Dumb Question: How do I put fuel in?

jmcgill89 · Jan 22, 2012

The latest in my never-ending series of questions:

My issue now is that I can't gas it up. I took it to the station and set the pump to put some 91 octane in, and after 1 gallon the pump stopped....I started it again, and then gas came out the filler hole. MY gauge says it's on E, but I can't put fuel in. Is there some kind of vent I should know about? I tried to blow in the gas hole to see if there was an obstruction, and got a face full of fuel. Last time I pull an idiot move like that.

droptop73 · Jan 22, 2012

I've found if I insert the pump nozzle as far as it will go it tends to not want to take fuel. Pull the nozzle out slightly and hold the nozzle lifting it upward.

I hope that helps.

jmcgill89 · Jan 22, 2012

On a whim, I stuck a 1 foot wire down through the filler. When I pulled it out it had gas on it. Is it possible my fuel gauge is off? How would I troubleshoot that?

Steven Harris · Jan 22, 2012

91 octane in, and got a face full of fuel.

So, you ought to be running pretty good!

rvrtrash · Jan 22, 2012

On a whim, I stuck a 1 foot wire down through the filler. When I pulled it out it had gas on it. Is it possible my fuel gauge is off? How would I troubleshoot that?

If you have a digital volt meter, you could set it on ohms, remove the wire to the sender at the tank and take a reading between the terminal and a good ground. It sounds like the sender or gauge is bad, and it's usually the sender. From memory, I think the sender reads about 10 ohms when the tank is full and around 70 when it's empty.

Steve

Totalled · Jan 22, 2012

sounds like the tank is full. The float is probably sunk. They are brass and usually spring a leak along the soldered seam. Then the fill with fuel and your gauge reads "E".

T-K · Jan 23, 2012

Same happend to me also, but the gauge showed half and the car stopped

Eventually the gauge stayed on E all the time. For me it was the sending unit.

Someone had installed a drain plug on my tank,so emtying the tank was easy. But i will recomend as little fuel as possible when changing

hehehe...my floor was full of buckets with fuel

)

If you connect the gauge wire direct to ground, the needle should move, if it does, its your sending unit.

jmcgill89 · Jan 23, 2012

I'm thinking it's the sending unit. I took a piece of vacuum hose about 2 feet long and snaked it down into the filler, and was able to blow bubbles in the gas before it was all the way down. Looks like I need to think about replacing the sender. Unfortunately, I've got a full tank of gas. I'm going to start syphoning it out ito my other cars. At least it won't go to waste.

Same happend to me also, but the gauge showed half and the car stopped Eventually the gauge stayed on E all the time. For me it was the sending unit.

Someone had installed a drain plug on my tank,so emtying the tank was easy. But i will recomend as little fuel as possible when changinghehehe...my floor was full of buckets with fuel)

If you connect the gauge wire direct to ground, the needle should move, if it does, its your sending unit.

OLE PONY · Jan 23, 2012

I'm going to start syphoning it out ito my other cars. At least it won't go to waste.

I used one of those hand pump siphons that you can pick up at Wal Mart or Autozone. Worked very well, got some exercise pumping the thing.

NoLimitssjca · Jan 24, 2012

You could always drive some of it off.

lastfairlane · Jan 27, 2012

Hi does that trick work on a convertible?

my gauge only shows half when I fill it up

and when showing empty its really half full

any ideas

thanks John

T-K · Jan 27, 2012

I will guess the sending unit for you as well lastfairlaine.

When connecting the gauge wire direct to ground the gauge should go direct to full...if it does.....no problem with the gauge.

Check ground wire by the tank as well....could be that easy

Anyhow i think these old gauges wouldnt be 100% correct after all these years

)

OLE PONY · Jan 27, 2012

Just a tip; if you replace your sending unit and have emptied your gas tank, check where the guage sits around the "E" before you put gas back in the tank. When I changed mine I would not run out of gas until just below the "E"; the new sending unit runs out right on the "E".

Dumb Question: How do I put fuel in?

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