help.. fuel problems!

**mollins** · 03-04-2006, 10:43 PM

hi guys

my car has been having many fuel pressure problems lately...

it was dieing completely after prolonged loads (big hills) or after i gave it a sound flatfooting whilst showing those civic boys what a real car goes like... so i had the feul pressure tested and found out it was bugger all!

so i gave it a new fuel pump, the mechanical sort, (one i had in my garage which i thought was brand new) and that seemed to fix the problem... for a while

about 500 k's later...

it started to do it again... so i replaced the fuel filter which i originally thought was ok... but once i cracked it open after replacing it... i found out it was reasonably full of crap

that seemed to fix it for a while also...

BUT NOW ITS DOING IT AGAIN!!!!!

so.. could the crappy filter have wrecked my new pump that quickly?
or is there another possible issue causing all this?

and also im wondering if theres a better set up for fuel delivery for an 1.8 with an oversize carby?? eg. electric pumps?? as now would be ideal for a swap..

thanks boys

mike

imported_brackie · 04-04-2006, 07:11 AM

First thing to do is to check your fuel filter again. If it's blocked you may need to clean your tank out (carefully!).

syncro · 04-04-2006, 07:21 AM

I had a similar problem years ago. Put some Nulon in the tank then bought a handful of VW fuel filters and put two in line. Started changing the one closest to the tank daily for a week then every second day, then every fourth day etc.

The one closest the carby only needed replacing once so the dirt/water didnt damage anything.

**Golf Loon** · 04-04-2006, 08:34 AM

Yeah 30 year old petrol tank. Buy 6 or 10 of the plastic filters and keep swopping em untill they dont foul anymore. 2 inline is a good idea syncro.

Always keep the tank quarter full and it wont suck the cr@p down your fuel lines.

If you use a low pressure electric pump, you need an accumulator too. I have all the bits in my garage, but they are not much new.

Golfwise · 04-04-2006, 11:20 AM

Slide a screen filter (like on spray guns) over the end of the pick up/sender unit in the tank as well.
The ole tank, shes full of crap.

**mollins** · 04-04-2006, 06:04 PM

ok ...

the new filter is one of the ones with the transperant casing and it doesnt look bad at all...

so today i replaced the rubber fuel hoses which seemed to be cracking (as i thought it might be sucking air) and that didnt help

then i found an old fuel pump off an old 1600 i have and when i went to swap it over.. i noticed a wierd rubber gasket was between the block and pump holding the fuel pump about 5mm further out from the block...

so i got rid of the gasket/spacer thing (after checking it wouldnt break anything)

and my pump started working properly!

ive been for a little drive and it seems to be better.. i can now see the fuel at a much happier level in the filter so i think its solved the problem...

but i'll see ... these things have a habit of haunting old cars for ever

thanks guys

mike