I can't see how the fuel pump can pressurize the tank that much. The pressure from the pump to the SPICA pump is the critical reading (15-17 psi). On the return leg, the pressure is quite low in comparison for at the gas station I removed that hose from FI pump to test that gas was getting delivered to the FI pump. But it isn't hard to run the pressure test for I've got the hoses all set up. I guess I can test both sides of the fuel circuit while I'm at it.
And all the gas fumes/drips are at the fuel tank - no smell or evidence of gas in the engine compartment. And now I'm convinced that the only leak at the tank was where the fuel return line attached to the tank. It caused the dripping and sprayed gas onto the top of the gas tank leading me to think that the fuel gauge sender gasket was leaking. I pushed the return hose further onto the metal tube and tightened the FI-type hose clamp tighter. Bruce On Sun, Jul 29, 2012 at 10:06 PM, Brian Shorey <[email protected]> wrote: > I'd check it again. If there is a regulator that's crapped out, or a > clogged return line, it will probably be higher. A reading from a year ago > tells you that you had the right pump, or a pump properly regulated, a year > ago. It doesn't tell you what's happening now. > > With your indicated smell of fumes, I'd be alarmed. Like the guy with > high blood pressure on the verge of a stroke, your car might be on the > verge of bursting into flames. > > bs > > Sent from my iPad 4 > > On Jul 29, 2012, at 6:10 PM, Bruce Giller <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I did not check the fuel pressure on Sat. However about a year ago I > went > > thru the entire fuel system trying to discover why the car wouldn't start > > (faulty microswitch in the SPICA pump to the fuel cut off solenoid - it > was > > always ON) and I did check the fuel pressure. It was around 17-18 psi. > > > > Bruce > > > > On Sun, Jul 29, 2012 at 1:17 PM, Brian Shorey <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> Bruce, > >> > >> What is the actual fuel pressure? > >> > >> bs > >> > >> Sent from my iPad 4 > >> > >> On Jul 29, 2012, at 8:01 AM, Bruce Giller <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >>> Folks, > >>> > >>> On Saturday I did a thorough investigation of the tank's plumbing. The > >>> fuel pressure light would wink out in about 1-2 seconds and the pump > >>> sounded normal (not straining). I made sure that the fuel return > >> plumbing > >>> in the tank was clean by blowing air thru it and hearing bubbly noises > >> from > >>> inside tank (the tank was 1/2 full and the end of the return line was > >> below > >>> surface of the fuel). The two vapor recovery connections on the tank > >> were > >>> clear (blew thru them), and the vapor container's three connections > were > >>> clear. I double checked the vapor line inlet valve in that it didn't > >>> release pressure but only allowed air in. The vapor recovery line was > >>> clear all the way to the engine - little volume goes thru this line > >> that's > >>> for sure. And I checked the exhaust system for leaks and there are > none > >>> nearby the tank that would cause the tank to heat up. > >>> > >>> I've still no idea just what is going here with this tank. > >>> > >>> As to the different styles of FI pumps that Alfa put on SPICA cars, Wes > >> I. > >>> has a great write up here: > >>> > http://www.wesingram.com/SPICA_Fuel_Supply_Diagnostic_Guide_Nov_2004.pdf. > >>> My '73 GTV has the correct 2-port (one inlet, one outlet) FI pump. The > >>> newer models had the 3 ports. > >>> > >>> Bruce > >>> > >>> On Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 11:53 AM, John Palumbo <[email protected]> > >> wrote: > >>> > >>>> I just thought of something else. If your pump only has one port > exiting > >>>> the top of the pump, its quite possible you have an entirely wrong > pump > >> for > >>>> that particular car! I mean the newer Bosch pumps for the electronic > >>>> injection cars have only one port exiting the top of the pump. So > maybe > >>>> someone swapped-out one these for the old styled original pump that > was > >> on > >>>> the car, thinking that it would be more reliable. > >>>> > >>>> T-Mobile, America's First Nationwide 4G Network > >>>> Sent by Samsung Mobile > >>>> > >>>> Bruce Giller <[email protected]> wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> John, > >>>>> > >>>>> My FI fuel pump is the new style with only two ports so there's no > way > >> the > >>>>> gas can back into the tank from it. > >>>>> > >>>>> Bruce > >>>>> > >>>>> On Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 7:18 AM, John Palumbo <[email protected]> > >>>> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> Just a quick thought, I would tend to think it would have something > to > >>>> do > >>>>>> with the fuel delivery from the fuel pump. The fuel it would seem is > >>>>>> getting pumped back into the tank, instead of to the pump where it > >>>> belongs, > >>>>>> hense you noticed it took longer for the pressure light to go out. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> If I can recall, the older pumps had three ports on them, one to the > >>>> SPICA > >>>>>> pump, one as a return to the tank, and I think the third was for > some > >>>>>> emmissions thing, I'm not sure. I know the the newer pumps had only > >> two > >>>>>> ports. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> So maybe if you had a spare pump, you could try installing it and > see > >> if > >>>>>> it does the same thing. Perhaps there is a sort of check valve > system, > >>>>>> similiar to that of a diode thats gone bad, it being that alows the > >>>> fuel to > >>>>>> flow in only one direction, to the SPICA pump. The other thought > would > >>>> be > >>>>>> to run it with the fuel cap off. But there should be no logical > reason > >>>> why > >>>>>> the tank should be over pressurizing. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> John > >>>>>> > >>>>>> T-Mobile, America's First Nationwide 4G Network > >>>>>> Sent by Samsung Mobile > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Bruce Giller <[email protected]> wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> Yesterday we (David Tallerico and I) attended a Seat Time session > at > >>>>>> Summit > >>>>>>> Point track after a too-long hiatus. The weather temp wasn't hot > but > >>>>>>> pretty warm - mid to upper 80's or so. It is 1.5 hour drive from > my > >>>> house > >>>>>>> there and we stopped in Charles Town for gas. at around 7:50 am. > At > >>>> the > >>>>>>> station the car would not restart and we discovered that it was > >> getting > >>>>>> any > >>>>>>> gas for the plugs were dry. The fuel pressure light went out but > it > >>>> took > >>>>>>> longer than usual for it to go out; usually after running for a > bit, > >> it > >>>>>>> only takes 1 second for it to wink out. I removed the return hose > >> from > >>>>>> the > >>>>>>> SPICA pump and gas was pumped out with the fuel pump on. We > 'fixed' > >>>> the > >>>>>>> non-starting problem with starter fluid sprayed down the throats. > >> Off > >>>> to > >>>>>>> the track! > >>>>>>> ..................... > >>> -- > >>> to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi > >>> or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] > > -- > > to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi > > or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
