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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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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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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
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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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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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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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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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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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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Anonymous
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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
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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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
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 893
Tustin, CA
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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: 75,043
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,043
U.S.S.A.
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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
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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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
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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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! 
**Photobucket sucks**
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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
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,126
Hunt Valley, Maryland
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Quote:
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
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,894
Mira Loma, CA
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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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