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JJfierce
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020
Posts: 69
Location: San Diego, CA
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 Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:54 am Post subject: Unable to fill gas tank |
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I’ve noticed recently that when I go to put gas in my vanagon the pump stops when the tank is ~3/4 full. My guess is there’s air trapped in there? Any ideas on a solution would be appreciated!
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Ludwig Van - 1984 Vanagon GL, 1.9L manual transmission |
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wbailey2112
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Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 483
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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You're assuming that your fuel gauge is accurate which may be a bad assumption. Your tank is probably full but your gauge is unable to indicate that it is.
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'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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JJfierce
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020
Posts: 69
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:29 am Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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My fuel gauge is definitely not accurate, I know I need a new sender. I have been tracking my miles though, and I’ve only been getting about 130 miles before I have to fill up again
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Ludwig Van - 1984 Vanagon GL, 1.9L manual transmission |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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djkeev
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JJfierce
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020
Posts: 69
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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Thank you, I’ll give this a try!
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Ludwig Van - 1984 Vanagon GL, 1.9L manual transmission |
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?Waldo?
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Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| JJfierce wrote: |
| My fuel gauge is definitely not accurate, I know I need a new sender. I have been tracking my miles though, and I’ve only been getting about 130 miles before I have to fill up again |
By 'have to fill up again' are you saying that you have run out of fuel? |
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Mckinleyvillian
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2021
Posts: 506
Location: Macktown, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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timely post, DJKEEV. thank you. my 85 is "full" at 10 gallons, every time...
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so many roads i know
all i want is one to take me home
85 Vanagon GL 1.9 stick |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 3100
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| ?Waldo? wrote: |
| JJfierce wrote: |
| My fuel gauge is definitely not accurate, I know I need a new sender. I have been tracking my miles though, and I’ve only been getting about 130 miles before I have to fill up again |
By 'have to fill up again' are you saying that you have run out of fuel? |
+1
carry a gallon of gas with you and run it out and report what you find.
bad voltage regulator of the blue foil can give all sorts of weird indications.
way easy thing to check before dealing w.the burp solution.
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Mckinleyvillian
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2021
Posts: 506
Location: Macktown, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| ?Waldo? wrote: |
| JJfierce wrote: |
| My fuel gauge is definitely not accurate, I know I need a new sender. I have been tracking my miles though, and I’ve only been getting about 130 miles before I have to fill up again |
By 'have to fill up again' are you saying that you have run out of fuel? |
not OP but what happens to me, and I know the fuel gauge is not working properly and I can ground it etc and haven't yet, but without fail the needle hits empty when there are 6 gallons left in the tank. 10 gallons fills her up unless I run it completely dry, which I'm not aiming to do with a brand new fuel pump.
so I guess what I'm wondering is if there's an air pocket or something? Makes no sense!
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so many roads i know
all i want is one to take me home
85 Vanagon GL 1.9 stick |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Ben Root
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Joined: October 24, 2008
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| I'm going to jump in here because I fought this issue for a long time...thinking it was the fuel/tank...but it wasn't. It ended up being dirty/corroded wiring contacts on the gauge sending unit (increasing resistance) which tricks the gauge into thinking you're lower on fuel than is true. It was a quick easy fix to clean them. I guess if it's bad/corroded contacts at the other ends of those wires (ground, etc.) then they might be harder to find, or get to. But start with the contacts on the fuel level sensor at the tank. |
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Mckinleyvillian
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2021
Posts: 506
Location: Macktown, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| djkeev wrote: |
The ground for the gas gauge is under the drivers seat area which is above the gas tank.
It is often rusty, corroded and ineffectual.
Ironically You access it best by dropping the gas tank. |
I replaced the tank/fuel lines when I bought the van last summer. dropping the tank was easy enough.
I'm assuming this ground is able to be seen in Bentley?
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so many roads i know
all i want is one to take me home
85 Vanagon GL 1.9 stick |
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djkeev
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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dobryan
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?Waldo?
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Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Unable to fill gas tank |
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| Mckinleyvillian wrote: |
...without fail the needle hits empty when there are 6 gallons left in the tank. 10 gallons fills her up unless I run it completely dry, which I'm not aiming to do with a brand new fuel pump.
so I guess what I'm wondering is if there's an air pocket or something? Makes no sense! |
Sounds like a simple case of the gauge reading being bad. Occam's razor and all that. |
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djkeev
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