Fuel problem ????

[_shel_ny]

...

Edited September 11, 2011 by shel_bizzy_48

[builtfercomfort]

Sounds like rust to me - probably from the inside of the tank, either your tank or the service station's tank. Keep changing the fuel filters and keep driving it. (There are lots of more difficult methods!)

I'd buy a bunch of clear plastic fuel filters and change them out when you had trouble like that - keep the tank as full as possible, and see if the problem mostly goes away. It might be just a 'first drive of the season' issue that will work itself out in a tank or two of gas.

[NatesSedan]

It sure sounds like a rust problem. I went through this not long ago and in the end replaced the tank. I would put an electric fuel pump back near the tank and try pumping. If you get nada you know its the tank. If you get good flow move forward. My advice (not what I did ) start inb the back and work forward. BEst wishes -Nate

[greg g]

Shel, Don't forget the screen in the fuel pump. it will catch abunch of stuff and eventually block the fuel flow. Your contamination looks like rust, doesn't look like the crud that built up in my carbs last year. That stuff looked like crushed up cat litter.

[Jim Saraceno]

I had a similar problem last summer. Come to find out, the previous owner had put some loom over the fuel line where it passed through the cross member under the radiator. It must have held moisture because the line started rusting and the rust clogged up the fuel pump.

I replaced that section of line and had to tear down the pump and clean it out. Everything has been fine ever since.

FWIW, the inside of my tank looks fine. It was no part of the problem.

[oldmopar]

Even though it is running I would look in the tank and see what it looks like in there there still may be a lot of crud that is floating around and usually causes a problem at the worst time.

So you may need to drop the tank to clean it also use a compressor and blow out the in tank filter.

Ed

[Don Coatney]

Is this a New York thing? The crud that came out of your filter looks like the same crud that Greg had in his carburetors last summer.

I think we need to name this stuff. How about GregGooshel

[55 Fargo]

Is the Ethanol Blended fuel , causing the breakdown of rust, or any crud to break free, and reek havoc in the filters fuel lines etc.

I wanted to find a used gas tank for my car, but bought a new one from Tanks.inc, for $250.00.

I think it was a good move, new tank, new lines, new pump, clean carb, and hopefully no crud problems.

I think we should call this new gas syndrome, "Lowball Gas", because it only has 10% alcohol, good stuff should be at least 80 proof (40% alcohol), Don this phenomena hasn't hit Tennesee, or Georgia, as the Hooch Stills there put out the finest blue burning on the spoon shine for the oil refiners to add to the blend.......................LOL

[Young Ed]

I had this gunk in my tank too. I was changing fuel filters about every third drive. Kept a spare in the glove box! I had my tank cleaned and sealed by gastank re-nu. Been great since then.

[Ed Griffin]

You may not want to pull the fuel sender shel but you said you just wanted to fix the problem and I'm betting that's sediment from the bottom of your fuel tank. Your filters are catching the fine rust but the extra fine rust is getting past and into your carb. Would imagine that the bottom of your float bowl will look brown as well.

You can keep changing out the cheap filters but there's no guarantee of when your carb will get more trash in it again and where you will be at that time. It will happen again until you've flushed out the tank and sealed it.

I've seen this before as well as tried the quick fix's with a motorcycle and a tiller. Both would run for so long until the trash got back into the carbs then you would have to go through everything again.

[Normspeed]

Shel, if the problem comes up again you can blow air back into the fuel line, and that might clear out the in tank filter at least for a while. I've heard some guys say they actually blew that filter right off the line doing that.

Just use low pressure, and remove the filler cap first.

[bob_amos]

Well, after reading all of the posts I agree that there are deposits of some kind, most likely rust, in that tank. Filters will work to some degree but nothing will clear things up like inspecting the inside of the tank. If there is rust in there it has to be removed and cleaned and sealed. Some rust can get into the tank from the filling station but it generally is not something that is found in large quantities. The lines can also rust from within. Remember, these cars may has sat for years and any moisture inside will eat away at the steel lines and tank. That fuel pump has 2 check valves inside. One in the inlet chamber and another in the outlet chamber. This deposit will eventually pile up and cause one or more of the check valves to remain open. When this happens the fuel will not only be pulled up to the pump but will be pushed backwards in the system That is what a check valve does. It limits the flow to one direction. Blowing air back throught the system, from the outlet of the pump may clear this but the fault will eventually return. Just finished restoring a 66 Mustang for a customer. We replaced the tank with a new one. The filters were added to the system and new pump was installed. The lines were blown clear and we had hopes of not replacing them. But..... After a few hours of operation some rust was dislodged and plugged the pump. Blowing air would not clear it and it was not a disassembleable pump. So... new lines and pump were installed. Now I know there is absolutely no problem with the fuel lines, pump or tank. Unfortunately, there is really no other way to fix it without doing it right.