Fuel system question

DamnearaFarm · #1 06/06/11, 03:49 PM

I have a 95 Land Rover Discovery.
A while back, it died. Was low on fuel (under 1/4 tank) and I figured it sucked something up in the filter. Filter was totally clogged, so I replaced it. Any time the fuel level dropped below 1/4 tank, it would die. I was running Lucas in it as well. Tried to keep fuel level higher, but if it did die, adding fuel 'fixed' the problem.
By this time, I was convinced the tank was full of crap and it was sucking into the lines and causing the truck to die.
Fast forward to this week. Almost full tank and it does what it did before. It would start and idle for a minute or two and then would die. If it didn't die within a minute or two, I could shift the truck into gear (automatic) and it would die. After sitting a while (and cooling off?) I started it up and got home- approximately 40 minutes away.
Ran fine for a while after that- until it got low on fuel, then it did the same thing again. This time I didn't wait for it to cool and had hubby tow me home. I still suspect crap in the tank to be part of the problem.
I just pulled the fuel pump and it looks awfully new to be crapping out and apparently a previous owner accessed the pump as well because a neat hole had been cut in the insulation for access.
After all that history.....
Is there any way to clean out the tank without dropping it? The access to the pump was via the cargo area of the truck. I can look straight into the tank now.

Thoughts?

solidwoods · #2 06/06/11, 04:24 PM

Don't know the vehicle, doesn't matter-
Allot of fuel tanks have a drain bolt on the bottom side.
Even though your fuel pump looks serviceable you could have a tank full of sand which ate up the last pump and now ate up your current pump.
Is the engine fuel injected or carb?
Gotta know that for more info.
jim

DamnearaFarm · #3 06/06/11, 04:34 PM

Fuel injected.

Anything else?

Thank you

Windy in Kansas · #4 06/06/11, 05:02 PM

It used to be that something similar would occur when the vented gas cap would plug up not allowing fuel to flow properly. I can't imagine that today's vehicle would be affected but still it would be worth a try---when the engine stalls out as you've described remove the gas cap and listen for a large whoosh of air entering the tank. Then try the engine again to see if it has made any difference.

Don't the injected engines also have a return feed from the injection system back to the tank? Perhaps the return is plugged preventing excess fuel from having a place to go so the engine shuts down. Just a real stab in the dark with that, not even an educated guess.

tinknal · #5 06/06/11, 05:13 PM

Sounds like a bad fuel pump to me.

DamnearaFarm · #6 06/06/11, 05:56 PM

Yep, it has a return and I had read that about the vacuum as well.

I did research and found out that several years of Land Rovers were recalled due to an issue with the fuel tank cracking or leaking. I called the dealer and mine hasn't been replaced, so as soon as I get it running again, I'm taking it in to see if it's one of the recalled ones.

I do know that anytime I put more than a half a tank in it, you can smell gas pretty strongly in the rear area and even up into the drivers area.

Luckily an aftermarket pump fits- with coupon codes I got it down to fifty bucks. OEM is 300.00.

Guess I'll replace the pump this evening. Sure wish I could find a way to clean out the tank just in case it isn't one of the recalled ones.

solidwoods · #7 06/06/11, 06:27 PM

Most fuel injected have 2 fuel pumps. One on/in the tank (it has a filter screen on it) and another in line or engine driven.

Your fuel tank may have a rock guard covering the bottom of the fuel tank (but allot of mfrs. cut an area for access to the fuel tank drain.
You can drain the tank with a siphon hose. When the tank is empty use a small dia. hose to drain the remaining fuel. A small dia hose will flex and allow it to get to the very bottom of the tank. To make the siphon you can insert the small dia hose, close off the fuel fill inlet with a rag, and use compressed air into the fuel fill to inflate the tank/start a siphon with the hose.
Use caution with putting a hose in a tank. You can damage the pump filter (the cause of allot of pump failures) and you can damage a tank level float assembly also. Use a very pliable soft hose of small dia. which allows more "feel" in the tank (all that is if you don't have a tank drain ,, most tanks have a drain).

Also check the vehicle exhaust pipe, if it has allot of carbon soot then the injector controller (computer board) isn't working with the injectors correctly (oxygen sensor or another sensor could be the culprit also, check for an on board computer that gives a light code for deficiencies).
jim

artificer · #8 06/06/11, 08:21 PM

The fuel lines should have a test point in the engine compartment. A really good investment is a fuel pressure tester. Under $20, and it will tell you what your pressure is.

Before replacing the fuel pump, check the fuel lines. They can rust out, and the pump will draw air. Fill the tank, and it will get fuel, which sounds like your problem. A small hole in the line will leak fuel, and that could be what you smell.

Michael

haypoint · #9 06/07/11, 12:29 AM

A tank that has rusted or cracked near the top will let silt into the tank. The silt will fill your filter while it eats your fuel pump.

PNP Katahdins · #10 06/07/11, 03:30 AM

Do you always get your fuel at the same place or does it vary from one fill up to the next?

If you almost always use the same dealer, get your parts replaced and start using a different dealer if possible. I used to work with the state petroleum inspectors in the main office. Complaints from state-wide came to me for filing, as well as alerts from other states. Amazing what can go wrong with the storage tanks and end up in your vehicle.

If you see the tanker unloading when you go to fill up, try somewhere else or wait awhile. Junk gets stirred up but will settle quickly, you don't want that stuff in YOUR tank.

Peg

fordy · #11 06/07/11, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanc

I have a 95 Land Rover Discovery.
A while back, it died. Was low on fuel (under 1/4 tank) and I figured it sucked something up in the filter. Filter was totally clogged, so I replaced it. Any time the fuel level dropped below 1/4 tank, it would die. I was running Lucas in it as well. Tried to keep fuel level higher, but if it did die, adding fuel 'fixed' the problem.
By this time, I was convinced the tank was full of crap and it was sucking into the lines and causing the truck to die.
Fast forward to this week. Almost full tank and it does what it did before. It would start and idle for a minute or two and then would die. If it didn't die within a minute or two, I could shift the truck into gear (automatic) and it would die. After sitting a while (and cooling off?) I started it up and got home- approximately 40 minutes away.
Ran fine for a while after that- until it got low on fuel, then it did the same thing again. This time I didn't wait for it to cool and had hubby tow me home. I still suspect crap in the tank to be part of the problem.
I just pulled the fuel pump and it looks awfully new to be crapping out and apparently a previous owner accessed the pump as well because a neat hole had been cut in the insulation for access.
After all that history.....
Is there any way to clean out the tank without dropping it? The access to the pump was via the cargo area of the truck. I can look straight into the tank now.

Thoughts?

..................Running a fuel tank constantly, low , can kill an electric fuel pump ! How , because as you drive a low volume of fuel means a low Level of fuel in the tank , so the fuel pickup tube is set slightly about the bottom of the tank and as you drive the fuel is constantly sloshing around , and the fuel pickup will be sucking AIR instead of gas , Not good on electric fuel pumps , thereby shortening the service life of the fuel pump ! , fordy

DamnearaFarm · #12 06/07/11, 11:41 AM

I got the guts of the pump swapped out and reinstalled. I haven't driven it yet, other than around the driveway.

Michael- I only smell the fuel smell when the tank is full or very close to it. Think it could still be a hole?

One thing I forgot to mention, don't know if it's relavent or not- when I fuel up, I have to be careful with that last gallon or so. The truck doesn't shut off the fuel pump and if I don't watch it, I can have a shoe full of gas in no time.

I typically buy my fuel at the station at Food City. By shopping there, I can save 15 cents a gallon. We've always bought our gas there and never had a problem. They have a pretty high turnover rate in fuel as well, most of the community gasses up there.

I did get a pretty good look in the tank last night when I had to fish the seal out. Looked pretty clean to me.

I wish I could afford to keep the tank fuller, Fordy, but sometimes ya gotta do what you gotta do.

I have a doctor's appointment in the town where the local dealer is later in the month. I'll see if I can't get the truck's tank checked out then.

Thanks for the help, y'all.