Cars - Air Cooled VW Problem

On Tuesday, May 31, 1994 at 7:08:55 AM UTC-5, David Luttrell wrote:
> Tell me this isn't as bad as it sounds...
>
> I went to start my '70 KarmannGhia this morning and the engine wouldn't turn
> over. I could hear the starter engaging, but it couldn't turn the engine. I
> was parked on a rather steep hill (nose up), so I put it in reverse, rolled it
> back a bit and popped the clutch. I noticed that there seemed to be a good
> deal of compression (more than I have experienced before doing this), but was
> able to use the starter to start the car. OK. Idle was rough, but not
> outrageously so. I drove about half a block and lost all power. I let it
> idle for a moment (with some help from the throttle) and drove another 1/2
> block before the oil light came on and the engine died. An inspection of the
> engine compartment revealed some frightening portents. There was what
> appeared to be 70% gasoline/30% oil leaking (rapidly) from the air filter.
> The dipstick showed the oil level VERY high. (I know there is not too much
> oil. I assume, though I couldn't tell for sure that this was a mixture of oil
> and gas). By closing the choke I was able to nurse the car the block back to
> my house (the oil light came back on and stayed on for the last 10 seconds).
> I saw a puddle of fluid where I started the car originally, and a trail to the
> point where it first stalled. There was another small puddle where I
> restarted it.
>
> Other, possibly significant notes:
> *The car was last driven 2 days ago, and I noticed it seemed to diesel for just a second
> after I killed the ignition. (Very peculiur for a car with an electromagnetic
> cut-off valve.
> *As I mentioned before, the car was parked nose up on a fairly
> steep hill. (My driveway... but I was parked further down (i.e. on a steeper
> section) than usual).
> *A week or so ago, the starter balked as above, but I was
> able to roll start it easily. I assumed at the time that I was about due for
> a new battery, or at worse a new starter. I saw no evidence of any other
> symptoms at that time.
> *The engine (original) has only 80K miles, and consumes
> little oil.
>
> Please help!
>
> Sounds like the fuel pump is leaking into the engine !
> -----------------------
> David R. Luttrell
> Institute for Academic Technology
> Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
>