Multiple fuel regulators?

[vwmattm]

Hey all-

I'm in the midst of replacing the fuel lines on a new to me '84 1.9L Vanagon using the GoWesty kit (GVW-FUELLINE). Going fine, but I'm a bit confused at seeing the return lines from the fuel rails go into a regulator mounted to a bracket on the engine, which then goes to another regulator before going back to the tank. I haven't seen such a thing in any diagrams, is this stock or something the PO did?

Here's what I'm looking at, the regulator at the front (top) is what has me confused:

Thanks!
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70 FI M/T Squareback - SOLD
84 1.9 Vanagon

[SGKent]

don't own a vanagon but to me that looks like a vacuum device. The bus FPR have a fuel in, a fuel out and a vacuum source. If you look at it, you will see one side of it goes over to what appears to be a brake booster check valve. Might start looking for that in the manual.
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Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).

George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[tjet]

Those clamps on the fuel lines are not OEM.

[kamzcab86]

[hdenter]

Secondary FPR might have been installed to increase fuel pressure at wide open throttle. In discussions about how to get more fuel into the motor with stock injection and a turbo, it was suggested to add a secondary FPR that would raise FP an additional 5 or more PSI and flow more fuel under boost. This may have been an attempt to do something similar.

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[ZsZ]

or probably the OE 4 port regulator gone bad and it was easier to add a good 3 port one than searching for an OE style
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[djkeev]

[ZsZ]

[MarkWard]

Definitely not stock. If the original regulator had failed and was not maintaining system pressure, this would have been a quick and easy solution to get the fuel pressure back up to spec. I’ll need to remember that fix.

[vwmattm]

[MarkWard]

First step would be to put a fuel pressure gauge on the rail. There should be a T at the base of the oil breather stand with a tiny bolt sealing it. Don't drop the bolt. You can measure your current pressure with the rig, and then bypass the secondary regulator and test again. To test full system pressure, you can carefully crimp the return to the tank from either regulator and that will peg the system pressure.

Without testing fuel pressure you have no idea whats going on. You should also do a fuel volume test described in the factory manual.

Pumps make noise when they wear out, but also when they are cavitating due to a restriction on the inlet side.

[Wildthings]

I would go with the theory that the OEM pressure regulator went bad but was left in the system as a "T" when the other regulator was added. Not the way I would probably do it but effective.

Yes check your fuel pressure so you know what is going on.

[Steve Arndt]

Belt and suspenders lol.
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Steve
Steve's 87 Syncro project

[vwmattm]

Finally coming back to this. Back a few months ago I ordered a new FPR as it seemed prudent given the comments and its (assumed) age. But the new one, an Intermotor brand one from O'reilly's has a raised area where it meets the mounting bracket causing it to not sit flush against the bracket.

Are others seeing this as well? Do I just need to take it to the hardware store and find a big washer or something to make it wide enough to rest fully against the bracket?
From another thread this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CB01NI/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me= was linked as replacement, which from the image there, has the same raised area below the threads.

Here's what I'm talking about, the raised area below the threads for the nut:

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70 FI M/T Squareback - SOLD
84 1.9 Vanagon

[jlrftype7]

[MarkWard]

A shim sounds fine. Can the hole in the bracket be enlarged? I would verify the engine runs with the new regulator before you go to any extra trouble.

[Abscate]

[Jake de Villiers]

[vwmattm]

[vwmattm]

As I've been comparing my setup to the Bentley, I'm noticing my vacuum hoses are not routed correctly. As you can see in my first post's picture, the line coming off the retard on the vac can doesn't go to the circuit with the FPR and intake manifold. But the Bentley doesn't call out what sizes or types of lines these should be. I understand there are both rubber and hard plastic lines involved here, but its not clear to me which is which. I've read here that folks say to use a better quality hose off of the FPR in case is fails, what are folks using?

I have some length of 3.5mm hose from VanCafe, is that ok to use for all the circuits on both the advance and retard sides of the house? It seems like the nipples on the vancuum can and the various tee's etc are different diameters; are there supposed to be convertors at the end of them?

I'd love to see any 1.9 engine bays if someone has a clear pic of the whole thing. Searching for engine pictures is tough on here.
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70 FI M/T Squareback - SOLD
84 1.9 Vanagon