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Milky gas after fuel pump
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:46 pm    Post subject: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Hello all,

Got stuck with my 91 2.2 over the week-end. Thought it was another fuel pump issue so I replaced but no luck! While testing the fuel pressure, I realized that gas was milky looking after the pump. Is it normal since gas is badly shaken in the pump or it is not normal? Next step for me to check is the Subaru regulator since the fuel pressure was ok at 30 psi.

Thanks for any input

GB
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shagginwagon83
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

I don't know if this is why it is milky, but water can get into your gas through the overfill gas expansion tanks in your front wheel wells.
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AndyBees
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Could be sucking a very small amount of air!
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pump some of that milky gas into a glass container then let it sit for an hour.

The milky should go away.

If it goes away and you have two distinct layers like oil and vinegar, you have water in your tank.
If it settles with no layers, you've got fuel beat full of air.

Dave
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Thx for the answers.

I did fill clear plastic bucket yesterday and all liquid was clear this morning.

Seems like no layer so probably air.

So I conclude that this is not normal. I will check all connections.

Could it be the reason of my lost of power that I thought was the fuel pump or the fuel pressure sensor?

Thx again.

Gaetan
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

How much gas in the tank?

The hard plastic fuel pickup hose in the tank can crack.
The crack would only be an air entrainment issue with lower fuel levels or on hills.

Dave
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 5:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Hello,

Tank is about half full!

I will reconnect the hole thing this week-end and see if my lost of power is still there.

Thx

GB
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pichenotte wrote:
Hello,

Tank is about half full!

I will reconnect the hole thing this week-end and see if my lost of power is still there.

Thx

GB


If your fuel tank ventilation system is clogged it can cause the pump to draw a vacuum on the tank and associated line and will of course suck air in through any possible location.
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Witless Joe
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 9:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Indeed.

Also, how old is the gas tank?

If this is an old, rusty tank, full of crap at the bottom and partially clogged with rusty smegma, the same thing will happen.

Clogs in the supply circuit will force a fuel pump to suck air in from any weak spot along the line that would not normally be a problem.

Wildthings wrote:
If your fuel tank ventilation system is clogged it can cause the pump to draw a vacuum on the tank and associated line and will of course suck air in through any possible location.
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Hello all,

Thx for all the advices.

Fuel comes from tank clear and high flow.

Reconnected everything and check fuel pressure just before fuel rail and get about 35 psi.

Still does not start (again this is a 2.2 Subaru)

Next move is to replace fuel pressure regulator unless someone knows how to test it with engine just cranking.

Thx again.

Gaetan
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pichenotte wrote:


Next move is to replace fuel pressure regulator unless someone knows how to test it with engine just cranking.

Thx again.

Gaetan


By verifying that you have 35 psi of fuel pressure, you pretty much did verify that the FPR is doing its job.
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Thx Wildthings,

Then I don't know where to start from!

As I wrote in the beginning, it all started on the road like the few occasions where the fuel pump died. Lost of power until I replace the pump.

Now with the new pump, it does not even start.

Should I check first if spark plugs spark? Is it like a good old sled where you remove the plug, make contact with the block and crank to see if there are sparks?

Gaetan
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:29 am    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

New fuel pump, not starting......

Did you wire it properly?
A DC motor wired backwards will spin backwards,

Dave
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 3:19 am    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pichenotte wrote:

Should I check first if spark plugs spark?


Checking for spark would be an obvious step.
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Hello,

Quick update.

I do have sparks and pump runs fine since I do have 35 psi.

There was no sign of unburned fuel on the spark plug I removed so I suppose the injectors do not send fuel.

Will try replacing FPR.

Gaetan
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 8:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pichenotte wrote:
Hello,

Quick update.

I do have sparks and pump runs fine since I do have 35 psi.

There was no sign of unburned fuel on the spark plug I removed so I suppose the injectors do not send fuel.

Will try replacing FPR.

Gaetan


You need to verify if the injectors are getting a signal to fire. You need to acquire a node light or some way to see if if there is a signal. The injectors get power through the FI relay and fire when the ECU grounds the other lead on the injectors.

As I said before if you have 35 psi the regulator is doing its job.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Pichenotte wrote:
Hello,

Quick update.

I do have sparks and pump runs fine since I do have 35 psi.

There was no sign of unburned fuel on the spark plug I removed so I suppose the injectors do not send fuel.

Will try replacing FPR.

Gaetan


Just an FYI, a fuel pump will pressurize air to darn near that pressure.

Check for volume flow also.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=751454&highlight=



Dave
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Pichenotte
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 5:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

Hello,

Finally had some time to continue my trouble shooting!

I do have a signal to trigger the injector (test light from battery + to ground wire of connector and light flashing while cranking.

So now I am lost.

I planned to replace fuel pump with new one in case it is defective even if I do have about 35 psi and flow.

Any idea what to try next?

Thx

Gaetan
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 4:14 am    Post subject: Re: Milky gas after fuel pump Reply with quote

So lets recap.

You report that you have.......

Spark.. is this at the coil? The cap? Or the plug?

You have fuel pressure

You have fuel volume

You have injector pulse

But.....
It will not start and the plugs are dry.

If you have compression (which one rarely loses instantly) it should start.

I'll say You need to double check things.
Pull a bank of injectors and look for spray.
Put in new plugs.
Verify spark at the plug.

Dave
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