After reading all the posts about pulsation dampner failure, I'm a little worried to drive my car. I just bought my '90 gtu n/a 150k miles last week, and i've been doing general tune-up stuff. The pulsation dampner looks fine and I don't smell any gas, and most of the failures i've read about have been with the s4.

My question is: With what immediacy do I need to change it? within a week? do more important stuff frist and wait a couple months or wait until i see signs of failure?


150+ bucks and somewhat time-consuming procedure (it seems more difficult than changing spark plugs) don't seem like they should be my greatest worries right now. On a side note, I bought this car because i needed something cheap that would (hopefully) last until i finish grad school next may (2007). After spending a lot of time on this website, I'm starting to doubt my choice . . .

 

I have an s4 and my pulsation dampener doesnt leak at all. Its always a good thing to replace though.

 

The pulsation dampener problem is s4 only. You don't have to worry about it.

 

I know it's a real good idea to replace on an s4, but what about an s5?

 

Ok, thanks yearrgh, that makes me feel a little more at ease

 

The s5 ones do fail its just rarer.

 

Dont worry you will smell a fuel leak if it fails. Most of the time there is a fire it's because people ignore the fuel leak smell and keep driving.

 

No, that is wrong.

IN fact I have seen more S5 and S6 (which is the same rubber stopper designs) fail than I have S4 ones.

If the car has 100K + miles on it, it should be changed... regardless of if it is a S4, S5 or S6.

 

then why is the common fix to move from a S4 fuel rail to an S5 fuel rail for the "intergrated" PD?

 

So does this mean I should change it on my car before I finish the engine install?

I have about 133k on chassis.

mmm is it the one on the top fuel rail?

Or do both need to be replaced?

 

If it's not leaking, then don't worry about it. If it leaks, fix it.

Since you are checking your oil everytime you fill up (or at least should be) then any leaks should obvious.

 

I think I might have the same problem. I smell fuel when I'm inside driving but I'll stop right away pop the hood and smell /see nothing under there. I have an 87' turbo 2. I wasn't sure but i was going to change it next week-end. I have looked for any fuel leaks and found none. Do you guys think It's the PD?

PS my car has 93,000 miles.

 

Only a idiot would do that.

Why would anyone spend more (the S5 rail and PD combo is about $50 more than the S4 PD), the S5 PD is not replacable, and has the same issues (its not a sealed or rebuildable unit)... but instead of a metal screw holding the PD diaphram (like the S4) in alignment, you have a piece of rubber... Yeah rubber, and fuel and heat- that is a prescription for long life

The only reason that people seem to think that the S5 PD is more reliable is that the S5 cars typically have less miles and there were only about 1/3 of the cars ever made (when compaired to a S4).

So if you built 150,000 S4 models, and say 1% developed PD failure that is 1500 cars. Much more common sounding than if you only built 40000 cars, and 1 percent of them developed a PD leak (400).

So if you had 1500 S4s that leaked and 400 S5s that leaked, people might think that the S5 models leaked less right???

But that is 1% either way.

 

thanks for clearing that up icemark, i will help spread the word!

 

Sooo.....Can I see a fuel leak If I have the stock intercooler sitting up there? Is there a certain spot i should look at?

 

You will smell it before you see it