Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:33:34 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fuel Pump Noise
In-Reply-To: <CACK29cn5u8DaKj5U91Dy6neujiLeJYgRzc9kFaEwr=z16NaV6A@mail.gmail.com>
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The two filters did not strain or damage the pump by their combination. It is possible the pump was slightly damaged by the original ingestion of dirt or debris and the damage is showing up later. May even be just bad pump luck. The filter before the pump design was the norm for many years. With the filter on the vacuum side of the system there was a limit as to the efficiency, (particle size) that could be achieved and was their mostly to protect the pump from debris and water. As fuel supplies became better (fiberglass tanks) filters became screens in the tank and finer, more effective filters on the outlet which do a better job of protecting the injectors from wear, not clogging. Which the filter on the pressure side a pressure drop is less of an issue as there is some reserve capacity. The other advantage is the reduction of vapor lock or other issues when the pump inlet gets restricted or fuel temperature increases.
Sometimes you just get a noisy pump just like a power steering pump or a whining alternator.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Steven Shelton
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 9:16 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fuel Pump Noise
A little over four years ago I did the fuel filter “upgrade” on my 1.9L Westfalia. The small filter on the intake side of the pump was removed and a larger fuel filter was put on the output side.
About four months later I pulled out of a gas station and jolted the van in a dip at the curb that I didn't notice. The engine died and wouldn't start.
I had no idea where to start troubleshooting so had it towed to the VW dealership, where they replaced the fuel pump. Everything was fine until our first trip after the repair. The fuel pump started buzzing. We made it back OK and after researching Samba and other sites I determined that the gas tank was rusted and particles were clogging the fuel pump. Sure enough, when I removed the fuel pump and tapped the pump on a 2 X 4, particles of rust dislodged from the intake screen and fell out. I replaced the fuel tank and put the small intake filter back while keeping the larger outlet side filter. It still buzzed some but didn't get worse. I assumed that there were some particles trapped in the screen that wouldn't come out.
Last week while returning from a trip the pump really got loud. It even seemed like it was harder to get up hills. I'm replacing the pump but I
wonder: by having two filters did I put too much strain on the pump and caused premature failure or is there something else I need to look at the prevent premature failure of the fuel pump?
