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Posted by: sarah dell - 15 August 2008 14:23:56
My beetle seems to be drinking fuel. I put 35 pounds worth of fuel in an lasted about 4 days which is 4 trips to work of about 10 miles (there and back) before I ran out of fuel, seems heck of a lot. I just got my beetle back on the road as needed new steering box, the guy at the specialist aircooled garage said the tubes (are the called valves?) in the carb which allows the fuel through were too big is this why it's drinking fuel. Just don't wanna waste my money getting them replaced (as don't know how to do myself) if this is not the problem? Thanks in advance

Posted by: sarah dell - 15 August 2008 14:23:56

My beetle seems to be drinking fuel. I put 35 pounds worth of fuel in an lasted about 4 days which is 4 trips to work of about 10 miles (there and back) before I ran out of fuel, seems heck of a lot. I just got my beetle back on the road as needed new steering box, the guy at the specialist aircooled garage said the tubes (are the called valves?) in the carb which allows the fuel through were too big is this why it's drinking fuel. Just don't wanna waste my money getting them replaced (as don't know how to do myself) if this is not the problem? Thanks in advance

Posted by: Rich Oakley - 15 August 2008 14:39:27
The specialist is almost certainly correct. Get somebody to set your carburettor up properly.

Posted by: sarah dell - 15 August 2008 14:57:01
Thanks very much for your help, hopefully will take my fuel bill down once they are changed. :d

Posted by: mrsherbie - 15 August 2008 22:04:20
It should not be very expensive and will run better afterwards too :d

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 14:48:49
How much should he charge me do you recon, he is also moving the oil cooler as someone has moved it out of the fan housing (before I bought the car, and new even less than I do know) and put it to the right of the engine bay which is a bit odd. Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, trying to make sure my bug lasts for years to come and that I do things right, used to be in a club which dispanded and so now have no one with knowledge to ask. Thanks Sarah

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 14:48:49

How much should he charge me do you recon, he is also moving the oil cooler as someone has moved it out of the fan housing (before I bought the car, and new even less than I do know) and put it to the right of the engine bay which is a bit odd. Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, trying to make sure my bug lasts for years to come and that I do things right, used to be in a club which dispanded and so now have no one with knowledge to ask. Thanks Sarah

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 15:18:21
[quote=sarah dell]How much should he charge me do you recon, he is also moving the oil cooler as someone has moved it out of the fan housing (before I bought the car, and new even less than I do know) and put it to the right of the engine bay which is a bit odd. Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, trying to make sure my bug lasts for years to come and that I do things right, used to be in a club which dispanded and so now have no one with knowledge to ask. Thanks Sarah[/quote] Don't worry about asking lots of questions, thats what the forum is here for!! Are you sure it's not an additional oil cooler mounted on the right of the engine bay? It would be running extremely hot without the standard oil cooler in the fan as it wouldn't have air blowing over it.

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 15:18:21

[quote=sarah dell]How much should he charge me do you recon, he is also moving the oil cooler as someone has moved it out of the fan housing (before I bought the car, and new even less than I do know) and put it to the right of the engine bay which is a bit odd. Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions, trying to make sure my bug lasts for years to come and that I do things right, used to be in a club which dispanded and so now have no one with knowledge to ask. Thanks Sarah[/quote] Don't worry about asking lots of questions, thats what the forum is here for!! Are you sure it's not an additional oil cooler mounted on the right of the engine bay? It would be running extremely hot without the standard oil cooler in the fan as it wouldn't have air blowing over it.

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 15:30:53
it has a grey box to the right with two pipes coming out one to the underneath the oil filler cap and one going left and disapearing to the side of the engine. I have pic on my desktop but can't seem to upload.:( [ATTACH]1958[/Attach]

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 15:34:22
Ah ha managed to upload pick, the guy at the garage said that the oil cooler had been moved out of the way and said it needed sorting asap so I asume that the one at the side is the only one.

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 15:38:50
Nice colours :d Still looks like an additional cooler to me, they're not uncommon among modified beetles.

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 15:43:10
I know this is going to sound really stupid but how can I tell if it's additional or if it's the only one? what do I need to do/look for?

Posted by: lifeintheslowlane - 19 August 2008 15:43:24
Think it's a breather box not an oil cooler. They are added to larger displacement engines to vent excess pressure from the crankcase. Once you lift that fanshroud you'll see you still have the oil cooler where it shoud be.

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 15:48:16
do you think the vw garage is trying to diddle me then and charge me for oil cooler I already have?

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 16:09:20
[quote=lifeintheslowlane]Think it's a breather box not an oil cooler. They are added to larger displacement engines to vent excess pressure from the crankcase. Once you lift that fanshroud you'll see you still have the oil cooler where it shoud be.[/quote] Yep you're right, it's a breather box. [quote=sarah dell]do you think the vw garage is trying to diddle me then and charge me for oil cooler I already have?[/quote] Probably not trying to diddle you, they probably just don't know...

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 16:09:20

[quote=lifeintheslowlane]Think it's a breather box not an oil cooler. They are added to larger displacement engines to vent excess pressure from the crankcase. Once you lift that fanshroud you'll see you still have the oil cooler where it shoud be.[/quote] Yep you're right, it's a breather box. [quote=sarah dell]do you think the vw garage is trying to diddle me then and charge me for oil cooler I already have?[/quote] Probably not trying to diddle you, they probably just don't know...

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 16:15:42
the pipe on the right hand side is not connected to anything, does that make a difference?

Posted by: six-o-one - 19 August 2008 17:22:49
[quote=sarah dell]the pipe on the right hand side is not connected to anything, does that make a difference? [/quote] It's usual to have one pipe going to the breather box from the oil filler, as you described. Additional pipes are often run from the rocker covers on either side of the engine, making 3 pipes going into the box in total. have a look under the wing at each side of the engine. Look at the cover on each cylinder head (one on each side) If there is a vent pipe on the cover, that's where the pipe should be connected. If there is an outlet but no pipe attached you'll be blowing oil out - not a good idea! No outlets on the rocker covers and you're fine. :d They are usually attached at the top at the rear of the engine (if they are fitted). [img]https://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/350928.jpg[/img]

Posted by: six-o-one - 19 August 2008 17:22:49

[quote=sarah dell]the pipe on the right hand side is not connected to anything, does that make a difference? [/quote] It's usual to have one pipe going to the breather box from the oil filler, as you described. Additional pipes are often run from the rocker covers on either side of the engine, making 3 pipes going into the box in total. have a look under the wing at each side of the engine. Look at the cover on each cylinder head (one on each side) If there is a vent pipe on the cover, that's where the pipe should be connected. If there is an outlet but no pipe attached you'll be blowing oil out - not a good idea! No outlets on the rocker covers and you're fine. :d They are usually attached at the top at the rear of the engine (if they are fitted). [img]https://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/350928.jpg[/img]

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 17:33:20
sorry but whats a rocker cover, cylinder head? Sorry I know I'm a complete novice. :oops:

Posted by: six-o-one - 19 August 2008 17:41:59
[quote=sarah dell]sorry but whats a rocker cover, cylinder head? Sorry I know I'm a complete novice. :oops: [/quote] The cylinder heads are where the exhaust bolts onto, one on each side of the engine. On the end of each cylinder head is a valve cover, also known as a'rocker' cover ( the silver part on the right of the above picture). Inside the cover are the rocker arms which open and close the valves to let fuel/air in and the exhaust gasses out of the cylinder. Have you bought yourself a Haynes manual yet? Worth buying even if you don't intend working on your bug much. It'll show you where everything is. Malc :d

Posted by: six-o-one - 19 August 2008 17:41:59

[quote=sarah dell]sorry but whats a rocker cover, cylinder head? Sorry I know I'm a complete novice. :oops: [/quote] The cylinder heads are where the exhaust bolts onto, one on each side of the engine. On the end of each cylinder head is a valve cover, also known as a'rocker' cover ( the silver part on the right of the above picture). Inside the cover are the rocker arms which open and close the valves to let fuel/air in and the exhaust gasses out of the cylinder. Have you bought yourself a Haynes manual yet? Worth buying even if you don't intend working on your bug much. It'll show you where everything is. Malc :d

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 17:42:08
[quote=sarah dell]sorry but whats a rocker cover, cylinder head? Sorry I know I'm a complete novice. :oops: [/quote] The rocker cover is the big silver thing in the pic above, there's one on each side of the engine. :d

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 17:44:50
[quote=pre67vw] The rocker cover is the big silver thing in the pic above, there's one on each side of the engine. :d [/quote] Malc, you beat me to it... I'd buy an idiot guide, not that I'm calling anyone an idiot... but the book assumes no previous knowledge at all. [url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0945465122/pre67volkswag]https://www.amazon.co.uk[/url]

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 17:52:07
thanks for the help guys I have bought the idiot guide but only just started reading. I have no previous knowlege of cars and was not looked at favourably by my dad being female and all. But have decided to take the bull by the horns and try and teach myself with the help of others like yourselves. Prob is that my engine has been modified so not exactly as books discribe. And thanks for being kind but I am an idiot when it comes to mechanics, but I'll learn...all had to start somewhere. :d

Posted by: sarah dell - 19 August 2008 17:52:07

thanks for the help guys I have bought the idiot guide but only just started reading. I have no previous knowlege of cars and was not looked at favourably by my dad being female and all. But have decided to take the bull by the horns and try and teach myself with the help of others like yourselves. Prob is that my engine has been modified so not exactly as books discribe. And thanks for being kind but I am an idiot when it comes to mechanics, but I'll learn...all had to start somewhere. :d

Posted by: pre67vw - 19 August 2008 18:09:12
Well, you've already learned not to go back to that VW garage :lol:

Posted by: sarah dell - 20 August 2008 07:26:59
got any my way you could recommend?

Posted by: sarah dell - 25 August 2008 21:33:41
[quote=pre67vw] The rocker cover is the big silver thing in the pic above, there's one on each side of the engine. :d [/quote] The pipe was disconnected, mine was connected in the middle under a piece of rubber but managed to get it fixed on. The air cooler has been moved as when i had the fan housing off to fix the fan there was no oil cooler in the fan housing, when I followed the wires there was a round almost can like thing under the wing?

Posted by: sarah dell - 25 August 2008 21:33:41

[quote=pre67vw] The rocker cover is the big silver thing in the pic above, there's one on each side of the engine. :d [/quote] The pipe was disconnected, mine was connected in the middle under a piece of rubber but managed to get it fixed on. The air cooler has been moved as when i had the fan housing off to fix the fan there was no oil cooler in the fan housing, when I followed the wires there was a round almost can like thing under the wing?

Posted by: sarah dell - 25 August 2008 21:38:06
Also managed to find someone (which was where i got my fan replacement from) uel problem he said that I shouldn't have it centralised as this is making the fuel travel further and not atomising properly ie going into droplets he said I sould split and have on each side, is this right? I am asuming with 2 air filters one on each side? He said this way I should be able to get at least 30 to the gallon, set up the old way. sorry to keep asking but you have given me such valuable advice so far I value your advice/opinion.

Posted by: sarah dell - 25 August 2008 21:38:06

Also managed to find someone (which was where i got my fan replacement from) uel problem he said that I shouldn't have it centralised as this is making the fuel travel further and not atomising properly ie going into droplets he said I sould split and have on each side, is this right? I am asuming with 2 air filters one on each side? He said this way I should be able to get at least 30 to the gallon, set up the old way. sorry to keep asking but you have given me such valuable advice so far I value your advice/opinion.

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