Vanagon Fuel Pump Cavitation Noise

[SoquelDude]

[E1]

[kamzcab86]

[SoquelDude]

[E1]

Good stuff Kamz, Thanks.

The evap “exchanger” idea sounds great. If you build it, they……

I recall once way back our fuel pump was acting up. Don’t recall many details honestly, very early on so knew very little — (to wit, some things never change ) — beyond it being *perfectly fine* after wire brushing the frame under the ground, and also the eyelet, washer, and bolt…….

The other fuel system grounds you referred to passed me like a dump truck does our van. Little wonder.

Do you think there’s any reason our pumps aren’t insulated, like they inherently run hotter…? They they do have to push fuel a long ways so presume they’re of a higher capacity than say our Jetta and your GTI…?

We also still carry what I think was the original fuel pump in this van, but only for backup (and also carry a new one) — but the original still worked fine when we swapped it out about four years back.

Thanks.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[kamzcab86]

[E1]

Ah, that’s right (the Cab).

Thanks for the flow stats, cool (pun intentional). Interesting, and extra flow may well be our nemesis for earlier failure here.

Never had fuel pump issues from 1979 until 2013 and first Vanagon, but that said none in our vans have totally failed us, either.

Then again, I prematurely replace the canister filter as a regular habit in probably just a few thousand miles, and carry two new spares (in the Vanatrailer )… if nothing else than for watered gas.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[redrosie]

I had a screaming fuel pump a few years ago. Changed pump and filter but still had the noise. I checked almost everything including pump flow rate and pressure. From what I remember it wasn't until I carefully checked the inlet port on the pump that I found flakes of rust.
Changed the tank and it's been quiet ever since. That was four years ago.
You installed a new tank but was it clean inside? The baffles are spot welded which can throw off weld slag. There is no rust protectant on the baffles. You could have a pre-rusted tank.
So much can go wrong at a factory. You can see in my photo that the pick up tube has what looks like a faulty braze on my new tank.
Recently Djkeev posted some pictures of a fuel tank that was cut open. It looks like an original with more thought put into the filters. The newer and cheaper versions are made by cutting every quality control measure they can.. my opinion.
I told myself if I ever hear that level of noise again from the pump I know right where to check.

Circled area shows a blob of braze at the pick up. Brazing can ball up and leave loose berries behind.

[LarsHepping]

Can we get an example of what this cavitation noise that everyone's talking about actually sounds like? My pump is sometimes loud-ish and sometimes whisper quiet. I've owned a few fuel injected air-cooled VW's (not vanagons) and those pumps all made a bit of noise. So how do we know we've crossed the line from regular pump noise to cavitation?

[E1]

Short of a video, if it sounds like you’re in 1969 on Day 1 in the Marines — converting your Robert Plant hairdo to a flat top — that’s almost exactly how it sounds.

Not that I’ve ever had a flat top…
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[SoquelDude]

[LarsHepping]

[SoquelDude]