1990 Carat



--
mordo
1990 Carat