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having trouble with my fuel tank

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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 10:20 PM
  #1  
aramirez121's Avatar
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
having trouble with my fuel tank

hi i am having trouble with my fuel tank when i bought it i filed it up and it stopped on 8 gallons now it only uses 4 before dying any help on this?
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Old Jul 13, 2014 | 07:59 PM
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From: MICHIGAN
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

So you are saying this is a new gas tank that you installed in your '91 RS?
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Old Jul 13, 2014 | 09:23 PM
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

sorry should have been more clear on this its the original tank ive drained it twice and get 15 gallons out but it only uses up 4 or 5 gallons
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Old Jul 14, 2014 | 01:21 AM
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

What have you or anyone else done to it? Replaced anything? Disconnected any lines? Did it always do this or is this new? etc.
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Old Jul 14, 2014 | 12:24 PM
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From: knoxville tn
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

sounds like your fuel pump is getting weak. or your filter is plugged
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Old Jul 15, 2014 | 09:32 PM
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

all of the components to the fuel system are new it was sitting for a few yers gas trned to varnish i havnt done a thing to the actual tank and it runs great until i use a quarter gas then it goes into starvation then leaves me high and dry on the road somewere
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Old Jul 16, 2014 | 10:18 AM
  #7  
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

Have you checked the tank breather is clear? Maybe vacuum is building up in the tank but that would be relieved if you took the cap off. When the car dies after 1/4 tank have you taken the gas cap off and listened for air rushing in or out? After the car has died can you turn on the ignition and hear the pump running to pressurize the fuel system? If you can't hear the pump maybe something electrical in the tank base on fuel level.
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Old Jul 16, 2014 | 11:25 AM
  #8  
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From: knoxville tn
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

Originally Posted by aramirez121
all of the components to the fuel system are new it was sitting for a few yers gas trned to varnish i havnt done a thing to the actual tank and it runs great until i use a quarter gas then it goes into starvation then leaves me high and dry on the road somewere
your tank sending unit is suspect at this point. or the gauge is "off" there are tests for both. good luck on this one
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Old Jul 16, 2014 | 11:47 AM
  #9  
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

I was thinking about the sending unit but not in connection with what it's sending which sounds ok. Poster says he can fill the tank and only use a 1/4. Maybe the sending unit is affecting one or more of the other wires. Maybe a short or something when the float gets down to a certain point. If it's not something simple like the breather it may mean pulling the tank. One other test to try (carefully). Get the rear up on ramps and disconnect the delivery pipe and have containers ready to fill. Turn on the ignition switch and pump should pump the gas into the containers. And leave the cap off. If it still cuts off then it's definitely something in the tank. If it keeps pumping it's something else. Even though you say the car runs fine have you checked the fuel pressure?
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Old Jul 16, 2014 | 01:29 PM
  #10  
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

yes its got 40 pounds and i am pulling my sending unit now to check it and see if there is any blockage or something wrong with it
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Old Jul 16, 2014 | 01:43 PM
  #11  
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

Let us know what you find.
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Old Aug 12, 2014 | 10:08 PM
  #12  
aramirez121's Avatar
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

sorry fellas forgot to get back to yall turns out my tank has alot of rust inside that was cuasing my fp to clog and stop workin
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Old Aug 13, 2014 | 03:25 AM
  #13  
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From: knoxville tn
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

Originally Posted by aramirez121
sorry fellas forgot to get back to yall turns out my tank has alot of rust inside that was cuasing my fp to clog and stop workin
you can take it to a radiator shop and have it cleaned out and coated.itll not rust again and will serve you for years to come.if you are considering a spectra replacement tank. stop.the quality of them is less than stellar. people who have tried to use them, have reported many problems with them not being made quite right.
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Old Aug 13, 2014 | 07:15 PM
  #14  
aramirez121's Avatar
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

thanks i was considering in just leaving it for now and some time this week or next make a makeshift siphon pump with a huge micro filter such as the ones for diesels and run it through to get all the particles then clean it out really good and go from there i am guess also that its a bunch of the old fuel that turned to varnish because it comes off very easily
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Old Aug 13, 2014 | 10:20 PM
  #15  
aramirez121's Avatar
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From: caldwell idaho
Car: 1991 camaro rs v6
Engine: v6 3.1
Transmission: auto
Re: having trouble with my fuel tank

after a laborious 3 hours of removing and rebuilding my starter i also came upon the fact that my heat shield is gone from the muffler area causing it to boil fuel wich in turn vapor locks anything i can do besides a new shield for temp right now as i do not have the $$$ for a new replacement also while tinkering down there i also found that my air lines for my shocks were melted and thats why my rear passenger side sagged alot but thats fixed now
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