Date:         Wed, 6 Dec 2006 20:16:38 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fwd: Stranded - my first heartbreak
Comments: To: mordo <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <de48c0be0612061843v46b82b57rce7cdc4df902168d@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

No, there was no air lock in the FI system. The problem was the air lock
in the line before the fuel pump, inside the tank. The fuel line INSIDE
the tank has a hump in it. If you run out of fuel you need to add a lot
of fuel to the tank before the fuel level is high enough reach over the
top of the hump and supply liquid fuel to the pump. The pump is not
designed to pump air or fumes, it is designed to pump fuel.

Removing the bolt from the fuel rail tee allowed air out of the line so
the pump could have an easier time priming itself without pressurizing
the air in the line as it struggled to suck fuel up over the hump and
down to the pump. It is not good for the pump to be run dry. Raising the
fuel level in the tank high enough would have made it's job easier and
not risked damaging the pump running it while it was dry.

Mark

mordo wrote:

> The collective wisdom and experience of the list prevails - the failure was
> due to airlock in the FI system. As advised here, I bled the air at the
> tee,
> jumped the battery I ran down trying to start it and when I cranked it
> anew,
> she started immediately.
>
> Thanks to all that replied.
>
> mordo
>