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MK1 Golf GTI Petrol Tank Swril Pot

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MK1 Golf GTI Petrol Tank Swril Pot

Hi, Could someone tell me by looking at the picture if this is the correct Petrol tank for a Mk1 GTI, I'm suffering from fuel starvation issues going around right corners with less than a 1/4 full tank.  I've read lots of post on this and so I'm trying to rule out if my Tank was changed in the past and a non injection tank was used.  I've seen pictures of swirl pots which are plastic but this one is only a steel cylinder with a straight pipe coming out. So it would make sense that the petrol might slush away.  Any comments would be appreciated.
GTI Petrol Tank.JPG

Last edit: by larmstrong

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cant see the pic but I don't think you can get new tanks with a swirl pot like the original, there is only 1 type of tank with the outlet on the side so you cant really mix them up, carb cars have the fuel pipes in the level sender.

I had a similar problem with a caddy tank and it was the pipe from the in tank filter had come off the outlet on the side of the tank. you can see the rubber connector hose pieces in the swirl pot in the 2nd pic



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  P1000237.JPG

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P1000233.JPG ]

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Thanks very much, that is more like what I was expecting.  Picture now attached.  I asked VW Heritage and they only have the one the same as my own.   DSC00039.JPG

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the pic I put up is a caddy tank. I will try and get a pic of my golf gti tank as they are very different.

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I believe you have the Diesel fuel tank which VW heritage and lots of places also list as GTi tank.
You can't seem to get Gti fuel tanks anymore so a 2nd hand genuine tank and maybe get it restored is the only answer but that is expensive.

I could be wrong on this…..


The other easy cheap option is don't let the tank go below 1/4 tank.  

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Yeah VW Heritage said it was suitable for the GTI!!!, would really like to see the inside of a genuine GTI tank.  I've been keeping it over the 1/4 but its really annoying and with only 40ltrs and poor MPH when driven as it should be, it doesn't take long to get down to 1/4.  

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I have a VWH tank in my 1.8 GTI tintop and it looks like the one in your last pic. It's been fitted to my car for 18 months and I've never had any issues with fuel starvation even when the tank is quite low and I'm driving enthusiastically. I also spoke to a specialist on the matter and he didn't think I'd have any issues with a VWH tank on a standard GTI. The swirl tank in the VWH tank looks modified compared to the tank in your first pic and maybe the fuel cn't flow out of the swirl chamber as quickly in the newer ones. I have read quite a few posts on this and while I understand the pattern tanks are not as good as an original, if they were that bad then VWH and other suppliers would have a warehouse full of useless tanks that aren't fit for purpose.
I recently picked up an original GTI tank that's in very good condition except the rubber seal in the bottom of the swirl chamber has perished and started to crumble. As far as I'm aware this is not repairable but I haven't really looked into it and I'll welcome any suggestions on the matter!
I'll post up some pics in a minute!

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Thanks for the pictures, and valid point, yeah the pipe on mine looks very straight and the VWH one looks like it is pointing downward into the pot.  

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The original photo is an aftermarket tank,   very similar to the heritage tank I put on mine around 6 years ago,  biggest waste of time ever.
When I finally get round to putting it back together I'm having  the original tank refurbished and putting that on.
Unless aftermarket tanks are now being made to original specifications?

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Could you not do what VW did to later cars with the bigger fuel tanks, fit an external swirl pot?
But later cars also have a lift pump in the tank to get the fuel out???

Swirl pot fitted to cabriolet and Mk2 Scirocco look like this.

http://www.classic-vw.co.uk/mk1-golf-cabriolet-gti-fuel-swirl-pot-533201151a-4981-p.asp

Just a thought…..  :thumbs:

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Upon further research I found that most people are fitting external swirl pots to fix this problem.  Most I've found are quite large and have multiple connections.  I might be missing something but surly a small tank with an inlet and outlet should do the trick.  Why do you need a return and breather pipes?   07-09-2017 13-03-33.jpg

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That's just they way VW did it on the 84.5 Golfs/Cabriolets, they also included a in-tank pump for both CIS and Digifant.

I suspect it was because of re-design by accountants…and not engineers for the baffle/swirl pot change in the tanks.


What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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just note the lift pump wont fit in a gti tank so you'll have to swap it for a carb one. other thing is the swirl pot wants to go where your fuel accumulator is currently so you may find its a bit of a squeeze

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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If you swap to a good 2nd hand tank the rubber flaps will prob have perished and you will be no better off.

My original tank does it but only when less than 1/4 tank and on large and fast round roundabouts.

1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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Early-1800 said

If you swap to a good 2nd hand tank the rubber flaps will prob have perished and you will be no better off.

My original tank does it but only when less than 1/4 tank and on large and fast round roundabouts.

I have the same issue on my 92, after converting it from the 2 pumps to a single in-tank pump, again it is in tight turns at speed on less than 1/4 tank, usually so I moved the Fuel needle a wee bit so my daughter would fill it up sooner than later.

Why the conversion?  8 feet of rotted hose removed, the filter/sump removed the dead main pump and in-tank pump removed (which brings me to another point that on the Digifant, the intank, and external main pumps have the same specifications, as far as working pressures, flow rate and such.) and replaced with 1 55 dollar intank pump with a new filter and 8 feet of new hose for less than 80 bucks.

The later Cabriolets have the filter/sump/swirl on the outside of the tank rather than the inside.

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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what I'd reading about this issue is that no one seems to have found a real solution to what seems to be a fairly common problem and different people are getting around it in different ways, the most common one being to keep your tank over ¼ full.  Thanks to all for the constructive feedback and the friendly and courteous way everyone responded.  Will see you again down the road.  

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thats the essence of it yes. the problem with the pattern tank is it doesnt do a great job of keeping fuel inside that pot, possibly if you made up a tight fitting sleeve that could push down over the top with some flaps in it to limit the escape of fuel but still allow fuel to flow in that may help

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



My wiring diagrams and other documents have moved here:

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You'll need to sign into google/gmail for the link to work! (its free!)
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