Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
#280989
04/07/09 09:51 PM
04/07/09 09:51 PM
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Sorry for the dumb question, but I have no working gas gauge, so am just pulling at straws here. I started up my Coronet today in storage and it was running fine for a few minutes. Then it began gasping for fuel and died. Fired it up one more time and it ran for a few seconds and died again. Then, it wouldn't fire up again. By my estimation, I thought I still had around 5 gallons of gas in the tank (again, no working gas gauge! arrgh!). I checked the float bowl (Holley) through the site screw and it looked empty and no fuel came out of the squirters when I moved the accelerator linkage. I couldn't hear any gas swishing when I bounced the rearend of the car with the cap off, but when I ran a small clear hose into the tank it did come back with some fuel. Now, I know this means I probably either have a bad fuel pump - which is only a few months old (couldn't test today since it was just me there) or that I have gas in the tank, but not enough to get picked up?? Is the latter even a possibility? Can you have say a few gallons in the tank but the pickup isn't getting it? Thanks for any and all suggestions. And sorry for the kinda dumb question!!
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
#280991
04/07/09 10:05 PM
04/07/09 10:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
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what 1 wild rt said I'd toss a 5 gallon can of gas in it & dribble a bit into the carb vents to prime it go from there.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#280993
04/07/09 10:44 PM
04/07/09 10:44 PM
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Thanks guys for the quick replies! I'll get a 5-gallon can and add that and see if it works.
On priming - about how much is safe to pour down the carb vents? Will just a few drops work or more than that? (and I am assuming you mean pour straight down the barrels, right?).
Thanks again !
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#280995
04/07/09 10:51 PM
04/07/09 10:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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I wouldn't pour TOO much down the barrels! you could dump too much and wash down the cylinders.
try to rig up a little quirt bottle or something and use it to fill the bowls on the carb. that should get you a good solid 30 seconds to a minute of idle time, which should be enough to get the pump to pump gas again...as long as the problem really is just that the pick up isn't reaching the bottom of the tank.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#280996
04/07/09 10:55 PM
04/07/09 10:55 PM
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Ok, great info! Thanks again guys.
So, it sounds like it I could find a small squirt bottle to use, I can take off the sight plug on the side of the carb and try to fill the bowl that way? Does that sound right?
Thanks!
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
#280998
04/07/09 11:14 PM
04/07/09 11:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
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Quote:
Ok, great info! Thanks again guys.
So, it sounds like it I could find a small squirt bottle to use, I can take off the sight plug on the side of the carb and try to fill the bowl that way? Does that sound right?
Thanks!
That'll work!!
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#280999
04/07/09 11:54 PM
04/07/09 11:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 893 Tustin, CA
pishta
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Snake a ketchup squirt bottle from the local greasy spoon and use that. The kind that always feel greasy with the tiny little cap and pointed end (you use the same hand to eat the fries after you touch that???) Works like a charm. Squirt right down the vent tube for a few seconds and a little dash down the throat (of the carb) should light off real quick. And go to an electric fuel pump if this becomes a pain. You can install one before the mechanical and it'll pump right through it.
12 Grand Caravan 06 T&C 02 T&C 96 Breeze 65 Barracuda "S"
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#281001
04/08/09 12:58 AM
04/08/09 12:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,089 A Banana Republic near you.
JohnRR
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Quote:
If the pickup isn't reaching the bottom of the tank then you can't get all the fuel...Try adding fuel & see if it will pick it up...Could be a bad pump, or a plugged filter or fuel line, if it's a big block it could have a worn pushrod.... good luck with it..
Randy I agree , but once the fuel level drops to a point that the pickup can be exposed to fuel and air it will stop sucking the fuel.
A fuel tank will never truly empty unless the pickup is in a sump and it the lowest point in the sump ...
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: JohnRR]
#281002
04/08/09 01:06 AM
04/08/09 01:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
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Quote:
Quote:
If the pickup isn't reaching the bottom of the tank then you can't get all the fuel...Try adding fuel & see if it will pick it up...Could be a bad pump, or a plugged filter or fuel line, if it's a big block it could have a worn pushrod.... good luck with it..
Randy I agree , but once the fuel level drops to a point that the pickup can be exposed to fuel and air it will stop sucking the fuel.
A fuel tank will never truly empty unless the pickup is in a sump and it the lowest point in the sump ...
100% Any source of air, IE cracked fuel hose, a pinhole, whatever, the pump will suck air not fuel...
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#281003
04/08/09 03:54 AM
04/08/09 03:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
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Quote:
100% Any source of air, IE cracked fuel hose, a pinhole, whatever, the pump will suck air not fuel...
Kinda like at McDonalds, when my straw is cracked, I can drink the coke just fine until the level drops to the level of the crack, then all I get is a mouth full of fizzy bubbles, even though my coke is still half full!
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: landon1]
#281005
04/08/09 08:56 AM
04/08/09 08:56 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,126 Hunt Valley, Maryland
1fastrunner
top fuel
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top fuel
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I have a clear glass filter
Not to hijack the post, but I'd be very cautious using a glass filter. Jim
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: Mr.Yuck]
#281008
04/08/09 04:48 PM
04/08/09 04:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,894 Mira Loma, CA
69B3GT
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Quote:
you could also have pin holes or a crack in the rubber line from the sending unit to the main line...ask me how I know.
haha ive a problem simmilar to that problem, my brother made a roller coaster out of the rubber fuel like from the sending unit to the main line, i searched for about an hour til my dad walked out and slid under the car...
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: 69B3GT]
#281009
04/08/09 05:16 PM
04/08/09 05:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
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GTX MATT
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Take the gas cap off and prime the carb and see if it will start up and run eventually (usually the third or fourth time it starts and then stalls will allow it to actually run). If not then put gas in the tank and see what happens.
When I prime the carb I like to use a top from an aerosol can, spraypaint, shaving cream, hairspray or a small plastic cup. I just do that because sometimes you will pour it out of a can and make a real mess of everything. Pour it in the primaries and hold the pedal to the floor and crank it till it fires. When it fires let off and just try to keep it running by blipping the throttle. Repeat until it will stay running by itself.
Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#281010
04/08/09 07:44 PM
04/08/09 07:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,475 Ontario, Canada
78D150CLUB
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Quote:
Quote:
i remember back in highschool my car used to run out of gas with plenty in the tank,then by a miricle it would start right back up.
yeah me too
It' a proven fact that several minutes of rocking the vehicle will cause the fuel to settle more firmly around the pickup, thus enabling the engine to start.
I have dual tanks on my truck, and can vouch for air leaks being a pain. The selector valve didn't seal properly to the rear tank, creating a mix from both tanks. Until the rear tank (never filled often) ran dry and allowed air into the system. That was a booger to track down. Air will flow much easier than fuel, so if adding gas to the tank doesn't cure the problem, I would agree that you have a pinhole somewhere in the fuel line.
I want to die like my Grampa, peacefully, in his sleep. Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#281013
04/08/09 09:42 PM
04/08/09 09:42 PM
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Thanks much to all you guys for the help and tips (and good stories of your own experiences!). Well, I went back over there today and sure enough - all it needed was more gas! This was after I confirmed there was still gas in the tank. Once I added the new gas, primed and eventually got it to startup, it ran like a top. So, it looks like in my case at least, the pickup doesn't reach the bottom of the tank, though I guess I'll never know for sure how much gas it needs in the tank before it will run?? I do know it's the correct sending unit (as I have replaced this once before in trying unsuccessfully to get the gauge to work). Looking at the shape of the tank it sure does seem possible that you could have gas in there that doesn't get picked up! This was a good learning experience though. I'll never let it go under 1/2 full again (as best as I can estimate where that is). Thanks again for the all the good insight!
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
#281014
04/08/09 11:04 PM
04/08/09 11:04 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
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pull that sending unit out & bend the pickup arm(carefully )until the sock is on or near bottom & the float arm stops so that when the gauge is a hair off of E then it's time to gas up. That way you have a functioning gas gauge which is what it's there for & no reason to settle for anything less. Siphon the tank to get the water/crud(the majority of it anyhow) out of there
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Possible to "run out of gas" with gas still in tank?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#281015
04/09/09 11:55 AM
04/09/09 11:55 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,274 s.w.fl
bonefish
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is it possible your tank is belleid?(is belleid a word? )
Last edited by bonefish; 04/09/09 11:57 AM.
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