heat, load, gas tank pressure, check engine light.

[debbiej]

I've not been here in a while. we are enjoying a 94 eurovan with a rialta winnebago body attached. when the weather gets hot, we have fuel smell, pressurized gas tank, (it gurgles), and greatly reduced milage. we don't have these problems when it isn't hot.
we have removed the charcoal canister, but not opened or replaced it because it rattled when we shook it, and we thought that was a good indication that the media inside was loose and dry.
we checked and cleaned the N80 valve, and it seemed to be working, and there is current getting to it. a trip after these steps resulted in no gurgling gas tank, or pressure build up in tank, but 12 mpg.
today we cleaned the throttle body and have't taken a trip to test that step.
we used to get 17 mpg average, now are down to 11-12.
because it is a 94 eurovan, the N80 valve and the charcoal canister are pricy and hard to find. I know this has been addressed on this forum, and also I've posted on rialta-tech. searching would lead me to believe this is a problem that really can't be solved except by avoiding high temperature traveling. tough if one lives in NM.

[jjvincent]

Have you checked the engine codes with a VAG-COM?

[debbiej]

No, I believe my 94 has very limited codes, and we don't have the reader. Maybe a shop we use sometimes would.

[Abscate]

Worth going back to Stage 0 on all the ignition parts, compression test, and evaluate spark plugs to make sure all cylinders are firing.

The mileage drop and evap problems should be treated as separate problems until shown to be otherwise.
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.ssS!

[debbiej]

ok, thanks.

[pioneer1]

I had the same problem with mine when we reached the altitude of NMexico and 100*. I found if I just left the gas cap cracked open a bit the problem disappeared.
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[DenverB]

I learned this with my baywindow:

just because the charcoal cannister rattles around doesn't mean it's not a problem. Since 1994 when that thing was sold off the dealership lot those charcoal bits have been grinding against one another creating a fine powder inside that canister. You caught it when it was dry, but when gasoline builds up in there enough it creates a sludge that prevents the thing from operating as intended. basically: you create charcoal mud with gasoline.

On to the eurovan-specific aspect of this post:

we've had similar issues and the charcoal cannister was a main part of the problem. the evap purge valve being another. replacing both mostly solved the issues. mostly, i say, as the gas smell still shows up on nearly every van from time to time if the weather is really hot (like driving six hours from Vegas up through southern utah in July, for example)
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'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)

www.RockyMountainCampervans.com

[debbiej]

I'd like to bypass the whole thing. But don't know how. I suppose we will have to replace it though.