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Engine dying in hot weather (happened again) - engine pix

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karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#929182
Yesterday in Melbourne it was 30deg and I was stuck in peak hour traffic forever, probably 35 or 40 minutes. Then when I cleared it and got some speed, the engine died. It was running out of petrol. I had to pullover. Prime the carby (I have an electric pump fitted) then it will drive for another kilometer or so before dying again. It did that for 4 or 5 times before I was able to nurse it home
I have had the electric pump fitted for about 2 years with no issues at all except yesterday. I haven't driven it today yet
Could this be an air lock thing or a dodgy pump or something else?
The engine is a 1880 with Solex PICT34 and a low pressure electric pump
Thanks Raf

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#929183
Blocked outlet/strainer in tank or in line filter or dodgy pump

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#929189
Daimo's ontoit, all I can add, is the pump mounted where it could get too hot?
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#929195
Thanks, just to clarify this is in my RSK replica so not a standard tank. Custom made with no strainer. Pump is mounted on floor pan straight under tank. The steel filter that came with the pump is mounted between tank and pump white another plastic one is mounted in engine bay
All lines including the one in the tunnel were replaced 2 years ago.
Are your suggestions still valid?

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#929196
Work along the system

Check flow out of tank then compare to after the filter

Check flow before and after the second filter

Have a look for a kinked hose too

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#929205
After your further details, I'd go straight to needle/seat. Remove out of carb and check for dedbris there.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#929209
Okay, will do

69bug Officially Full-On Dubber

300 posts · joined Jan 2012 ·

#929224
Is it a silver car with qld plates?
1969 1500

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#929366
Its silver but not on Qld plates. Vic registered

RISKY4LIFE Officially Full-On Dubber

308 posts · joined Jul 2010 ·

#929369
soooooo nice 👍

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#929401
Sorry - plastic filter in the engine bay ???

Gentle suggestion to lose that ASAP... filters in the engine bay, especially plastic ones are just a fire waiting to happen.

A nice little 914 at Hillclimb on Sunday had one let go and dump fuel all over hot engine... just sheer luck it didn't ignite...

😠

Nice lookin ride tho !!!

👍
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

haccc Slammed & Awesome Dubber

94 posts · joined Oct 2012 ·

#929786
karmannghia60 wrote:Its silver but not on Qld plates. Vic registered

now ain't that something😍, it raises the bar for my resto
😎
I started out with nothing ,I still have some left

silver Dangerous when poked

2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#929794
Fuel tank is vented I assume??
Keeping it real !

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#929817
Nice, so is it fixed?

Shame you removed the engine pic.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#929822
Thanks for the comments
Drove it yesterday for half hour, it was fine. But again it didn't get as hot as the day I had problems. I was stuck in traffic for a good 45mins
Nope, fuel tank not vented but I don't think it is air/vapour tight anyway

tweety Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#929866
I towed a camper in hot weather when I had my 1916 in my triek (type 3 auto) and at 110kph at 30 degrees lost power slowly, slowed to 80kph and power returned. Always put it down to overheating.

But I did change the plastic fule filter to a glass one with cartridge for autobarn only $20 and comes with spare fitler. packet of 3 cartridge for $15. cheap really.

I too have a 2-3 psi fuel pump. never had an issue with it. I have placed larger heater hose over the smaller fuel line to slow down the aging of the fuel line above hot driveline temps.

Knew a mate who had a Toyota Crown and he used to get vapour lock big time. heat udner the bonnet would build up and evaporate the fuel prior to the carbie.

A head temp gauge would be handy. Reckon you might be overheating. Nice car by the way.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
SUBARU ea81, VW auto, Detour camper
My ex girlfriend said "its me or a trike". Her big mistake.

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#930137
An update, I have been driving it for 3 days now with no issues so I am going to put it down to a vapour lock

70AutoStik Insano Dub Head

730 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#930294
Nice car, but I can't see much air inlet to the engine and I imagine there is not the stock tinware to stop heat soak?

Sounds like vapour lock - but the most important thing is to get rid of that plastic filter in the engine compartment. You'd never get that back together after an engine fire.

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#932189
Been driving it for a week with no problems till today. Again 28deg day with lots of traffic. Spat the dummy after 45mins of driving. Let cool down for 10mins then got me home ok. How does one fix vapour lock?

silver Dangerous when poked

2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#932194
next time it happens try opening the fuel tank cap if you hear a big whoosh it could be that
vent the cap or tank
Keeping it real !

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#932199
karmannghia60 wrote:How does one fix vapour lock?
Stop your engine/fuel system from overheating. Show us your engine bay, tinware and intake setup.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#932241
Running a return style fuel system can help get fuel temps down, but honestly... I'd be looking at the engine cooling like Matt's sayin...

😎
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#932355
All stock tin and fan shroud. Two large vents in the back



Side vents are also operational but they sit about a foot in front where the engine sits



Exhaust is custom made. The muffler boxes sit next to the heads with no tin or head shield around them. So although complete stock tin is used, heat could rise from the exhaust into the engine bay
Here is a pic with the back panel removed before resto


And this one gives you a better idea on where the muffler boxes are

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#932358
Keep a plastic spray bottle in car full of water. If you have problem spray fuel system. will save you 10mins 👍👍
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#932359
^^^ yep, not a sealed system so overheating on the hotter days IMO, lots to sort out if you want fix the cooling system properly.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

65standard Officially Full-On Dubber

373 posts · joined Apr 2009 ·

#932725
Together with the exhaust near the heads.
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#932751
Umm, yeah... that'll get nice and toasty running tooling around at lower speeds or in traffic !!!

Would love to see what genuine 550 Spyder's looked like in the engine bay... would've been a bit of a challenge to seal up properly methinks.
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

speedster356 Plastic not Classic Racing

1,624 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#932793
Yeah this happened a few times in my Speedster, electric pump was dead heading against the regulator when stopped at traffic jam on hot day (very small fuel flow at the carbs when idling) Fuel temp increases, and pump vapour locks. Pour water over the pump and away she goes. A bypass back to the tank at the regulator will fix it. 😊
Spyder-WISD 07-09-05 11.6s @ 125 MPH

Speedster-WISD Nats 05 14.4s @ 89 MPH

Jet cruiser-Coogee 22-09-05 900 deg C @ 110,000 rpm

Weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals....................Except the Weasel.

karmannghia60 Karmann Ghia Sucker

1,459 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#934626
I am not entirely sure that it is a vapour lock now. On the DoVW (only 17deg), only after 10 minutes of driving on the freeway, it died. Pulled over and started again. Kept dying every klm or so. So obviously was running out of petrol at full throttle. Did that pretty much all the way. So I am thinking its a bad pump now. Its a low pressure (2 to 4psi) one sitting on the floorpan straight under the tank. Anyway, I bought a new one (Facet 2 to 4psi) which I will fit this weekend. Now my question is should I relocate the pump to where the gearbox is? Its pushing petrol for more than 2 metres now to get to the carby so pressure could well be lost by the time it reaches the engine. If I put it where the gearbox is, would it make things better?
I also bought an oil cooler kit. The one without a thermo fan. The instructions say the cooler should be placed across the back so the fan shroud to the fan can draw air through it

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#934630
The pump should be at the tank end, they push better than suck. 🙂

The oil cooler fix is only a band-aid, but definately DO NOT put cooler across the fan intake, this will just preheat the cooling air going to the heads which are already too hot. Fix the cooling air system and you won't even need the oil cooler, I have 2.4 litre engines running 180hp street driven daily without oil coolers in Qld heat, with many miles of trouble free motoring.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE