I recently drove the Kermit fastie to Byron to visit a good friend. Parked it nose up on a slight incline. Overnight (unknown to me) the half a tank of the BP's finest had gravity feed throught the eletric fuel pump and past the carby's through the head and filled the engine case. Morning broke and a nice drive to lismore was on the cards. Boy I was wrong! Turned key, a slight crank followed by a dim light.
Oh crap. Battery has shit. We will clutch it!
And we did. Oil and Fuel gushed out of every seal and oriface that would let it pass. So I ask. anyone else had this problem?
Am i lucky that i didnt end up as another NSW road toll victim?

It was a long drive back home with a slipping clutch and oil leaks.

YEp had a similar problem the diaphram in the fuel pump failed and filled the sump with fuel.

You have to change the oil afew times over the net few day to get rid of all the crap in it.

So dump away.

Bit more work dave.

Well as i was pulling the engine apart, so i can change seals, I thought i would do the rings.
One cracked head between valves, and some rather scored barrells.
Looks like this could be fun.

:sandrine
Thank you again for coming all the way to Byron Bay to visit with us again.
Always nice to catch up with you.
We are sorry Kermit decided to play up
on the way to have a great day.
But we had one anyway, even if it was in another VW. My old girl came through again.
Maybe our cars are trying to tell us something....every time we leave each others place....one of our cars plays up.
It was mine last time....yours this time.
I think they like each other
I never noticed it before....quite funny really. Your Type 3 & my Bug....opposites attract I guess.
Bug can now look forward to the comming weekend when she can come up to visit
Kermit & "play volkswagen" all weekend.
Hope Kermit feels better soon.
Luv BUG (o|/o)

Hmmmm... A Type1 and a Type3....
Is that how they got Type4's?
:P:P

Hey Tassie, I had that once on the Kombi (type 4). It happened when I ran an electric pump for a while, they let fuel free-flow through them.
The main problem (for me anyway) was the needle and seat in the gasket kit is an el-cheapo with a poor seat. I replaced the needle and seat with an original German one and they don't leak anymore.
Lucky for me I noticed the fuel smell before starting, and while investigating it's source check the oil level. It was way above the upper level. Glad I didn't try to start it!!

Another option is an electric cut off in the fuel line (I've also installed one). The problem with them is they trap fuel in which heats up when the engines off sending the fuel pressure up very high (15psi) and can push the fuel lines off the brass tubes, even with hose clamps.
Andy

yes, exactly the same thing happened to my mate on fraser island. We went back to central station late at night, and the car park was full. So he parked up this steep (steep!) sandy hill.

In the morning we went to start it but it was like the engine was seized in one spot. we turned the engine forward and back with a shifter until it could turn freely again (the cylinder was actually full of fuel which could not be compressed, turning it backward and forward emptied it).

So then we started it, but the oil light flickered on. seemed the oil was a bit thin. Pulled the dipstick, smelt the oil, yep it's full of fuel. So we had to do an oil change on the biggest sand island in the world. Not a good place to do it. Not the cheapest place to buy oil.

this is scary- I have an electric pump - have had minor hydralic lock a few times (the 5w-40w oil I, thinks) but have no chance on explaining check dipstick level/ smell/ etc to my wife, I do have an elsctric fuel cut out sitting around but that is not the answer (thanks Richard) guess we have to all give this some thought

How does the fuel get passed the needle and seat in the carby ?
I would have thought it would close when the float bowl was full, stopping any fuel (if it was the pump diaphram) ?

With the angle of the car.. the bowl empties through the overflow. Allowing the float to drop. Electric pumps allow fuel to flow through......

What about running a loop of fuel line off the outlet (pressure) side of the fuel pump that goes above the level of the tank and carbies. This would break vacuum and stop the siphon??
Maybe??

it isn't vacuum that is causing the problem, it is gravity. So that wouldn't work.

Craig, because of the angle of the carb's the fuel level required to make the floats close the needle is higher than the main jet and/or float bowl overflow. So fuel dribbles out the mains and sometimes out the overflow.

Anyone with an offroad vw will notice the stock carb does this real bad when trying to climb hills. it starts fueling up. putting a short length of hose on the overflow so it goes higher up the air filter helps, but it still won't stop fuel getting past the main jet.

OOOHK how bout this, fuel cutoff switch easy to get from dualfuel car cheap at wreckers, between pump & carbies - if pump is electric, switch on dash goes to both, parking in suss position? then turn switch & pump off, then turn off motor 30 secs later???

That was my plan....
dont want it to happen again....
And a good idea Kombikim

My plan is a little different. I currently have the mechanical fuel pump working again (electric one is still mounted for emergencies) and a solenoid cut off at the outlet of the tank (great for changing the fuel filter, or cut all fuel off if something is leaking).
What I also have and will install is a check valve to allow fuel to flow back past the solenoid into the tank to prevent any pressure build up.
Unfortunately it won't solve the fuel leaking from the main jet on a hill when you turn off, but it will only be a small amount.

Once this is all working OK I will replace as much of the fuel line with stainless tube as is practicle to minimise the amount of potential leak points.

I rethought this last night & this be what I do

fuel cutoff solenoid at tank outlet (thanks Richard) so I can change the fuel filter easier (which should be between pump & tank so as not subject to pump pressure as previously discussed)
THE switch I currently use to turn off fuel pump will be also connected to cutoff solenoid (found at wreckers on Duel Fuel vehicles cheap)
SO THAT nobody drives off with the fuel switched off & engine dies in the middle of the road, the switch will be an ON/ON switch, the second "on" been connected to a flashing 12v LED (cheap from Dick Smiths) so that if ignition is turned on but fuel off, then LED will flash.
if parking on dubious slope turn off fuel & then turn off engine 15- 30 secs later
this whole idea will work with mechanical pump too

[Edited on 23-4-2003 by kombikim]

hey
in english please kombikim???
cheers
rhys

Eicht nicht Mah-naman-ah -doo-doo-dee-doo-doo ?

You wanna do what to my leg?

HEHEHEHEH.....

Och Knoo :o let me think about this - you have seen right through me

:jesus:jesus:jesus:jesus:repuke
rhys

Thanks wes.:thumb