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| emerygt350 |
Apr 29 2026, 04:05 PM
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#1
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
I know it's click bait but whatever. So gradually working through the starting issues on my 73 djet 2.0. is anyone aware of a bubble blowing condition that doesn't require vapor lock? Is there something that can go wrong with a stock 73 fuel pump that would cause it to blow audible bubbles into the tank? This only happens after I have driven it, but doesn't require it to be hot n hot. If I turn the key to the on position and the fuel pump starts I can hear bubbles coming into the tank (even when the tank is full). This is at 40 degrees ambient. This is the real kicker, this will continue after the point at which the fuel pump cuts because the engine is not running. However , when I turn the key off, even after the pump has stopped , the bubbles will stop. ????? When this happens I have a difficult time starting, but it really smells and feels like a rich condition, not what I know from vapor lock. Under true valor lock I can't hear the pump at all.
After I get the engine to catch, normally only a few tries, it stumbles a little then immediately runs great I think there are two separate problems here, but perhaps not. It's the bubbles that have me stumped. How could I get bubbles without vapor lock? |
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| BillC |
Apr 29 2026, 04:09 PM
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#2
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Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 711 Joined: 24-April 15 From: Silver Spring, MD Member No.: 18,667 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
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Are you sure they are bubbles?
What is the fuel level in the tank? If it's really low, maybe you are hearing splashing from the fuel being returned to the tank. Maybe you can have someone try cranking the engine while you look down the filler with a flashlight? |
| 76-914 |
Apr 29 2026, 04:25 PM
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#3
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Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 13,880 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California
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Sounds to me like cavitation. See if your intake line is kinked or has an obstruction.
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| emerygt350 |
Apr 29 2026, 05:01 PM
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#4
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
Are you sure they are bubbles? What is the fuel level in the tank? If it's really low, maybe you are hearing splashing from the fuel being returned to the tank. Maybe you can have someone try cranking the engine while you look down the filler with a flashlight? Yeah, bubbles, full tank. No mistaking it. Nothing has changed in the system but I am going to look through everything as soon as it stops raining. I should mention as well that I had no such problem last year before its long winter sleep but I was noticing what I thought was some pretty poor gas mileage but that turned out to be.a broken thermostat cable. Wrong side of the engine for messing with the fuel lines. |
| emerygt350 |
Apr 29 2026, 05:13 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
Dbl post
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| Literati914 |
Apr 29 2026, 05:34 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,312 Joined: 16-November 06 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 7,222 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I've heard of the internal sock getting clogged and causing similar noises when the fuel is run low, just a thought.
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| emerygt350 |
Apr 29 2026, 06:17 PM
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#7
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
That's the thing, it does it with a full tank. Not saying that couldn't be it though.
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| porschetub |
Apr 29 2026, 07:44 PM
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#8
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914 Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,091 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
I know it's click bait but whatever. So gradually working through the starting issues on my 73 djet 2.0. is anyone aware of a bubble blowing condition that doesn't require vapor lock? Is there something that can go wrong with a stock 73 fuel pump that would cause it to blow audible bubbles into the tank? This only happens after I have driven it, but doesn't require it to be hot n hot. If I turn the key to the on position and the fuel pump starts I can hear bubbles coming into the tank (even when the tank is full). This is at 40 degrees ambient. This is the real kicker, this will continue after the point at which the fuel pump cuts because the engine is not running. However , when I turn the key off, even after the pump has stopped , the bubbles will stop. ????? When this happens I have a difficult time starting, but it really smells and feels like a rich condition, not what I know from vapor lock. Under true valor lock I can't hear the pump at all. After I get the engine to catch, normally only a few tries, it stumbles a little then immediately runs great I think there are two separate problems here, but perhaps not. It's the bubbles that gave me stumped. How could I get bubbles without vapor lock? Where is your pump located ? ,not 100% sure but appears you are drawing air from the suction side of the pump only answer for what you are experiencing ...could be wrong however ?,cheers. |
| bkrantz |
Apr 29 2026, 07:50 PM
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#9
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914 Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 8,675 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains
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Are you sure they are bubbles? What is the fuel level in the tank? If it's really low, maybe you are hearing splashing from the fuel being returned to the tank. Maybe you can have someone try cranking the engine while you look down the filler with a flashlight? Just don't use a candle! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) |
| emerygt350 |
Apr 30 2026, 04:47 AM
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#10
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
I know it's click bait but whatever. So gradually working through the starting issues on my 73 djet 2.0. is anyone aware of a bubble blowing condition that doesn't require vapor lock? Is there something that can go wrong with a stock 73 fuel pump that would cause it to blow audible bubbles into the tank? This only happens after I have driven it, but doesn't require it to be hot n hot. If I turn the key to the on position and the fuel pump starts I can hear bubbles coming into the tank (even when the tank is full). This is at 40 degrees ambient. This is the real kicker, this will continue after the point at which the fuel pump cuts because the engine is not running. However , when I turn the key off, even after the pump has stopped , the bubbles will stop. ????? When this happens I have a difficult time starting, but it really smells and feels like a rich condition, not what I know from vapor lock. Under true valor lock I can't hear the pump at all. After I get the engine to catch, normally only a few tries, it stumbles a little then immediately runs great I think there are two separate problems here, but perhaps not. It's the bubbles that gave me stumped. How could I get bubbles without vapor lock? Where is your pump located ? ,not 100% sure but appears you are drawing air from the suction side of the pump only answer for what you are experiencing ...could be wrong however ?,cheers. Pump is in the stock location, in the back. |
| Superhawk996 |
Apr 30 2026, 05:30 AM
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#11
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914 Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 7,825 Joined: 25-August 18 From: Woods of N. Idaho Member No.: 22,428 Region Association: Galt's Gulch
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See post 26 - pay attention to the cutaway diagram and path to purge air bubbles
www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=350416&st=20 Also keep in mind you don’t need high ambient temps to get vapor lock (or partial) especially if pump is in rear and even more so if winter blend fuel is still in the tank. |
| emerygt350 |
Apr 30 2026, 06:58 AM
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#12
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,539 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
See post 26 - pay attention to the cutaway diagram and path to purge air bubbles www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=350416&st=20 Also keep in mind you don’t need high ambient temps to get vapor lock (or partial) especially if pump is in rear and even more so if winter blend fuel is still in the tank. Interesting. One thought I had is if it isn't holding pressure after shutdown the gas will 'boil' more easily making it even more prone to this. I just did a quick test, ran it nice n hot out on the interstate for 30 minutes. Parked it and let it sit for 10 minutes. Maybe 50 this morning. Went out to see if it would burble, nope, and it started right up without issue. Sigh. |
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