

| Subject: | VERBOSE: fuel pump, ethanol, cavitation |
| From: | mordo |
| Date: | Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:39:29 -0400 |
I'd be willing to accept that, Jake except that it does not exhibit the other symptoms of being choked. Like I said, it doesn't bog down when you mash the pedal. Previously when my tank was expelling crud, I would lose power when I accelerated up hill or to pass. I'm certainly going to pull the tank when I empty it. I have an original spare that is good shape. On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:40 PM, Jake de Villiers < crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote: > It sounds like your tank outlet is restricted. That 'laminate trimmer' > noise only comes from lack of volume at the inlet side of the pump. > > Do as Scott suggests and run your pump from a hose into a gas can to see if > that makes a difference. > > If the noise goes away, its time to replace the gas tank. > > > > On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 7:38 AM, mordo <helmut.blong@gmail.com> wrote: > >> O, List, >> >> I've been reading a lot of the discussion both here and on the Samba about >> fuel pump cavitation since I had a discouraging failure en route to the >> Outer Banks Saturday a week ago. I'd appreciate the collective wisdom of >> the >> list on this incident. >> >> Van is generally running very well tho' I was a bit apprehensive of my >> instrument cluster after tearing the foil thus worried that any warning >> signs won't be reported. So, traffic from Springfield, VA on 95S was >> hateful >> as usual and that day it was dreadful all the way to 295 interchange near >> Richmond. Dodged the back up on 64E by going down to 460E, wade through >> Norfolk area and on to NC 168/158 and am shortly mired in a hellish, 20 >> mile >> debacle of too many damned vehicles all going to the same place. And, it's >> hot, hot, hot, approximately 99F "real feel" that day and the rad fan is >> cycling on and off regularly and occasionally up to high speed (that's a >> surprising sound). Stop and go, creeping, crawling with the AC on. About >> four miles before the bridge over the Currituck Sound, I hear what I >> interpret is a wheezing sound from the cooling system and the engine >> sputters to a stop. We pull over onto a grassy verge and curse the gods >> for >> their cruelty. I try starting again and it kicks over, runs momentarily >> and >> the sputters to a stop again. Wheezing sound was present again. >> >> After hassling with an ESL support operator at my motor club, I get in to >> tell the operator the VIN. I crank it over again just for kicks and it >> starts and runs normally. So, I say, "Never mind, it's running again. I'll >> call if I need a tow." We drove about 200 yards and kaput. Try to start >> again and it sputters and coughs and kaput. And then the starter won't >> crank >> over. Wheezing sound again. After a long, hot ride in the tow truck cab >> (three people plus driver) we are at our destination and I ignore the van >> in >> favor of several anodyne adult beverages. >> >> Next day, I start it and run it and discern that the wheezing is a noisy, >> whining fuel pump. It was an aftermarket pump, about three years old so >> I'm >> willing to believe that it is failing. So, I order a replacement from >> BusDepot. Replace it and the filter. The old filter bled rusty-looking >> fuel."Hrmmm," says I. Starts rough but eventually runs fine. On the way >> back >> to Baltimore, I start to get the whining fuel pump sound again and >> occasionally, idling at stop lights, the engine quits. Restarts normally >> and >> runs well at high speed, pulls strong all the way to Baltimore. So, to >> summarize: >> >> >> 1. Hot ambient temps >> 2. fill up in southern Virginia with 10% ethanol fuel >> 3. fine rust in fuel filter before replacement >> 4. new Bosch pump still have whining sound >> 5. Engine runs well under load, acceleration normal >> 6. Sputters at hot idle and sometimes quits >> 7. cleaned the tank three or four years ago >> >> >> I have read of the theory that ethanol-blended gasoline is responsible for >> cavitation, its specific gravity being lower than straight gasoline. I've >> read the theory that the generic Bosch pump is too fast for gasohol and >> that >> a resistor in line on the pump is the answer. I have experienced the >> effects >> of cruddy fuel choking the fuel pump and my experience was inconsistent >> with >> previous misadventures. That usually presented as choking and losing power >> under load. >> >> What do you all think is the most likely culprit? I was under the >> impression >> that most fuel around the mid Atlantic was 10% ethanol but perhaps I am >> mistaken. I am suspicious of my fuel pressure regulator - haven't tested >> fuel pressure in a couple of years. >> >> Cheers, >> -- >> mordo >> 1990 Carat >> > > > > -- > Jake > > 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van' > 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie' > > Crescent Beach, BC > > www.thebassspa.com > www.crescentbeachguitar.com > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27 > > -- mordo 1990 Carat -- mordo 1990 Carat
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