Car started pinging...

[sb001]

while driving back from picking up my delicious Dominos pizza.
I noticed the oil level was a bit high on the dipstick as well and smelled a bit like fuel but not overly so.
I went to remove the fuel pump to have a looksee, but I discovered the nuts holding the fuel pump to the engine case were quite loose.
Have I already found my problem, and just tightening the nuts will solve the issue? Or do I definitely have a leaky diaphragm? Thx
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Igpoe]

Is insulator broken? If so a piece of the bakelite may have been driven into the diaphragm by the push rod and split it. But just as importantly, why is it pinging?
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'73 super.

[sb001]

[Igpoe]

Without the diaphragm being split I dont see how while it's running. With the motor off the needle valve attached to the float could be sticking open and leaking into the crankcase from the carb. Check your electronic fuel solenoid on the side of your carb. It's supposed to stop fuel flow when you turn off ignition
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'73 super.

[sb001]

[Igpoe]

Spark plug is not in the path of the slowly dribbling fuel.
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'73 super.

[sb001]

[Igpoe]

I'm very sure I dont know the answer to that one. Seems your compression would have to go up somehow or the octane of your fuel would have to go down. Could your distributor also be loose? Has somebody sabotaged your car? Strange problems.
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'73 super.

[67rustavenger]

How many miles since your last full tune up?
Valve lash, adjust/replace points, check replace spark plugs, set ignition timing, adjust carb settings, float level check and cleaning, freshen up the oil in the filter. All these things may have an affect on the pinging.

What fuel pump are you running? A Peirburg round top, square top, or a auto parts store replacement?
IMO, a loose FP will not cause a lean condition. You may not get the float bowl completely full. But it should not cause the engine to ping.
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Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
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There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[sb001]

Sorry I have no idea when I messed with any of that stuff last but the car has been running fine. The pinging just started happening suddenly, as I was driving. Had not done it before. As if something suddenly got out of whack.
I'm running a decent quality Brosol fuel pump that LOOKS just like a lot of the aftermarkets sold today but is older and better quality including having a strainer inside and a screw on top I can remove and disassemble the pump (even has the same emblem on it that the similar design Pierbergs had whatever that trapezoidal shaped emblem is.) Here's a pic

I guess I just need to pull the pump and see if there is fuel collected in the little baffles atop the pedestal underneath, or if the grease on the pivot is washed away. I went ahead and changed the oil this evening and filled it exactly to the full mark on the dispstick, then went for about a 30 minute drive, when I got back I checked the level again (after letting the car sir for about 20 minutes) and the dipstick again shows about 1/4" above the full mark. It just seems too coincidental to me that both the higher level on the dipstick and the pinging started at the same time.
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[MuzzcoVW]

Don't drive anymore until you fix that pump. fuel in oil is a great way to destroy bearings! If fuel is filling the case the only way...at least that quickly, is the fuel pump.

[vamram]

Did it ping again during your latest 30 minute drive? Did the oil smell like gas again and appear to be thinned out? I sometimes find after an oil change that I have to let the car sit for a few minutes before confirming the level. Is it possible you just slightly over filled it? I doubt that an extra 1/4-1/2 quart would do any damage. Oh, and I'm assuming you tightened down the fuel pump....
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Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[sb001]

[vamram]

Just throwing a few ideas out here.....

I forget but do you have the thermostat in place? If so, is it opening up all the way?

I'm not very familiar w/the autostick other than the trans is a mix of manual and automatic components. Is it possible the clutch is slipping?

Dripping quite a bit of oil doesn't sound good, I've never noticed more oil drip after a long run in hot weather (have had a ton of those lately....). Bad crankshaft seal...?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[sb001]

[Starbucket]

Remove the fuel pump and put a piece of fuel hose on both ports and fill the hoses with gas and watch for dripping.

[vwoldbug]

Have you checked ignition timing since this started , also maybe check fuel pressure and make sure to check distributor advance and retard.

[Igpoe]

When I check my oil after the car has been sitting a couple of days its initially showing about a half quart overfull. I can then wipe it dry with a clean cotton cloth and put it back in for a moment and take it back out and invariably it's reading normal full level again. I cannot explain it, but I wonder if yours might do the same thing. In other words ........ check it twice.
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'73 super.

[sb001]

[sb001]