I have a 78 f150 it will start right up most of the time but when driving it it will start to spit and sputter and then it stalls and now it won't start. I'm thinking it might be water in the gas lines and I'm gonna get some dry gas but I didn't no if anyone knew of what else it might be. Thanks for the time guys

 

It's not water in the fuel unless you have a way for rain to get in there or some kid has been putting a hose in your tank AND there's enough water in there to fully cover the fuel pick up sock, thus displacing any fuel that your engine can pick up.

You can check for this by checking to see what's coming out of the carb during the accelerator shot. If you can get some on a screwdriver and smell it and it's fuel, then it's not water, or water in the fuel.


What sort of carb do you have? What fuel pump are you using? Have you gone through the effort of checking for fuel leaks? Have you changed or inspected your fuel filter(s)? Is this a new purchase that is having problems or is this totally a new problem on a truck that's never done it through years of driving? Have you checked other issues, like making sure it has spark and not had animal nests clogging the carb?

 

also has the truck been sitting?

 

The symptoms you describe are also indicative of a faulty ICM. If you don't want to run through some tests, some parts stores will test it for you.

Have you pulled a couple plugs? What do they tell you?

 

Welcome to FTE, takes 3 things to run air, fuel (sure its not out of gas?) and fire/spark.
Take the air filter cover off, look down the throat of the carb, actuate the throttle linkage by hand, do you see gas squirt in there?

If no, could be time to change the fuel pump. I would put a very little gas down the carb and see if it fires off and runs for a few seconds. If it does, then sounds like a fuel pump or filter problem and not a spark issue. If no, then it might be a spark or lack there of it issue, but one trouble shooting step at a time.

To ck the fuel pump, disconnect the out line coming from the mechanical fuel pump (located on the dvrs side of the engine) to the carb. If stock and not messed with it should have a metal tube and a fitting, using a adapter fitting put a small piece (1 or 2 ft long) of old fuel line on there aiming it towards the ground, and turn the truck over, any fuel come out the line?

I know you do not have to use the fuel pump fuel line adapter, its just a good practice so gas is not squirting all over the place. Safety safety, cause a truck fire sux.
This is really a 2 person operation, turn it over long enough (5 to 10 sec) to work the mech pump enough to see if it is pulling fuel from the tank.

If no fuel, have you ever changed a mechanical fuel pump? If yes, have you ever changed a fuel filter?
That should get you started trouble shooting the issue.

 

Idk the carb its a 1 barrel and I just replaced the fuel filter I just bought the truck 2 weeks ago. its got the 300 straight 6 and I think it needs a new fuel line from the tank up to the motor

 

thanks for the input guys I really appreciate it after work I'm going to start my troubleshooting

 

Is it dry rotted and leaking or just sucking air? If air is getting in, fuel should be coming out? Same for the steel line, is it rusted and leaking?

It is rubber for a short bit from the sending unit to about where the brake line goes from soft line to solid. And then back to rubber just before it connects to the fuel pump.

Do not get regular cheap rubber line get "fuel injector fuel line" a little more $ but worth it.

Ck the new fuel filter connection, you know there is a filter type sock on the end of the fuel sending unit in the tank? Is usually comes already connected to the sending unit.

 

Good luck with the trouble shooting! It's pretty easy stuff, if youre sure it's a fuel problem. We can get that narrowed down too, to make sure that youre inspecting for the right thing.

 

It would have helped everyone a bit more in "online diagnosis" if you had put this part in your first post.

And an answer to a previous question as to if the vehicle was sitting, if so, for how long = rust and junk in the gas tank goobering up your filter, lines, and carb.

After you've checked the previous suggestions, go down and get a new plastic fuel filter. The kind you can see through. Another fuel filter after the fuel pump, before going into the carb would do you some good, also.