Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:00:53 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: No fuel pressure options?
In-Reply-To: <5272A4E7.9050603@cfu.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
HI Max,
then I would say something is weird about your van .
your fuel pump runs for 8 seconds or so when you turn on the key, right ?
Even with a bone dry brand new fuel tank..
a fully rebuilt new engine that hasn't run ..
if you pre-run the fuel pump with the key about 10 times or so ..
there will be fuel in the lines. I've done this dozens and dozens of
times.
Try it sometime with a fuel pressure gauge connected where you can watch
it while you pre-run the pump with key.
if the system is working like it should ..all parts ....tank, fuel pick
up in the tank, pump, all lines , fuel pressure regulator , fuel filter
..........
it can't not fill the fuel lines by pre-running the fuel pump. It has to
work.
you may have something going on with your fuel delivery system.
Scott
On 10/31/2013 11:43 AM, Max Wellhouse wrote:
> On 10/31/2013 1:17 PM, Scott Daniel wrote:
>> It's not neccessary to remove the screw from the fuel pressure testing
>> port to bleed the fuel lines.
>> It's a contiuously circulating fuel system .
>> Just cycle the key several times to pre-run the fuel pump and fill the
>> lines with gas.
>>
>> a glogged return line would make things weird ..though I have never
>> actually seen that on a vanagon.
>>
>> Fuel pressure regulator comes to mind.
>> - which is what determines the fuel pressure of course..
>> as long as the tank, pump, and lines are doing what they're supposed
>> to do.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 10/31/2013 7:22 AM, Max Wellhouse wrote:
>>> .1990 GL 2.1 with 260k + (120k on a boston bob overhaul)
>>>
>>> I've been keeping a fuel pressure gauge signal going to my VDO oil
>>> pressure gauge(toggle switch to change sources) and for several
>>> years it
>>> read right between 29-36psi just like it should. Then about a year
>>> ago
>>> it dropped down to fluctuating to a reading like 17-20 psi. The engine
>>> still started and ran okay, but within the last couple of weeks, i've
>>> run the gas tank past empty on two different occasions and had to
>>> reprime the fuel lines and bleed the air out of the lines from the test
>>> port screw. That seems to be the onlywlay to restart a totally dry
>>> fuel
>>> system. The second time it ran dry, repeated attempts to bleed the air
>>> etc. have proven to be unsuccessful i ngetting it to start again
>>>
>>> I realize that running the fuel pump with ho fuel for lubrication is
>>> not
>>> good for it, and my spare used pump when installed leaked fuel out of
>>> the crimp at the top, so that wasn't an optio. Before I spend mega
>>> buck
>>> on a new pump, I;'d like the list's thoughtson where I go rfrom here.
>>> Could the fuel pressure regulater be causing these issues of no
>>> pressure
>>> at all? Is there a chance there's still vapor lock" in the injection
>>> lines downstream of the test port preventing fuel from getting to the
>>> injectors. The engine will cough when ether is briefly shot into the
>>> air horn, so it's not an ignition or compression issue. i have a known
>>> good used regulator, but I'd like a bit of guidance before I do too may
>>> spendy things to get it roling again....and yes, there 5 or 6
>>> gallons in
>>> the tank right now.
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>>
>>> DM&FS
>>>
>>
> Thanks Scott. In the past(and I have lots of experience at this)
> bleeding the air out of the test port screw is the ONLY way my Vanagon
> will restart if I drive it dry. If I catch it RIGHT t the first
> "hiccup", then I have a chance.
>
> DM&FS
>
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