I'm glad everyone chimed in on the fuel filter between the pump and carb. Seeing the filter there always made me nervous. Now I know why. At the risk of this turning in to a show us your fuel filter thread, I snapped a picture of the fuel filter on Butters earlier today. This one must be 1.5-2 years old and still seems fine. It sits directly under the tank and it is the only one I have on the bus. On a beetle, it seems good to put it by the transmission as long as it does not hang down and rub on the axle. Since they are only $1.00 at a show, might as well change what you have at the first thought of it giving you problem. Why risk it.

I had a '62 that caught fire because the inlet nipple at the carb pulled out without a filter to help it along. Not the hose from the nipple, but the nipple from the carb body.
After that adventure I invested in a few clamps and some safety wire.

Like I said before, I replaced Bonnie's fuel line last summer or so. When I did, the tank came out and got a decent cleaning (it had already been boiled at a radiator shop). I had read before that if you fuel outlet threads get stripped, you can actually tap the inside of the outlet for a brass nipple. I went this route, but used a 90 degree fitting with a shutoff valve THEN the nipple. Now, if I need to change the fuel line, I can turn the wheel shut the fuel off, run it dry and proceed.

Or I can run the engine dry if I want to service something or park it for extended periods again.

Happy dance. . My manual came in!   It used to be a library book. .. appropriate! !! Next step,  tools life rocks. 

The newer editions even include an appendix that shows you how you can saw off the spine, punch holes in the pages, and insert them into a large three-ring binder.

http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2146815/how-do-you-know-if-you-are-buying-ethanol-free-gas



I found this thread talking about fuel.  Super awesome if you are like myself and need things broken down before I can ' get it'
Russ, you mentioned not believing if the gasoline is actually non ethanol. .. this testing option seems doable!





July 2010 edited July 2010

Put a small amount of pure water in a test tube and mark the amount with a line on the test tube. Now fill the test tube the rest of the way with the gasoline you suspect contains ethanol. Put a stopper on it and shake well and allow it to sit until the gas and water separate into different layers.
If the water layer is higher up the side of the test tube than it was before you added the gasoline, the gas contains ethanol, the ethanol goes into solution in the water layer and adds to its volume. Ethanol is the only commonly used gasoline additive that is highly water soluble.

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meanjoe75fan Junior Grease Monkey
July 2010 edited July 2010

100% correct.

I checked out this thread to offer just this advice, only to see I was beat to it! (Since I can't claim "what to do," at least let me chime in with "why it works"):

"All solvents are either "polar," "non-polar," or some combination. Polar substances are "water-soluble"; non-polar are "oil-soluble."

Alcohol is a mix: the non-oxygenated side is non-polar (making it miscible in non-polar solvents), and the end with the hydroxyl is polar (making it miscible in polar solvents such as water, as Dean Martin can attest).

What you are doing with the "test tube" test that B.L.E. mentions is forcing the ethanol to choose between the water and the petroleum (polar and non-polar solvents, respectively, that won't mix). Apparently, ethanol is somewhat more "polar," on net, than it is "non-polar"...so it transfers to the water portion.

 "   

That kinda made me laugh. Sounds like something that would happen to me.  I'm pretty sure if/when i test it. ..nothing will happen.  Loads of anticipation. .short outcome. Ha!!!!