Engine fire cause by...

ftp2leta · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: Engine fire cause by...

.... a faulty fuel pressure regulator.
It broke inside and started spaying from the air nipple, the vacuum hose broke and fuel went onto the distributor cap... igniting the fire.
It's the second time I see that kind of engine fire in my shop.

Just saying, FPR are getting old also.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

phlogiston · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject:

a couple years ago, i replaced a regulator that was leaking slowly. it looked like the fuel was seeping out where the 2 pieces of metal are bent together at the rib/flange in the middle.

goskiracer · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:41 pm Post subject:

^^^ same as above. I also observed a FPR leaking fuel around the rolled seam where the two halves come together.
_________________
86' Syncro 2.2 Vanistan, WBXhaust, ski-pole shifter for +11hp

ftp2leta · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject:

I'm not kidding, put that part on your holidays gift list. I don't start thread often, when I do, read them carefully.

_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

purplepeopleeater · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject:

Happened inside YOUR shop?

yikes.

scary.

ftp2leta · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject:

No, it came like that. 2 childes where sitting in the back, luckily the old fire extinguisher worked.

This is a FREE warning, for those of you that can afford a new FPR, do it, for the rest of you, you may just die in you beloved van. That said, some of you guy driving a 25 yo van just don't get it.

My time is precious, when I take time to warned you here take that as a blessing.

Period.
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

purplepeopleeater · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:24 pm Post subject:

OMG, thank you for logging in today...and posting.

now the post for newbs can be...

change fuel lines
change FPR
Laughing

kamzcab86 · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject:

$120 vs. burned-up priceless funmobile... One more thing added to the growing repair list. Confused

_________________
~Kamz Anxious

1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
Blue Vanagon

1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

Crankey · Samba Member Joined: July 11, 2004 Posts: 2659

if one was to R&R the FPR, could it be mounted outside of the engine bay ?

thanks for the heads up on this.

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 12:07 am Post subject:

Thats a great idea. Perhaps relocate it somewhere down by the fuel pump while redoing the fuel lines. Somewhere, I dunno - oh, maybe somewhere that's not directly atop the hot exhaust for instance??

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

Timwhy · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:45 am Post subject:

I did a search on amazon.com and these were the results for a FPR on an 87 Vanagon.
Pretty good prices, compared to the $120 from the usual suspects. Anyone have
expirence with this particular brand FPR?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000CB01NI/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

ftp2leta · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:33 am Post subject:

This is what I do on Subaru conversion, so why not on stock engine!
That said, 1 line to the engine only. It will end at the fuel rail... the last niple of the fuel rail will be block.
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

bluefirefly · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:36 am Post subject:

Be sure to get a good one.
I just replace a coolant level sensor and started leaking after 4 days from the connector plug!
Not sure if I want to have the same problem with a FPR!
Do you know a good and trusted brand name?
_________________
86 Syncro Tintop G60
work in progress ...as always!

reluctantartist · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:00 am Post subject:

Timwhy, Beck Arnley really is a re-seller. Often times their parts are Bosch or similar brand names. I have one and have had no problems with it. Keep in mind if you find a NOS regulator you will still need to be observant of its functioning. It is still over 20+ years old and anything that contains any variation of rubber in it is suspect for failure. But that said it is less likely to leak than what you have now. Too bad there is not a list somewhere from bosch and other manufacturers of the life span of various parts. I have a 1998 beetle and 2002 volvo and I am starting to wonder if maybe I need to be doing fuel injection R&R on those too.
_________________
1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

SteelB12 · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:05 am Post subject:

Dant · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: fuel pressure regulator

I had one of these fail and was filling #2 cylinder with fuel. I thought I had a bad starter, cranked a second and stopped. Just locked it seemed. After installing a new starter with no better results I started taking spark plugs out and cranking. When I got to #2 it cranked and blew the fuel out. Large puddle on the floor! Oh shit! I was very lucky.

This made me wonder about the alcohol in the fuel now. There must be a rubber diaphragm that would be damaged by our fuel?

Anyhow, if you have symtoms that make you think hydrolock, (wtf) maybe it is, only locked with fuel.

Dan
_________________
90 Carat
97 Jetta GLX
87 GL (nobody wanted it)
91 Syncro (Stripped,Plain Jane,fixed vent windows,no tach) also rusty. Hurray for me!

elsyr · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:23 am Post subject:

When I started replacing things on Brunhilde's motor, while we had it out to do the heads, the FPR was one I waivered on, since it was a relatively pricey part to replace and I did not have any reason to believe the one in there was bad. I'm glad, seeing this, that I went ahead and did it. I also really like the idea of moving it to a different location.

Doug
_________________
'89 Carat "Brunhilde"

SteelB12 · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:20 am Post subject:

Advance has this for $66

BWD/Intermotor Fuel Pressure Regulator
_________________
1987 Westy

teej · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:13 am Post subject:

AtlasShrugged · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:44 am Post subject:

Wonder if the flexible cloth vacuum line, which is only pushed on should be secured with a clamps. Ive seen the small lines with mini clamps on them on other makes. Volvo turbo comes to mind.

If the FPR fails internally and starts leaking, the fuel will always go into the intake and not jet over to the distributor and light up. Be careful, like in Dant's experience, and only catch fire if you get a fuel hydro-lock..remove the plugs and spin the engine over with the spark plug wires in the neighborhood of the spark plug holes!


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next
Page 1 of 6