Where did all my meth go??

[Razor]

I ran into this same problem yesterday.....the first time I started the Buick in about 2 weeks...last time I ran it the alky tank was full.

I start the car and see the low level light on. Pop the hood and all the alky is gone. WTF.....

I filled the tank just above the feed point to the pump as that's how far down the alky drained....however it's on day 2 and still there.

I'm not liming this as I'd hate to suddenly run out of alky when I needed it the most.

How prone are the seals to leaking?

Might have to invest in a TR parts spare tire tank if Julio sells a long enough hose to the pump and if the low level light can be made to work with it.

The only three places alcohol can go when the car sits is from a leak. The tank is easy to catch as running your hands around the outlet will get cold if you touch methanol.
The hoses can have an issue.. but its rare.
The pump is the last place.. but more than likely where your leak is at.

Water is thicker than alcohol. So its easier for alcohol to leak out.. think of it like gear oil and transmission fluid.. transmission fluid will leak out easier.

Start motor and test the kit. Go to the pump and see if you see any wetness.. if so.. you have your answer.

One step further is buy a pressure tester kit that will allow you to run the system at full pressure. If it doesnt leak at over 150 psi.. its not going to leak while sitting.

Or unbolt the pump and ship it to me. I dont charge to test pumps.. although I do ask you cover shipping back to you

If your tank mysteriously drained.. thats a red flag and you need to see where it went. Adding a 5 gallon tank in the rear wont solve a leaky pump/line/loose fitting problem.

 

[2QUIK6]

Well its a good thing that it has the low level warning light! It comes on BTW a ways before the tank is actually empty so you'd know if it leaked out cruising down the street or something so you wouldn't get in trouble that way.

Yeah, mine leaked all out just sitting there...refilled and it didn't leak any more out for several days before I had a chance to pull the nozzle or the uppipe off and then ground the MAP sensor to simulate 30psi and test it.....ran the pump for about 10 seconds that way and then checked the pump and it was wet all around the outside of the head unit.

Julio fixed it right up for me, pump lasted over 5 years!

 

[meanchicken]

All my Alky keeps leaking into my up pipe whenever I stomp on the gas and get into boost.
I go through 5 gallons every 5-6 weeks...

...but...it's a fun problem to have...:biggrin:

 

[turbolou]

Reply

All my Alky keeps leaking into my up pipe whenever I stomp on the gas and get into boost.
I go through 5 gallons every 5-6 weeks...

...but...it's a fun problem to have...:biggrin:

Chicken to help you with your consumption problem & heavy foot, I wonder if Julio can rig up a 55 gal.drum & have you mount it in the trunk or on the roof.

 

[meanchicken]

Chicken to help you with your consumption problem & heavy foot, I wonder if Julio can rig up a 55 gal.drum & have you mount it in the trunk or on the roof.

What's this???
Another Papa Lou speed secret revealed???

I'm in!!!:biggrin:

Julio,
Hook me up!!!

 

[pwr6kid]

Maybe it’s not a system leak. Back in the summer after a long drive my alky tank would spew alky out the caps breather. I thought it was my pump at first. To my best guess when the alky is covering the part of the cap that sticks down in the tank. The air that is in the tank is heated and expanding, forcing alky out of the white breather in the cap. I would notice it was intermitting with my alky loss. It would stop once below a certain level. Razor is there a max fill on your kit; I’ve just filled it to the top normally.

 

[meanchicken]

The alky in the tank heats up and if you have it too full, it will leak.
Can't stop physics...

Just fill it to the top of the tank but leave some air in it...
Trial and error will tell you how full is too full...but generally..if you leave some air in that highest part of the alky tank, you shouldn't get any leakage.

 

[Razor]

Maybe it’s not a system leak. Back in the summer after a long drive my alky tank would spew alky out the caps breather. I thought it was my pump at first. To my best guess when the alky is covering the part of the cap that sticks down in the tank. The air that is in the tank is heated and expanding, forcing alky out of the white breather in the cap. I would notice it was intermitting with my alky loss. It would stop once below a certain level. Razor is there a max fill on your kit; I’ve just filled it to the top normally.

Maybe the tank is getting really hot and the alky is starting to boil.

Couple things make sure the windshield strip rubber is removed so air can circulate out. This was one of those free mods you do to Buicks.. maybe it hasnt been done to yours.

Probably just keep it down from the top like 1/2-3/4 of an inch

 

[Razor]

What's this???
Another Papa Lou speed secret revealed???

I'm in!!!:biggrin:

Julio,
Hook me up!!!

Need to get a you a trailer with a drum and long hose

The chicks will be all over you if you do this

 

["Turbo-T"]

The only three places alcohol can go when the car sits is from a leak. The tank is easy to catch as running your hands around the outlet will get cold if you touch methanol.
The hoses can have an issue.. but its rare.
The pump is the last place.. but more than likely where your leak is at.

Water is thicker than alcohol. So its easier for alcohol to leak out.. think of it like gear oil and transmission fluid.. transmission fluid will leak out easier.

Start motor and test the kit. Go to the pump and see if you see any wetness.. if so.. you have your answer.

One step further is buy a pressure tester kit that will allow you to run the system at full pressure. If it doesnt leak at over 150 psi.. its not going to leak while sitting.

Or unbolt the pump and ship it to me. I dont charge to test pumps.. although I do ask you cover shipping back to you

If your tank mysteriously drained.. thats a red flag and you need to see where it went. Adding a 5 gallon tank in the rear wont solve a leaky pump/line/loose fitting problem.

Found the leak. It's on the pump. On the end of the pump that is black and has the fittings for the in/out, there's an extension piece that is held on by 4 Phillips screws that also has 2 white wires that go to it. The alky leaks from this extension piece. You can see it all around the outside.

So is this an easy fix or is this pump junk? It still works ok.

 

[meanchicken]

Found the leak. It's on the pump. On the end of the pump that is black and has the fittings for the in/out, there's an extension piece that is held on by 4 Phillips screws that also has 2 white wires that go to it. The alky leaks from this extension piece. You can see it all around the outside.

So is this an easy fix or is this pump junk? It still works ok.

They can be rebuilt....call Razor....

 

[Razor]

They can be rebuilt....call Razor....

Yeah what he said