New Fuel / Timing Problem

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 13, 2004 | 09:27 PM

#16

mlf72f250

Elder User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 799

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970f2504x4

Arg.. it happened again!

Same deal, I was driving up a long hill.. near the top it sputtered and died. Luckily this time I had my trusty spare fuel filter in the glove box. I swapped them out and the truck started right up. I was able to get it home without any further problems.

It looks like I am going to have to take further action. Does it sound like the tank needs to come out and get cleaned? Perhaps I need a new tank? Maybe there is some miracle stuff I can dump in the tank and all the worlds problems will go away? I'm not quite sure where to go from here. Filters are only three bucks a piece, but it can get rather annoying quick (unless I get really good at it and can pretend I'm in a NASCAR pit crew and change the filter in 30 seconds flat!!)

Did your region recently switch to gasoline with ethanol? Since ethanol is a good solvent, sometimes rust and junk gets loosened up and finds its way into filters. It should eventually stop, but I'm not sure how many filters you'd have to go through.

May 13, 2004 | 09:58 PM

#17

1970f2504x4

Thread Starter

Posting Guru

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 1,428

Likes: 3

From: Summit, NJ

The only thing that has changed is the local gas station that went from Amoco to Exxon. I have forgotten it is exxon the last few fillups. Perhaps they put ethanol in that?

May 13, 2004 | 10:15 PM

#18

mlf72f250

Elder User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 799

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970f2504x4

The only thing that has changed is the local gas station that went from Amoco to Exxon. I have forgotten it is exxon the last few fillups. Perhaps they put ethanol in that?

Usually they go to ethanol when the government requires it.

It's possible when the station switched brands, they adopted different housekeeping. Examples of this might include how often they check the underground storage tanks for water (they all have a little, but rarely does a well maintained station ever get the water into your tank). Another thing... Some stations (or gasoline brands) require, or at least strongly recommend that their stations use filters to trap particulates (rust and crap) and water. Some don't.

If you're not sure whether or not your station has filters, make sure you avoid that station whenever the tank truck is filling the underground tanks. That can stir up all sorts of rust.

May 14, 2004 | 01:44 AM

#19

Torque1st

Posting Legend

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

Likes: 37

Ethanol fuel will destroy the fuel systems in these old trucks. The alcohol will eat up the gaskets and older rubber hoses. The alcohol draws moisture into the system and rusts or corrodes all of the fuel lines, tanks, and components. Do not use alcohol fuel if at all possible and never let it sit in the tank. It won't rust away the fuel system in a good commuter vehicle but if your truck is a short trip, non-daily, driver you are in trouble.

Newer fuel systems are coated on the inside to resist corrosion and have better elastomeric components (rubber parts).

There are threads on cleaning and repairing fuel tanks in Garage & Workshop. There may also be threads in the Fuel Systems forum.

p.s. Don't use alcohol fuel in your lawnmower or any engine that sits idle for periods of time.

May 14, 2004 | 01:47 AM

#20

Faithful Old Road Dog

Elder User

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 520

Likes: 1

From: california

I thought by now that all tanks would be the new synthetic/plastic/fiberglass materials. Or maybe that's just California?

May 14, 2004 | 08:48 AM

#21

1970f2504x4

Thread Starter

Posting Guru

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 1,428

Likes: 3

From: Summit, NJ

If ethanol is bad for older vehicles, how do we know where to get non-ethanol fuel?

May 14, 2004 | 09:49 AM

#22

moonley

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 425

Likes: 3

I live in the midwest, and we have had ethanol fuel here for more than 20 years. I have always run ethanol in my 70 F-250, and other than a few problems with it cleaning out the fuel system in the beginning, I have had NO problems at all. You need to have hardened valve seats to burn ethanol, but since any engine built even somewhat recently has them anyway, it should not be a problem for most anyone. Ethanol burns cleaner, increases the octane, supports our corn growers, and for us in the midwest, it is cheaper. By the way, at least here in SD, any fuel that has ethanol in it is posted at the pump "10% ethanol added to increase octane". Usually the 89 octane is ethanol, and 87 or 91 are regular. Hope this helps, but don't be afraid of ethanol!
If you have any questions, here is a good FAQ site:
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/factfic_enperf.html

Last edited by moonley; May 14, 2004 at 09:57 AM.

May 14, 2004 | 04:18 PM

#23

BRADBILL58

New User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: Dallas NC

I had the same thing happen to my first f100, old farm truck I got from my grandfather. Weekend driver to haul trash and do yard work. I was able to drive it 2-3 miles no trouble, any more and sput, sput, die. Let it set for 15-30 mins and I could make it home. I tried new plugs, cap, rotor, new filter and it would do the same thing. Then one day when it happened, I pulled the line at the fuel pump and no gas. I took an air line and blew through the tank and never had the problem again,( at lease as long as the truck lived). This was 10 years ago. Answer trash in line or tank.
Bill
70 F100 360 setting
70 F250 360 4sp 4X4 16k old fire brush truck
76 f150 super cab 390 4b c6 auto