Is the In Tank pump 'essential'?

[Boumsong]

Basically, I had suspected fuel pump issues a little while ago. Cleaned all the connectors for the intank pump and fitted new pipes, along with a new main pump.

Just recently its started whining again, approximately 3 weeks old. Im starting to think that the intank pump maybe failing which might be the cause of the problem.

Question is. Can the injection cars run without the intank pump? Im just worried about immediate reliability as its my daily. At least until a replacement arrives.

[ianaudia4]

The intank pump is a lift pump, if it isn't there the main fuel pump will have to work twice as hard. The 20 odd quid a lift pump costs is far cheaper than a decent (Bosch, Pierburg etc) main fuel pump.

[Tim_R]

It'll work.... but as Ian says the main pump will be working much harder and you'll have issues with stuttering, flat spots and random stalling at junctions when the main pump can't get enough fuel though to keep the pressure to the injectors. If you are unlucky you'll burn out the main pump and it will seize as it's designed to be lubricated by the petrol flowing through it.

[Nate]

Ditch the in tank pump in favour of a carb sender unit (pls check it will fit an injection tank 1st) and then swap the main fuel pump for one from a car designed to run only one pump, like a 320i

[Boumsong]

Turns out. I removed the unit and ran it in a pot of clean fuel and the amount of silt that came out of it you would not believe. Fitted a new strainer and its been fine the last few days. Need a genius way of cleaning up the tank inside and keeping the pumps clean.

[Nate]

take the tank off, get it steam cleaned. then treat the inside of it with some tank sealer from frosts. before refitting, put a large magnet in the bottom of the tank for all the rusty flaky bits to stick to

obviously you also need to insert standard advice re filler neck

[marcus]

Where would you get a tank steam-cleaned? Could you steam-clean it yourself, I have a steam-cleaner (Hoover-sized, not kettle-sized) that I imagine could do the job... or could you just fill it full of boiling water and then dry it out over a low-ish heat-source?

[Nate]

erm, i did mine at work. you need (or at least you should have) a proper wash bay with an oil trap to catch the water and gunk that comes out, or the hippies will be after you.

ideally you want one of those big industrial high pressure steam cleaners like this http://www.ecosteam.co.uk/images/produc ... esteam.gif you could do it with a pressure washer or a steam kettle, it would just take longer and probably not be as thorough.

i'd also consider the cost (time and money) of cleaning and treating your tank compared to the cost of a new tank. you may find that a new one seems like a more viable option

[marcus]

Yes, I found replacement was the no-brainer option on my Land Rover many years ago, that said, because it was a Landy, replacement tanks were widely available at affordable prices, not sure what the situation is with Sciroccos, given they're relatively niche.

[mark1gls]

Fuel tank £109.00 (same fuel tank as Golf) there is loads out there, this was the first one I found, just give the outside a dam good coat of paint and should be good for another 20 years.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-C ... 1c3a7b3956

[Boumsong]

Certianly think I'll be investing soon. Already sorted the filler neck, manage to replicate the old one at work. Re-made in mild steel then coated with zinc epoxy and PU topcoat. Should be good for a few years.

[Boumsong]

After a saturday afternoon in the garage, I got this one sorted. I ran both the pumps off a battery in a jug of clean fuel and the grit that came out of them!!!! I've since fitted a strainer to the in-tank pump and new connecting hoses and a new inline filter between the lift and the main pump and new hoses feeding the main pump. Not a splutter since. I'm considering swapping the strainer for a proper inline filter in the tank as the pick up, something small like a bike filter maybe.