Problem wth the other VW

I went to start my 72 super this morning and she did not hit over like it should ,It acted like it was out of gas, and it was. I smelled gas at the back of the car so I popped the lid all looked normal Pulled th dip stick and it pee-ed gas

By now you have a good idea what has happened. Had to drive something else this morning to work. But I got home Got in the D and went the Vw shop and got a later model Alt type fuel pump

(Her diafram Bursted.))

Oh and I did go ahead and do a engine oil service It had more gas than oil in the case.. It wAS WAY OUERFILLED ..

I have heard this is one of the most Dangerios thing that can happen iF THE CAR HAD STARTED iT COULD lead to a major BABOOM!!

if there is a bearing spark WHEN the bearings get washed free of oil.

URr no more car or you.. I got lucky. I had been told about this and got suspicious right of the bat..

I hope All of you GUYS read this post.

Years ago I had the 6 carbs rebuilt on a '65 911. In rush to move from Hampton VA to Wash DC so slapped them on and drove the 3 hours. Got to Richmond toll plaza - downshifted to pay toll when other cars started honking and yelling that my car was smoking and on fire! YELP! Fortunately at toll plaza and attendant put it out with large extinguisher. Turns out the accellerator pumps were set to squirt extra gas even on slightest throttle which filled the dry sump up and leaked onto exhaust manifolds. Lesson learned was to always check others work and carry couple fire extinguishers. The 911 was uninsured and was to be sold for a townhouse downpayment. Fortunately no damage was done really at all - other than washing off white powder and draining/refilling oil. Sold to a Navy sub commander couple weeks later.

I had the same problem with my Spyder a few years ago when I had a mechanical fuel pump. My original engine "ran" the first time this happened to me, did not blow up, but it dumped oil and gas out the filler tube and I shut it down. I changed the oil, changed the filter and went to bed. Went out the following morning and the crankcase was completely full of gas again. I dumped the mechanical pump, added electrical pump and all was well thereafter.

But, as Barry suggests, this is a great way to burn down your car and your house, or in the best case at least destroy an engine....and the diaphrams provided today do not like the mixed fuels with alcohol.....

In NJ all gasoline must have 10% minimum ethanol content. One of the problems with this fuel in a vehicle that doesn't get run regularly is that as it sits for a prolonged period, the ethanol seperates out and absorbs water. Gas treatment such as Stabil or Marine Stabil prevent the seperation, overcoming this problem. The problem concerning corrosion of metal and breaking down of rubber diaphrams is not helped by these treatments.

In south american countries where they use 85% ethanol mix, they actually have nickel plated carburators to prevent the metal corrosion. This of course still doesn't help the rubber parts.

My Speedster, in NJ, presently has a single dual throat Weber carb. Does anyone know of an accelerator pump diaphram for it that is OK with ethanol?

Brian that is a very good question. And I to want to know the answer, My friend with the VW shop has a few of the old Auffberg rebuildable fuel pumps .

If I could find a good High grade material I,d build me and him a few for our cars . But use threaded line fittings NOT the pressed in ones like came on the old pumps (another fire hasard) because they were bad to work lose.


He has a 72 Baja Champion and he has also been looking for that stuff.. so he can put the correct pump back on his car.. afeter making the upgrades to it

I too have experienced a sump full of gasoline. In my case, I regularly park speedy on a KwikLift (see articles section of this forum) in my garage. Love the Kwiklift - but this puts the car on a uphill angle. A full gas tank now exceeds the height of the carbs. Gravity overcame the carb fuel shutoff and leaked past into number 4 cylinder. Happened twice, caught it both times (thank heavens for knowing the odor of gasoline). Installed a positive mechanical fuel shut-of valve in engine compartment. Problem solved.

This never happens when parked on level ground, and it never happens with any other cylinder, so it is something subtle inside left hand carb. Nobody has found the ultimate solution yet, but the above fix works for now.

Years ago, I was departing Port Angelus on a ferry for Vancouver Island on Friday night in a new '67 427 Corvette. Smelled gas. Found a STREAM of gas pouring from a soft plug on carb, peeing onto the exhaust manifold. Found a back alley repair shop who hammered the soft plug with a wood dowel until gas stopped. I repeated that procedure nearly every day for my week's vacation. 100 miles from home, the engine swallowed a valve and I drove it home on five cylinders. Fixed under warrenty and finally sold the car when the warrenty ended. Worst car I ever owned!

One thing to be most careful of with errant fuel supply is hydrostatically locking your cylinder. Not going to happen while it's running but if it's park and enough fuel is going through (e.g. electric fuel pump running when engine is off, etc), then you can fill your cylinder(s) with fuel. When you go to start it you may be very forcibly reminded$$$ that air will compress but liquid does not... However connecting rods do bend.

Don't ever try to roll start a car if you suspect fuel in the cylinders. That's really exciting, exciting like when the connecting rod actually exits the cylinder wall or the bottom of the crankcase. Spectacular and expensive.

angela

Angela, that is the damndest thing I ever read...
I will be sure to never lock my cylinder while I have fluid running thru it...or it could make me cranky....

Yelp I pulled the plugs and spun it over as a precaution. I have seen that before also..

I have a Briggs & Stration shut off valve On the D just before the fuel filter in the engine bay. I do shut it when I now it's not going to be driven a while. The beetle had only sat from Good friday to Monday morning. A very un expected inconvinance.

Vince you just ( WONT DO!!)