Date: Sat, 11 May 2013 20:00:38 -0400
Reply-To: Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Bluestar project.no start yet
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-DS10FF502333A2C5DF9F3AAA0A60@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Well I hope to allay some of your fears Dennis. I have bought a gauge. I am on my way to buy a new fuel pump. I put a little squirt of Marvel Mystery Oil in the bores before trying to start. My Injectors have put out nothing so far as fuel pressure was not present. No I have not come to grips with dropping then tank yet as I want to better understand the pick-up inside but when I do, all the tubing for the vent system will be renewed.
I can relate a story which will make you say "I told you so". Many years ago a neighbor had an early digijet Westy that would not start. We cranked it a lot. following each little attempt to repair it. Eventually it did start and it was extremely smoky.
It seems that what had happened was that the ECU had failed and in that particular Digijet failure mode it powers the injectors open full time. Eventually so much fuel collected in the crankcase that the vapors found their way to the induction system with some highly diluted engine oil and permitted the engine to fire up and run. The dipstick was showing about 2" above normal.
A replacement ECU and an oil change and the vehicle seemed no worse for wear, probably with a well flushed out crankcase.
If you have a no start situation on a Digijet van, check the crankcase oil for fuel dilution.
Steve
On May 11, 2013, at 6:59 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> A few days ago I mentioned how many Vanagon engines get ruined by support
> systems and other outside influences. I have seen many engines damaged by
> no-starts being incorrectly diagnosed and from the repeated starting
> attempts. At best you are grinding the heck out of the pistons and
> cylinders due to no lubrication as there is no splash from the crank. Then
> all that unburned fuel or water mess is washing the cylinders dry of any
> lube that may be there. I have seen engines get locked up this way. Then
> every time you cycle the ignition or trying to crank you are putting fuel
> into the cylinders. Yes you can hydraulically lock up the engine this way.
> Then when you can't get it to crank you can push start the vehicle. Now you
> may even get to bend a rod!
>
> Seriously, get a fuel pressure gauge. The pump was filled with crap. It
> probably needs to be replaced. Even if it works for now how long before it
> leaves you stranded? The tank was contaminated. At least drop it and get it
> cleaned. The water and stuff inside is you sign the vapor recovery system is
> probably leaking. Tank condensation only occurs if you are exchanging air.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Steve Cotsford
> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 4:28 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Bluestar project.no start yet
>
> Checking over the system as I have not started it yet. I have managed to
> get a few pops but no more.
>
> I have fuel getting to the engine after several hours of work. I managed
> to get at least 3 cups of water out of the tank by continuously flowing
> about 5 galls of gas through to the entry of the fuel pump and then
> discarding the water etc. The gas now comes out clear but there is
> probably more rubbish in the bottom of the tank. I have not yet bitten
> the bullet to drop the tank. The amount of rust I have seen is minimal
> compared to the amount of what I assume to be water that settles at the
> bottom of my containers.
>
> I fitted a pre-filter before the pump and added fresh fuel to the tank.
> Hopefully this will enable me to get the tank reasonably clean.
> The fuel pump was pretty clogged and would not run but cleaning out on the
> entry side enabled it to run and flow fuel. Fuel that flows is clean.
>
> I have run the pump to pressurize the system. I see no fuel on the return
> side of the pressure regulator however. I think this means that I am not
> building enough pressure to cause it to relieve although I can feel a
> vibration on the regulator while the pump is running.
>
> Am I correct in assuming that absence of fuel in the return indicates
> insufficient fuel pressure ?? I don't have a gauge on hand yet.
>
> How close to the bottom of the tank is the fuel pick-up?
>
> The next job I think is to remove the injectors and test them and to more
> accurately check the ignition timing.
>
> Any other well known tricks to try?
>
> Thanks Steve
>
