Not getting Fuel

[72tunaboat]

Hello all,
I am having a fuel delivery problem. My 72 Convertible ran out of gas the other day, so i put 5 gal. in and got it started. It only ran for a few minutes before dying. I replaced the fuel filter fuel pump and it started once again, only to shut down a few minutes later. The pump stopped pumping fuel, and there is at least 10 gallons in the tank. If i let it sit for a few hours, it will start and run for a short time only to shut down again. I dont know the configuration of the fuel tank pickup and how it works. Has anyone had a similar problem and/or can you give me a little direction on what to look for? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Roger

[centurion 455 ragtop]

First check your fuel fuel filter in the carb. Change it anyway. While the fuel line is disconnected from the carb squeeze on a rubber hose over the steel line with the other end in a clean pale. Have someone crank the engine long enough (a few seconds) on figuring you should see fuel being pumped out into the pale. If gas comes out take a note if its rusty and dirty in color or if it looks clean. If the gas is clean and is flowing out, the problem may be with your carb. or it was a partly clogged fuel filter. If so then re-install the line with the new filter and try it.

If you get no fuel at all or the gas is dirty the problem may be in the tank. There is a gas sock it is a fabric that covers the fuel line inlet inside the tank attached to the sending unit. Sometimes it breaks down over the years and clogs up the fuel line inlet. Other than that you may have garbage inside the tank that is being sucked into the fuel line inlet and blocking it up. If your car sat for a few months almost empty of fuel, you may have rust inside that flaked off. Either way you would have to drop the tank. Be carefull if you do as to not to break the electrical fuel gage sending unit wire on the tank. The sending unit is on the top center of the gas tank. The sending unit which has the sock attached is easly removed. If the sock is bad, just remove it, no need to replace it. If the sock is good or is not there it may be some garbage in your tank. I would not clean it myself. Empty the tank and bring it to your local radiator repair shop. They will hot tank it and clean it out. It's not an expensive thing to do. It's safer and they do a better job.

Lastly someone may have dumped something in your tank. An old nasty joke was to throw in some cheap cigars. They come apart in small layers and sink to the bottom of the tank. After you start the car they stir around and get sucked up blocking the fuel inlet. Then the car stalls and shuts off, the gas slushing breaks free the cigar layers from the inlet as they sink back to the bottom. This again is repeated once the owner restarts up the car a few hours later. Hope its nothing like that.

Good luck let us know how you make out.

[72tunaboat]

Thanks Rick
I had already changed the fuel filter and pump, so tonight, as you suggested, I pulled the tank. when i was disconnecting the fuel and vent lines, i noticed that the fuel line was saturated with gas right where it connects to the pickup. It was rotted out, so i assume that the pump was sucking some air and 'airlocking'. The tank was clean and the 'sock' was in good shape with no sediment or crap, so i just reinstalled it with new fuel line. drove it a few miles, and all seems good now.
Today it was 97 here, the warmest day this year, and most likely one of the hottest days we have had in a decade. I'll drive it to work tomorrow and hope for no problems.
Once again, thank you for your advice, and thanks to all of the enthusiasts here for sharing their thoughts.

[Robroy]

Seems like your problem is solved Roger!

I thought I’d share some extra tips in case anyone else will run into this kind of problem.:user:

To exclude the tank as the cause of the problem, use a long hose and connect it somewhere before the pump inlet and with the other end stuck in petrol can. That would save you the trouble of taking down the fuel tank in case the problem is elsewhere.

A long shoot in cases like this, is that fuel tank ventilation somehow got blocked. It’s easy to check though since you only take off the fuel lid and see if the problem goes away. Also, if there’s vacuum in the tank, you will feel it taking off the lid.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Its good to hear that your problem is solved:xyxthumbs: Glad to be of some help.