Fuel tank return line mod.

Discuss with fans and owners of the most luxurious aircooled sedan/wagon that VW ever made, the VW 411/412. Official forum of Tom's Type 4 Corner.
dawie
Posts: 126
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:56 pm

Fuel tank return line mod.

Post by dawie »

Noticed that the return fuel line of my 412 exits at the bottom of the tank. This means that, should the return line sprung a leak or gets disconnected, fuel would run out until level in tank drops to same level as leak. Unlike the feed line, where the pump blocks flow when not running. As the 412's tank is mounted high, i felt a bit uneasy about this. So i made a new return line inside the tank. (After blocking existing return line).

Image
This is what tank looks inside. There is a little "bucket/baffle" inside at the bottom. Return line has to feed into this. Otherwise, when going around a corner and fuel level is low, the "bucket" will be sucked dry if return line would exit elsewhere.

So i made this, and fitted it inside.
Image
Basically the return line goes to the very top of tank, where it exit in a rectangular piece of square tubing. (Square tubing is welded shut on it's sides). From this "box", another pipe reaches downwards to exit into the "bucket/baffle". At the top, there is a small 1.5mm hole in the square-tubing box. This is also aimed at the bucket. If fuel supply stops, air will enter through this hole at top of "inverted U" inside tank. This will prevent fuel to be drawn out of return line.

An 8mm hole was drilled in tank near existing fuel inlet/outlet. Return line exits there. It was brazed there, and a washer was fitted around when brazing, for extra strength and good seal.
At the top, a nut was previously welded to upper square tubing part. A hole was drilled on top of tank. A 6mm bolt fixes upper part to top of tank, as a steady, for better vibration resistance.
Copper washer is used to seal.

Pipe used was 8mm metal, sourced from a donor 412 car.

Photo inside tank looks much worse than it is. A fluorescent "energy saver" lamp was passed through the filler, and photo taken through sender hole on top.
User avatar
raygreenwood
Posts: 11910
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am

Re: Fuel tank return line mod.

Post by raygreenwood »

Nice mod! I'm not sure its really necessary....but i totally understand! Typically i would be more worried about a leak in general than losing the fuel and running dry. I keep tight surveilance on my line condition.

Also get rid of that sock filter! It will leave you stranded and ruin your pump in a jiffy. No need for it. just keep a clean tank and a spare filter in the glove box. this is whyt he original quality of fuel filter had a packed lint filter in it before the pleated filter. Ray
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