Crap in gas tank

grumppyoldman

grumppyoldman

Well-known member
I've put my rebuilt dist. and coil on, went for a ride and returned home. engine starts spitting and sputtering when reving it up. The gas filter was plugged with small bits of brown crap, non-magnetic stuff. Installed new filter and fuel pump will not fill the filter. Engine idels fine until I get on it then it spits, farts and backfires. Maybe need a new gas tank? This is on a 1941 ford, what do you guy's think? Al
 
Definitely sounds like stuff in the gas tank..warrants pulling out the tank and looking to see what's in it...could be fhe lines too..but I have restored many tanks with KBS tank sealer kits...much cheaper than a new tank and fairly easy to do

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
 
If the new fuel pump you installed has a glass/metal bowl, make sure it is tight and has no leaks otherwise it could just be sucking air.
 
Do 41's have that little flexible fuel hose on the firewall? If so, bypass it as they get old an rot away.
Also, drain your gas tank, disconnect the fuel line from the tank and clean it out by blowing air through it. Also, crud can actually build up at the point where the gas line fitting screws into the tank. Stick a welding rod in there and clean it out.

Also try bypassing the tank by running the engine using a container of fresh, clean gas to feed the fuel pump inside the engine compartment. Sounds like your fuel pump might be clogged up or diafraghm is cracked. check your oil to see if you smell gas in the oil.
 
I'm going to try putting some air pressure into tank to get gas to fuel pump and see if the sputtering goes away, then I'll know if the engine is getting fuel the problem lies some where in the fuel system. Al
 
Blowing air into the tank will not solve your problem. All you will do is move the crud around that is already there and push it into your fuel line. Use a fresh container of gas as mentioned earlier. Then work backwards toward your fuel pump, filter and tank..
 
Installed a new filter (ahead of fuel pump) drove about 15 mi. it ran ok at first them started banging and farting. Got home and filter had no gas in it but could see those little specks of whatever on filter. I may have gotten some bad gas, tanks full now, the service station is close to a bayou and has had water in the parking lot. A bunch of water in Hurricane Ike, about 8 ft. in store. Will go get a can of gas and try that. If it runs ok will drain tank and pull. Thanks Everyone for suggestions, I'm about to pull what little hair I have left out. Al
 
That happened with my 48 F1. I put a new filter on it and drove it around the block. When I opened the hood I saw the filter was full of crap. I removed the tank after draining it and then took it to a radiator shop who boiled it out. Once home I coated the tank with a gas tank sealant, Red Kote which is a fuel tank liner. That solved my problem.
Good luck
 
grumppyoldman said:
PS> I blew air from filter end to tank, it bubbled out in the tank, so line was cleared. Al
Click to expand...


Good idea, but when the gas and bubbles settle again in the tank so will the crud. Removing the gas tank is a pain in the back, but you gotta do it to clean it out. Otherwise you are just spinning your wheels. Not trying to be negative Nelly, but I have been through this before.
1. Separate can of clean gas first.
2. Clean filter
3. Make sure pump is "working".
4. Press accelerator pump to see if gas is squirting in venturis.
5. Try starting car.
6. If it won't start or run, remove top of carb and see if it's full of crud and if needle valve is working.
 
OK second verse,,I bought a new filter and gas in a clean can. Set it up above engine, started the engine and it does the same thing, backfires misses, when the pedal is pressed down hard. Not the gas, but the tank is dirty and I'll clean it. I just got my dist. back from Bubbas and the coil from Skip. Skip didn't say anything about the condensor so I figured it to be OK. Now I'm thinking ignition because the new gas does the same as before I sent them out to be fixed. There goes the rest of my hair. Could it be timing, kinda sounds like it. The spark plugs fire but look weak sparking, only 1/16th spark to block.
 
I don't have another condenser, Skip gave me a no. for a NAPA one but I cant find it, waiting on him to call me back. Also looked at the Eastwood site for the tank kit, a lot of people had problems with it. So looking for other products. Al
 
I have had Eastwood kit in my 34 roadster tank for 4 years. The car sets for 6 months at a time . No problems for me. It may have something to do with following instructions. Suit yourself.
 

Attachments

  • 1934 ourside fireside coffee 2017.jpg
    1934 ourside fireside coffee 2017.jpg
    73.5 KB · Views: 16
thank you for the info. on gas tank treatment, I don't know what is in my tank, it's non-magnetic. Now I'm getting some small flakes in the filters I just removed. Cut them apart and magnet will not pick them up, I think it would if it were rust. Al
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top