Fuel issues

Jean-Marc Dugas

Jean-Marc Dugas

PCS Member
Just so that I forget about the turn signal for a while, the car decided to stall and not to start again. As the car was running idle in the driveway while I was testing the signal lights the engine died. It sounded like if it ran out of gas.

I checked the gas gauge, it was between Empty and ¼. It is possible that the gas gauge could be faulty or maybe it is off a little and I ran out of gas. Since I just filled a jerrycan to use for the lawnmower, I promptly emptied it in the car, approximately 4 US gallons. I tried to start the car again, no go. Squirted gas in the carburetor for a couple of tries, no go.

I thought it could be the fuel filter, so I went to Canadian Tire and got a couple of them. Once I got back home and started the process of removing the filter, I quickly found out that none of the 1-inch wrenches would fit in the tight space required to remove the filter, so after visiting NAPA, both Canadian Tires and Princess Auto, without success, I came back home, got one of my old 1-inch wrenches and modified it a little with the angle grinder and voila, I now have the perfect wrench for the job. (See picture attached).

Since I was there, I took the occasion to replace some of the brittle vacuum hoses that were in the way.

Replacing the filter was a straightforward job. I then put everything back together and went through the proper starting sequence and the car still did not start. Squirted some gas in the carburetor, turned the key and it started immediately only to stall 5 seconds later.

I know that I have air and fire, definitively missing the fuel component. A visual inspection reveals nothing lose or leaking.

Would my next step be to change the gas pump.....thoughts, suggestions?
 

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Pull the rubber inlet hose off at the fuel pump , fuel should be coming out . May be put a few more gallons it ? Some fuel pumps also have another fuel filter in the fuel pump itself. On the outlet line on the pump there is large nut and under that is a fuel filter on some . It is the same style that is in the carb.
 
Daniel Scully said:
Pull the rubber inlet hose off at the fuel pump , fuel should be coming out . May be put a few more gallons it ? Some fuel pumps also have another fuel filter in the fuel pump itself. On the outlet line on the pump there is large nut and under that is a fuel filter on some . It is the same style that is in the carb.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dan.

I'll have to look again, but I do not think that there is space for a filter in the pump. It is a mechanic pump. I will pull the hose to see if fuel is coming out. Great idea.
 
There is one rubber hose at the fuel pump inlet that connects to the steel line that runs alongside of the frame. There is one on the fuel tank pick up to the other end of the steel line. There is a strong possibility that the rubber hoses are and the fuel pump is sucking air.
 
It could also be the pickup line in the tank. If it was replaced with a shorter line, it has to have more fuel in the tank.
 
The pick up in the tank is at the end of the gauge float. The only what that can be a problem, is if it breaks at the pivot point. There is a sock at the end of the pick up, but that is either good or bad. They are rarely ever problematic. Most likely a rubber hose.
 
I feel badly for Jean-Marc. To read all these issues. I am no mechanic, and for thirteen years this was a "go to" car. I would top up the gas, check the other fluids, and head out.
He will definitely make it a better car, I hope without too much pain.
 
Following Paul's suggestion of the system sucking air I replaced the runner fuel line located between the metal line and the pump.
When I removed the rubber line, I expected gas to come out of, but there was nothing. Just to make sure I emptied another jug of gasoline in the tank and still nothing.

Next I decided to syphon the line. All I could get out were fumes, so before I got high on fuel vapor I went and got my inline drill pump and hooked it up to the metal line. At first some fuel came out, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup, but that was it.

I am pretty sure I have the gas line, not the return line. See the video and let me know if I got it wrong. I also double-checked the suction flow of the drill pump with a jug of water to make sure that I was sucking no pushing.

Next step I guess is to follow the gas line from front to the nack to rule out any kinks in the line up to the fuel tank.

Ideas, suggestions?

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Troubleshooting fuel issues

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4 gals might not be enough for the pickup tube to pull it thru , try the simple thing first put in say 5 more gals. The 1/4 fuel line on the pump is the return. Leave the gas cap off while trying to start it.
 
Jean-Marc Dugas said:
....I replaced the rubber fuel line....
Click to expand...

The car is over 40 years old. Treat it to all new rubber lines. I buy the rubber hose that is for fuel injected cars, since it is resistant to the alcohol in in todays fuels. The new fuels eat away at the original rubber hose. The hose swells internally, and will stop the fuel from coming through.
 
Daniel Scully said:
4 gals might not be enough for the pickup tube to pull it thru , try the simple thing first put in say 5 more gals. The 1/4 fuel line on the pump is the return. Leave the gas cap off while trying to start it.
Click to expand...
I put some 5 more gallons in last night just to make sure I had enough. I'll try it again tonight with the gas cap off.
 
Paul Steinberg said:
The car is over 40 years old. Treat it to all new rubber lines. I buy the rubber hose that is for fuel injected cars, since it is resistant to the alcohol in in todays fuels. The new fuels eat away at the original rubber hose. The hose swells internally, and will stop the fuel from coming through.
Click to expand...
That's the plan for both rubber fuel lines and vacuum hoses.
 
Vacuum hoses must be specific to vacuum use. Many times auto parts stores will sell rubber hose that isn't intended for vacuum, since they don't know your specific needs to the use and give you what they have on the shelf.
 
Tonight I went to Canadian Tire and bought a more powerful vacuum pump to try to syphon the fuel from the tank all the way to the front of the gas line.

I also got another 5 gallons of gas.

Once I got home I emptied half of the gas in the tank and left to cap off. Next I unhooked the rubber hose from the fuel line to the fuel pump and flushed it with compressed air. I could hear the air coming out from the back of the car which I figured was a good thing.

Next I hooked on the new han powered syphon, pumped it a few times and voila, gasoline yay!!

Mistake made here I did too many things at the same time, so I do not know if the problem was not enough fuel in the tank or a clogged fuel line.

Anyhow, I reconnected the rubber hose to the fuel line and proceeded to start the car. Some gasoline was squirted into the carburator, turn the key and vroom put out. I repeated this 5 times to give the gasoline a chance to fill the system, but sadly this was a no go.

I think that now the next step is going to have to be a new fuel pump.
 
I have found that when no gas is getting to the fuel pump after the car starts, it is the original fuel hose at the gas tank was fine when dry, but once the fuel flowed for a while it would soften and collapse internally, choking off the fuel.

Replacement with a new, ethanol-resistance hose solves the problem.
 
Paul Steinberg said:
I have found that when no gas is getting to the fuel pump after the car starts, it is the original fuel hose at the gas tank was fine when dry, but once the fuel flowed for a while it would soften and collapse internally, choking off the fuel.

Replacement with a new, ethanol-resistance hose solves the problem.
Click to expand...
Next on my list to change. I will not get a new fuel pump until at least Monday so I will take the time to change all of the fuel system rubber hoses..
 
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