Club 80-90 Forums

Van - Aircooled, early petrol fuel tank.

Hello

While looking under the van to repair my eber I have been getting a whiff of petrol fumes. I had a new fuel tank fitted earlier this year with new seals (didn't do it myself as I was in a rush for hols).

I'm left a bit confused about my fuel tank which has two outlets, I'm sure my old Aircooled westy only had one. Also the filters on each outlet point in different directions, can anyone let me know if this is set up correctly? Am I going mad!





thanks
irishkeet

Calculated guess....feed on the right side (passenger), return on the left (hence the change in direction of the filters) although I'm not sure why you would need to filter the return fuel!
However, what is really criminal is that they would fit you a new tank and leave it bare and unpainted. It really needed at least one coat of Hammerite, shame on them.

Martin

I know Martin I'm not happy with the install and will be whipping it out when I have time to give it a spray. I agree with then flow & return I'm wondering if I can remove the return part completely? I'm going to trace both fuel lines tomorrow and Ill pop up a few pics. I think I can cap the (LHD) drivers side return but it would be helpful if someone could advise

California Dreamin wrote:Calculated guess....feed on the right side (passenger), return on the left (hence the change in direction of the filters) although I'm not sure why you would need to filter the return fuel!
However, what is really criminal is that they would fit you a new tank and leave it bare and unpainted. It really needed at least one coat of Hammerite, shame on them.

Martin

Mine also has a return but as it is injection and uses a larger outlet and high capacity 'aluminium' fuel filter, so in different.
I do have a vague recollection of seeing another bus with a blanked off piece of pipe on the left side but I really can't say if that is right for yours or that the way the garage has plumbed yours is correct. I just wouldn't have thought that the garage would have fitted a return unnecessarily, though it definitely doesn't need a filter.

Martin

The filter on the return is probably fitted as a cheap way of changing the diameter of the fuel hose.

T

California Dreamin wrote:However, what is really criminal is that they would fit you a new tank and leave it bare and unpainted. It really needed at least one coat of Hammerite, shame on them.

I think I'd rather it be unpainted than hammersh*te. At least you don't have to strip it back before painting it with something decent.

AdrianC wrote:

California Dreamin wrote:However, what is really criminal is that they would fit you a new tank and leave it bare and unpainted. It really needed at least one coat of Hammerite, shame on them.

I think I'd rather it be unpainted than hammersh*te. At least you don't have to strip it back before painting it with something decent.

Perhaps I was being a bit 'brand specific' about what to use and should elaborate ..... personally, after wiping down my new pre-primed tank with thinners, I used a black exterior metal paint (similar to hammerite I guess but a different brand) and once dried I used a proprietary 'HYMER' branded rubberised under body spray which my brother gets from his work (he is the service manager at a large caravan & motor home dealership) I used about 3 cans of the stuff.
Once fitted I touched up with aforementioned spray.....should last a while.

Martin

Two things leapt out at me reading this thread:
1.Aircooled CU twin solex carbs don't usually have a fuel return (but 1.6 a/c CT single carb vans usually do).
2. All efi motors will have a return line from the fuel pressure regulator to the n/s spigot. I know you know that, Martin, so it might be a typo or a brain frat.

ajsimmo wrote:Two things leapt out at me reading this thread:
1.Aircooled CU twin solex carbs don't usually have a fuel return (but 1.6 a/c CT single carb vans usually do).
2. All efi motors will have a return line from the fuel pressure regulator to the n/s spigot. I know you know that, Martin, so it might be a typo or a brain frat.

I tell you what it is Andy....3 years (since changing mine) although I did drop it last year to do the power steering pipes and then not recalling accurately the layout.
Just one nudge in the side and of course you are right...mine does have a return on the N/S....DOH!

Martin

I have an air-cooled CU running twin weber ICTs (came with the van ) so no need for a return, hence my confusion....

Ok so I have another thread running regarding my eber and it was when the eber was disconnected (2 ducting holes in the floor open) I noticed the waft of petrol fumes which got me looking at bit harder at the fuel system. Earlier in the year I was going away and running out of time so I had the tank replaced by a small localish VW specialist outlet. I decided it was a good time to do ALL the fuel lines too and I provided the hose and asked the garage to carry out this work. The owner ran a petrol T25 so I didn't think anything else about it until I started the heater overhaul.

They mentioned spraying the tank with waxoyl but when I dropped the tank today it had a pathetic amount sprayed on it and the centre depression had none! They did replace the lines from the bottom of the expansion tanks (both sides) to the main tank with new seals etc.

The fuel outlet that confused me at the start just went along the chassis and terminated on an outlet of the old mechanical fuel pump with no clip, it came away in my hand and it was old braided fuel hose, not the hose I provided.



But it seems the smell of fuel mainly came from the top of the expansion tanks (as per photo above) where the grommets (number 13) had perished. On the filler side half the grommet was in the expansion tank! To make matters worse the hose that was meant to join the float valves (14) didn't exist and the whole bit in between was missing! When I asked for the fuel lines to be done I did mean ALL the lines from the top of the expansion tanks to the carbs.

So next time I'm in a rush to get away and its a job I can do myself I will!. On the plus side the fuel tank has been treated and will be ready for a refit tomorrow, the eber fired up and ran for the first time (since I have owned the van) and I'm off camping next Saturday...phew

thanks for all the advice

Fantastic news mate.....its a shame that it had to come to you doing it yourself though.

Martin