T3 mystery

[jadney@vwtype3.org (Melissa & Jim)]

>Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 21:46:31 -0800
>From: Steve Bradley <scscomp@atl.mindspring.com>
>Organization: MindSpring Enterprises, Inc.
>To: type-3@umich.edu
>Subject: T3 mystery
>
>I had a strange occurance today. I was coming home in my daily driver '71 
square and I 
>began to run out of gas (yes, I'm getting senile).
>
>I had just passed a sign saying the next exit on I-85 was 2 miles. I cursed 
and thought 
>I would never make it. But, instead of the car sputtering and losing power 
as expected, 
>it seemed to just slow down; like it was running of a couple of cylinders.
>
>I kept the engine revs up since I knew if it died, I would never get it 
started again. I 
>did this for the next 2 miles, got off at the exit and drove about another 
1/2 mile to 
>the station. When I pulled up to the pump, it sounded like it was running 
on one 
>cylinder and the exaust smelled like it was running super rich.
>
>After I filled-up, it ran normal.
>
>Has anyone else had this experience when running out of gas?

Nope.  I'm a little embarrased to admit that I've run out of gas in my type 
IIIs a couple of times over the years and each time they went from perfect 
running to a dead engine in about 15 seconds.  This is with fuel injection; 
carbs will be different.

The fuel injection gas system and gas tank scavenge the last remnants of gas 
from the tank quite effectively.  Once that's gone there's nothing left for 
the engine to run on.

Is yours carburated?

Jim
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       Melissa Kepner                                    Jim Adney
       jadney@vwtype3.org              jadney@vwtype3.org
                             Laura Kepner-Adney
                             Madison, Wisconsin
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