Fuel tank Contamination - 3 Fuel Pumps later...
06-04-2009, 12:11 AM
#1
Instructor
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Location: Marietta GA
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Fuel tank Contamination - 3 Fuel Pumps later...
Bought 86.5 at 100k _+ (odometer waiver).
Let it sit after TB/WP so that I could strip antother 86.5 for parts.
Wouldn't start, had spark, FP circuit etc, but not the buzzing bee of a worling fuel pump.
Swapped for FP from donor car. New Mahle filter. Ran long enough to get emmissions inspection - passed awesomely. Sat maybe a month. Dead FP again.
Ordered a new one, but started reading here when I saw the price tag on a new FP. Started seeing stories about sludge monsters in tanks and the seemingly backwards nature of the filter/pump relationship.
Pulled strainer - clloudy, yellow goo in screen.
So pulled strainer on donor car, which PO had begun by cross-threading, and finished by getting it all the way in - worthless. Though that strainer was like new compared to mine.
Drained tank. Explored with swabs. there was at least 5mm of "honey" on the bottom of tank.
Removed tank.
1 gallon acetone, vigorous shaking, draining - repeated three times.
Dawn. Pressure washer. Hot GA sun for 3 days with the occasional shake. Distilled water/alcohol final rinse.
Flushed fuel lines from rear to Y by MAF.
Cleaned up FP fuse and Relay contacts.
Starts like new, runs great.
I wonder if this wasn't part of the seemingly fuel starvation related probs I had seen in past?
QUESTIONS: is there a known working PRE-FUEL PUMP filter mod?
Is adding acetone on occasion a legitimate prophylactic procedure? I'm hearing that some gas stations are pushing 30-40% ethanol without you being able to know it. Didn't sugar in the tank use to be considered a very nasty prank?
Let it sit after TB/WP so that I could strip antother 86.5 for parts.
Wouldn't start, had spark, FP circuit etc, but not the buzzing bee of a worling fuel pump.
Swapped for FP from donor car. New Mahle filter. Ran long enough to get emmissions inspection - passed awesomely. Sat maybe a month. Dead FP again.
Ordered a new one, but started reading here when I saw the price tag on a new FP. Started seeing stories about sludge monsters in tanks and the seemingly backwards nature of the filter/pump relationship.
Pulled strainer - clloudy, yellow goo in screen.
So pulled strainer on donor car, which PO had begun by cross-threading, and finished by getting it all the way in - worthless. Though that strainer was like new compared to mine.
Drained tank. Explored with swabs. there was at least 5mm of "honey" on the bottom of tank.
Removed tank.
1 gallon acetone, vigorous shaking, draining - repeated three times.
Dawn. Pressure washer. Hot GA sun for 3 days with the occasional shake. Distilled water/alcohol final rinse.
Flushed fuel lines from rear to Y by MAF.
Cleaned up FP fuse and Relay contacts.
Starts like new, runs great.
I wonder if this wasn't part of the seemingly fuel starvation related probs I had seen in past?
QUESTIONS: is there a known working PRE-FUEL PUMP filter mod?
Is adding acetone on occasion a legitimate prophylactic procedure? I'm hearing that some gas stations are pushing 30-40% ethanol without you being able to know it. Didn't sugar in the tank use to be considered a very nasty prank?
06-04-2009, 01:22 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
The crud in the tank is from neglect, probably from long before you bought it.. My 30-year-old tank is surprisingly clean inside. Once it's clean, it should stay clean unless you let the car sit for years again.
06-04-2009, 06:31 PM
#4
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Hmmm... This sounds very similar to a problem I had. Fuel pump died. Swapped out a used fuel pump temporarily and it ran perfectly for a few hours until dying again. Unfortunately I had to leave it in another state so until I trailer it home in a couple weeks I can't see if I have a similar problem. My car had a revolving door of previous owners, it seems.
06-05-2009, 03:36 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
My tank that spent 10 years in Arabia was FILTHY, and the strainer was broken. In 4 years use before replacing the tank the pump stopped once, I cleared the obstruction (out of car) by reversing polarity, pump did 2 more years. Seems the crud was solidified beyond being picked up by new fuel,and was stable.
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k
