87 2-tanks one starves engine
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Maiden, NC
87 2-tanks one starves engine
I have had this 87 long bed I-6 for 3 months now and have a peculiar problem with it: The rear tank can have plenty of fuel in it but the engine will begin to sputter like it is starving, I switch to the front tank, no problem. Later, I will switch back to the rear tank and it may run great all day of for a few miles before doing the same thing as before. Has anyone any experience with this? Any luck at figuring out what the trouble is? I'd appreciate some help with this. Thanks in advance.
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Joined: May 2014
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Sounds like either fuel pump or the dual function reservoir (which switches the tanks). The front tank on mine wasn't working and I just replaced the DFR on mine (88 F150 4.9) and now it is back in service.
It took me a while to figure out that it was the DFR, but it would drive for 10+ miles or idle for over 20 minutes since there was gas in the reservoir from the other tank, but once that runs out it will sputter/die.
From what I have read your best bet would be to test the fuel pressure at different points on the fuel line to see which part needs to be replaced. Someone with more experience will hopefully chime in to help describe how to do that.
Edit: do a search on this site and there are tons of posts talking about it. Some people just switch to one tank and replace it with a single function reservoir, but I wanted to keep both tanks going so I just replaced it. It was something like $150 on amazon (part F1uz9b263b).
It took me a while to figure out that it was the DFR, but it would drive for 10+ miles or idle for over 20 minutes since there was gas in the reservoir from the other tank, but once that runs out it will sputter/die.
From what I have read your best bet would be to test the fuel pressure at different points on the fuel line to see which part needs to be replaced. Someone with more experience will hopefully chime in to help describe how to do that.
Edit: do a search on this site and there are tons of posts talking about it. Some people just switch to one tank and replace it with a single function reservoir, but I wanted to keep both tanks going so I just replaced it. It was something like $150 on amazon (part F1uz9b263b).
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Oregon
My junkyard guy said those tank switching pistons may have a filter in them or be empty or have a wire to indicate moisture.
The bottom on mine screws off with like an oil filter wrench and is the easiest fix so I hope that's it (for both of us)
Rarely the prob as people replace those and then come back for more parts altho I drove one from Canada to Mexico with a plugged filter which showed up on NO parts lists and drove me nutts and every repair shop guy between canada and mexico.
Hanes manual says it is not servicable but I disagree if it is designed to have a filter.
40 bucks, from the yard.
I have an 87 doing the exact same thing so it may be time to try and fix it.
The bottom on mine screws off with like an oil filter wrench and is the easiest fix so I hope that's it (for both of us)
Rarely the prob as people replace those and then come back for more parts altho I drove one from Canada to Mexico with a plugged filter which showed up on NO parts lists and drove me nutts and every repair shop guy between canada and mexico.
Hanes manual says it is not servicable but I disagree if it is designed to have a filter.
40 bucks, from the yard.
I have an 87 doing the exact same thing so it may be time to try and fix it.
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