Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 16:05:33 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM>
Subject: Re: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
In-Reply-To: <012201cb65a6$1db3f2e0$6601a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
My '85 (Cal) has only the metal can. First pump went out after around 250K
(I've had it since it was a pup).
BTW, Scott, sorry we missed you on our trip - no time northbound and a sick
wife southbound. Next time.
Karl Wolz
|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
|Scott Daniel - Turbovans
|Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 3:31 PM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: Re: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|Then one wonders why VW thought it adequate on 86 and later vans to have
|only the large downstream filter.
|I don't regard the pumps as delicate or very vulnerable to anything coming
|from the tank.
|They seem to be able to endure almost anything, more or less.
|
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: John Rodgers
| To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans
| Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
| Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 2:48 PM
| Subject: Re: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|
| I have that little square strainer on all three of my vans - two 88 GLs
|and one Carat. Dunno who put them there, but there they are, and I'm glad
|of it.
|
| But I think you have missed the point(s) (1) The strainer is to PROTECT
|THE FUEL PUMP from the large particles of crude that could damage the
|internal components of the pump. (2) The can type filter is there to
|PROTECT the fuel injectors by taking out the very fine stuff that could get
|caught in the nozzles of the injectors. Having a larger can filter
|downstream of the pump gains no advantage in protecting the pump. Only
|something upstream would do that - whether a screen in the tank or a
|strainer before the pump. Unless it is known for certain there is a screen
|n the tank, I certainly would opt for the small strainer in front of the
|pump. Good insurance.
|
| John
|
|John Rodgers
|Clayartist and Moldmaker
|88'GL VW Bus Driver
|Chelsea, AL
|Http://www.moldhaus.com
| On 10/6/2010 4:06 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
| re
| "Both are lifetime filters and do not require replacement under normal
| circumstances."
|
| That's totally silly, I hope you don't believe that for a second.
|
| I would say this book does not match vanagons exactly.
| it's a 'digifant' manual.
| Digifant Vanagons ( 2.1 wbxr engine ) use one 'large silver can fuel
| filter' downstream of the fuel pump.
| that's all they have ..
| unless you count some sort of strainer or screen that is likely in the
|fuel
| tank.
|
| the 'small square filter' as we know is used on DigiJET Vanagons with
|1.9
| engine ..
| and it's before the fuel pump, and it's the only fuel filter on those
|vans
| ( it's always better to eliminate that small filter and put the larger
|metal
| can filter on those vans, downstream of the fuel pump )..
| And it is a filter for sure, not a strainer.
|
| I never take Manuals like this as Pure Gospel ..
| They are very much in the ball park about most things ..
| but they are more 'system' related, rather than specific vehicle
|related,.
|
| I regard them as an overview to find out how the system they cover
|works. .
| and not so much for vehicle specific details.
|
| Scott
| www.turbovans.com
|
|
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
| To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
| Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 1:26 PM
| Subject: Fuel Filters vs Fuel Strainers
|
|
|
| In working with my two vans that were stored for 10 years, I have
|had
| to deal with many issues. One was getting the fuel delivery system
| working again. This included opening it up, and flushing all the old
| fuel and junk from it. The injectors were frozen and would not work,
|so
| had to send them out for servicing. They work fine now. And the fuel
| pump on my Carat was seized so that had to be dealt with. By removing
| the pump, and spraying carburetor cleaner into it and allowing it to
|sit
| over night, then repeating the process, the pump freed up and now
|works
| just fine.Then there was the issue of the fuel filters.
|
| In as much as I'm having idling problems, I got out the Digifant Fuel
| Injection System manual to study. I found interesting remarks
|concerning
| the fuel filters. In as much as there has been a good bit of talk on
| this list about the large filter after the pump, and the small filter
|in
| front of the pump - here is what the book has to say about them.
|
| ************************
|
| *Fuel Filters*
|
| Two types of filters are used on the Digifant system.
|
| One is a square _*plastic fuel strainer*_ which is mounted before
|the
| fuel pump *_to __protect the pump_* from foreign particles.
|
| The *_main fuel filter_* is a metal cylinder which mounts behind the
| fuel pump. *_It has a finer filtering mesh to protect the fuel
|injection
| components._*
|
| Both are lifetime filters and do not require replacement under normal
| circumstances.
|
| *********************
|
| Of interest to me is the different function of the two filters - the
| first to protect the pump. the second to protect the FI components,
|ie,
| the injectors.
|
| I note that one is a fuel STRAINER, while the other is a fuel
|FILTER.
| Quite a different between a strainer and a filter.
|
| I have read that the square strainer can be left out, but after
|reading
| this - I would not. Each filter/strainer serves a different and
|distinct
| purpose and therefore both need to be in the fuel system..
|
| Just my $0.02.
|
| John
|
| --
| John Rodgers
| Clayartist and Moldmaker
| 88'GL VW Bus Driver
| Chelsea, AL
| Http://www.moldhaus.com
|