Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 07:42:55 -0700
Reply-To: dan kapeller <dkapeller@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: dan kapeller <dkapeller@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fwd: Stranded - my first heartbreak
In-Reply-To: <7.0.1.0.0.20061207073411.01fe7bb0@ipa.net>
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<P>Max, Thanks for clarifying on item 2. However, I am disappointed to learn that my vanagon does NOT have a Staubkess bolt. After reading your initial post yesterday, I walked an inch taller all day, smug in the knowledge that MY van had a Staubkess bolt and all the other losers in the world driving lesser vehicles DID NOT have one. </P>
<P>Dan </P>
<P>'90 GL, Augustus "Gus"<BR><BR></P></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET></I><BR>Reply-To: <I>Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET></I><BR>To: <I>vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: Fwd: Stranded - my first heartbreak</I><BR>Date: <I>Thu, 7 Dec 2006 08:26:05 -0600</I><BR>Clearing the "air" here!!<BR><BR>1. I think Mark has more accurately described what is really going<BR>on. I'm more of a "if it works, it's right" kinda guy.<BR>2. The "Staubkess bolt" is a bad case of right hand being over one<BR>set of keys on the keyboard. I meant to type "Stainless Steel".<BR>3. Should any of you decide to open this up to release air or fuel,<BR>two cautions: one is the obvious raw gas/fumes coming out over a<BR>potentially hot exhaust system so I'd have something like a small<BR>gatorade bottle with lid to collect
or divert the fuel away from<BR>danger and two, it never hurts to keep a spare one of those<BR>bolts/screws for that T conection and they are real easy to drop and<BR>lose on the side of the road. If there was such a thing as a<BR>fuel-compatable Schrader valve that could be put in the line, that<BR>might be a better option, but you'd still want to keep the spew away<BR>from combustible options.<BR>4. Since I have learned from this list that running the van out of<BR>gas and driving it until it won't go another inch is indeed really<BR>bad for the fuel pump, I have installed a VDO pressure gauge sender<BR>over that T connection and clamped it with the required short piece<BR>of FI high pressure hose and two clamps with the rounded edges. Some<BR>on the list have said it won't work for fuel like it does for oil,<BR>but I've had it on there for over a year
in all kinds of driving<BR>condiitions and yet to have it leak or fail. I simply ran another<BR>wire to the front and rigged a SPDT switch so I can monitor either<BR>fuel or oil pressure off one gauge. Did that with temperature as<BR>well(oil/water). Now, in order to protect the fuel pump when I'm<BR>running really low on gas and trying to get to the next exit to fill<BR>up, I'll flip over to the fuel pressure reading and when it shows the<BR>slightest sign of reading below that magic 29-36 psi range, I shut it<BR>off and either walk or coast.<BR>5. Another controversial thing I do is carry a FULL gallon of<BR>Coleman fuel in my big Contico storage box that more or less replaces<BR>the middle seat are in my 90GL. It's in a metal can, it's like $4,<BR>and it has gotten me to many a gas station when I have run
out. I<BR>never keep a partially full can in there and I make sure it's well<BR>supported by the plywood dividers so it doesn't move around. Just<BR>coincidentally, my old radiator hose(the one that goes from the back<BR>of the #4 cylinder and then gets real skinny) fits snugly on top of<BR>the Coleman can threads so poking s small hole for breathing in the<BR>corner of the top ofthe can allows a slick way to get ALL $4 worth in<BR>the tank and not dumped on the ground. I have also had success using<BR>a Techron fuel injector cleaner bottle with the top cut off as a<BR>shade tree funnel. An actual long neck oil/AFT funnel, would work<BR>too, but that ties up too much space. I've been told that the<BR>Coleman fuel is indeed unleaded and high octane(like 104?). Burning<BR>a gallon to the nearest pump has caused my engine no
obvious harm,<BR>and it maybe happens once a year, but I'm glad it's there when I need<BR>it especially in the winter time.<BR>6. Since I have the T connection tied up now, I think I will try<BR>leaving the gas cap off next time it happens and see if it works.<BR><BR>thanks to all.<BR><BR>DM&FS<BR><BR><BR><BR>>No, there was no air lock in the FI system. The problem was the air <BR>>lock<BR>>in the line before the fuel pump, inside the tank. The fuel line <BR>>INSIDE<BR>>the tank has a hump in it. If you run out of fuel you need to add a <BR>>lot<BR>>of fuel to the tank before the fuel level is high enough reach over <BR>>the<BR>>top of the hump and supply liquid fuel to the pump. The pump is not<BR>>designed to pump air or fumes, it is designed to pump fuel.<BR>><BR>>Removing the bolt from the fuel rail tee allowed air out of the line
<BR>>so<BR>>the pump could have an easier time priming itself without <BR>>pressurizing<BR>>the air in the line as it struggled to suck fuel up over the hump <BR>>and<BR>>down to the pump. It is not good for the pump to be run dry. Raising <BR>>the<BR>>fuel level in the tank high enough would have made it's job easier <BR>>and<BR>>not risked damaging the pump running it while it was dry.<BR>><BR>>Mark<BR>><BR>>mordo wrote:<BR>><BR>>>The collective wisdom and experience of the list prevails - the <BR>>>failure was<BR>>>due to airlock in the FI system. As advised here, I bled the air at <BR>>>the<BR>>>tee,<BR>>>jumped the battery I ran down trying to start it and when I cranked <BR>>>it<BR>>>anew,<BR>>>she started immediately.<BR>>><BR>>>Thanks to all that
replied.<BR>>><BR>>>mordo<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>--<BR>>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>>Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.9/573 - Release Date: <BR>>12/5/2006<BR><BR><BR>--<BR>No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.9/573 - Release Date: 12/5/2006<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMBENUS/2740??PS=47575" target="_top">Share your latest news with your friends with the Windows Live Spaces friends module.</a> </html>
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