What crap looks like.

[edcraig]

Many of you already know this, but the fuel regulator shown here is a piece of crap.  While making a parts run in my Ghia today, another driver flagged me down to tell me I was leaking something.  I pulled over and found the my fuel regulator was dumping gas.  Fortunately, the only loss was about 5 gallons of gas. It was a easy fix and I went on my way after.  I already planned on replacing it with a Holley Regulator, but have not had the time to do so.  I guess I'm pretty lucky I didn't loose the car.  The regulator is maybe 6 months old and has about 200 miles on it at best.  Fun stuff!

...Ed

Legendary DRA

[John Rayburn]

Thank God you didn't have a fire!

[Rick Meredith]

Thank God you didn't have a fire!

X2

[kingsburgphil]

You're correct the regulator is crap....but its that fuel line that looks scary. It appears to have had an internal failure.
IMFXO, I wouldn't jeopardize a car as nice as yours with questionable rubber hose.  

[tonybone]

100% crap!!!!
They not only leak, but the dial in pressure desired is way off what it actually delivers to the carbs.
We found this out years ago.

The Holley unit is good as is a filter king unit.

Fuels leaks destroy our pride and joy.

[Rennsurfer]

Wow, Ed... very stoked that nothing happened to you or your car. That could have been obviously much worse. One of the main reasons I personally don't trust anything other than factory fuel pumps on a street car. VW engineers practiced greatness when they built these cars.

[edcraig]

The fuel line is in good shape.  You are probably seeing the silicone wrap I use on the clamps.  It's been pulled away when I cut off the regulator.

Ed

[javabug]

I'm also glad there was no fire! A few weeks ago Maize and I were coming back from the track and he lost the hinge/pin/screw thingy out of one IDA. Lots of gas there, luckily no fire!

[Russell]

Ed

That car sounds like bad luck for you, maybe you should off load it...... Im sure i can find some space for a Ghia 

[mr horsepower]

So you think a holley is better MMMMMM
I would do my home work if i was you .

gr henri

[RobtheManx]

I have one of those on NED Bug , thanks for the Heads up , I'll get rid ASAP .

Rob

[Larry S]

I went through two of them in one day before I gave up on getting one that works, first one wouldn't let any gas through ( I guess it was factory set at zero pressure) and wouldn't adjust and the second leaking like crazy out of the adjuster top. We used ones that looked like it in the 70's and 80's but I guess they were built better, not China junk.

[.]

I'd go with a Filter King / Malpassi hands down !
If you do some searching, they also came in magnesium !
 

[LuftsickTero]

Many of you already know this, but the fuel regulator shown here is a piece of crap. 

Purolator?

[glenn]

Consider yourself lucky. Last week a good friend a set of dual Kadrons and used one of those cheap regulators. A few days later he smelled gas but say nothing. One mile later it burst into flames.


Here's some daylight pictures.









 

[edcraig]

I did some research on regulators a while ago and it looked like the Holley would be a good choice.  However, now I'm hearing some other opinions.   Any other brand suggestions?  Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Holley?

Really sad to see what happened to that yellowVW Thing.  What a way to loose a car.  That could have been mine in another mile or so.  All is good now.  Dumped the craptaculor regulator and just running without one for the time being.  The motor has been cleaned up and ready for the VW Jamboree next weekend.

Russell...not quite ready to sell yet.  Actually, no plans ever, but I also learned to never say never!

 

[Speed-Randy]

Very lucky Ed, I've run one of those for 5 years trouble free, Maybe I'm lucky as well. I'm headed out to get a lottery ticket

[glenn]

Why not just shim the mechanical fuel pump to se the pressure, that's what i did.

[edcraig]

Glenn,

Good point.  I think I'll give that a shot.  Thanks!

...Ed

The legendary DRA

[Rennsurfer]

Why not just shim the mechanical fuel pump to se the pressure, that's what i did.

Quoted for truth.

[So.Cal.Life]

   Mounting fuel regulators in engine compartment , not a good idea, mounting up to date fire extinguishers in passenger compartment, good idea... 

[Torben Alstrup]

Hello.
While I do agree on the less desireable function of the above leaking crome pressure regulator¨, I must say that over time I have installed aty least 20 of those to overcome too much fuel pressure with especially Kadrons the fast and easy way. - I have never experienced one leaking. My favourite is also Filterking/Malpasi. After that Mallory.
T

[Zach Gomulka]

Another leaky fuel part to look out for, the glass (now made of plastic) fuel filters. The last time I drove my car the EMPI glass filter sprung a leak, left a stream of fuel on the ground as I backed out of the drive. Glad I caught it before any damage was done. Needless to say, it's not going back on the rebuilt engine.

[edcraig]

Zack,

Good point on the filter.  I'm using a glass version right now.  It is glass, and not the plastic version, but now I'm a little nervous about it so its coming off. The old original Filters and Regulators of this design were always good quality, but that was 25 plus years ago. 

I just got some trim rings for the stock wheels on my daughter's 66.  I figured...how bad could a trim ring be.  Well...the slice on my finger from the razor sharp edges told me how bad.

I know there is still some good quality reproductions out there, but some of this stuff is real craptactular.

[Rennsurfer]

Hence why it's best to locate fuel filters away from engine compartments and exhaust areas.

[glenn]

Do you really need a clear filter?

[Rennsurfer]

Glenn's right... on later VWs, fuel filters were just like the one shown. Great location, too... exactly where I installed mine. Worse scenario during a hose or filter malfunction; you lose fuel. NOT your car.

Besides, I like my engine compartment devoid of fuel filter clutter.

[Speed-Randy]

After talking with a few friends who work on these cars foe a living, they're telling me it's not so much the parts as it is the fuel we are running thru them. It's eating the fuel hoses prematurely, as well as related rubber parts, pumps, seals, etc. Just food for thought

[glenn]

After talking with a few friends who work on these cars foe a living, they're telling me it's not so much the parts as it is the fuel we are running thru them. It's eating the fuel hoses prematurely, as well as related rubber parts, pumps, seals, etc. Just food for thought

That is true, the E10 sold in the US is attacking the German rubber hose and seals in the carbs. After speaking to Art Thraen about it he told me IDAs have the least about of rubber seals while Dellortos have the most. Some shops are not longer using German woven hose and have switched to a alcohol safe hose. I set up my 2180 with hardline running to and from the fuel pump and between the carbs. There's only a few inches of hose and I change it every 3 years. Also using a fuel stabilizer when storing the vehicle will help.

[Zach Gomulka]

After talking with a few friends who work on these cars foe a living, they're telling me it's not so much the parts as it is the fuel we are running thru them. It's eating the fuel hoses prematurely, as well as related rubber parts, pumps, seals, etc. Just food for thought

Yeah, even though I replaced the filter element and the seals on my old glass filter, I think the fuel ate away at the seals, and caused the end caps to loosen up. It was on there for less than a year.