Missing out with low fuel?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 129
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From: Tucson AZ
Missing out with low fuel?
I am not sure if I have the correlation correct but I believe my 1994 C4 will miss out under heavy acceleration when the fuel level is below a half a tank. I noticed it last night. It missed out but this morning, after I filled up the tank, it quit missing out and ran fine. What would be causing this, fuel pump?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Tucson AZ
I ordered a fuel pressure guage with a bleed off. It should be here next week so I can check out the fuel pump, etc. I think I will let the gas get low again also to make sure that is the problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Australia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Tampa Florida
Not saying that the level of the tank has anything to do with it. OP stated that he noticed the tank was ~ 1/2 empty when he had the problem....that's all....the next morning after he filled up the problem didn't reoccur. I'm not sure a correlation applies here at this point. I think the fuel pressure gauge will shed some light on the issue.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 674
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From: Daytona Beach Florida
I had the exact same problem and FIXED IT by buying a new fuel sending unit and fuel pump was included along with the sock and gaskets (plug and play). $ 310 very easy to do the job. Doesn't starve out around corners or accelerating with low gas anymore and my gauge reads perfect now. before it would stay at full for a long time then go to half a tank very fast. good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,462
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From: Hartford WI
I had the exact same problem and FIXED IT by buying a new fuel sending unit and fuel pump was included along with the sock and gaskets (plug and play). $ 310 very easy to do the job. Doesn't starve out around corners or accelerating with low gas anymore and my gauge reads perfect now. before it would stay at full for a long time then go to half a tank very fast. good luck
For $100 and a little more elbow grease, he can have a better pump. That is unless he is also having trouble with his fuel sender.
Last edited by aklim; Feb 15, 2009 at 12:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Tucson AZ
Well, I don't think there is a 100% correlation between low fuel and missing out. I drove it this morning and although it was not missing out, it hesitated when starting from low RPMs. So I am guessing the fuel filter is plugged up again. I say again, because it was replaced a month ago. According to CarFax, this car only had 4000 miles put on it in the last 4 years. As far as I know, it sat for 4 years without driving it so there might have been some junk in the tank that needs cleaning out or the tank had a little rust? Man, I looked up a price of a new tank and those are ($1500.00) expensive! Well, I will wait for the fuel pressure gauge and replace the fuel filter first and see how it goes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 129
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From: Tucson AZ
Well, today it ran just fine. I think I know what happened. I was having some heating problems so decided to run some water through the radiator to see if it would help. My guess is I got some water on the OptiSpark that was replaced a couple weeks ago. My guess is the repair shop did a poor job. I will post when I get this fixed.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 203
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From: Dallas TX
I had almost the exact same problem. I wasnt sure exactly what it was, but I thought it might have been the GM low voltage at the fuel pump syndrome. It happened every time I got below 1/2 tank.
Since I am planning mods that will need more fuel, I put in the Racetronix wiring kit with a Walbro 255 pump, and replaced the fuel filter. Problem went away. Have run it down the drag track with less than a 1/4 tank now and have had no problems. Did not replace the sending unit, or any other parts.
Since I am planning mods that will need more fuel, I put in the Racetronix wiring kit with a Walbro 255 pump, and replaced the fuel filter. Problem went away. Have run it down the drag track with less than a 1/4 tank now and have had no problems. Did not replace the sending unit, or any other parts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 129
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From: Tucson AZ
Got the fuel pressure gauge and checked the pressure. It was 41 psi when the key came on and 35 psi or so with the engine running. Since the problem went away, my guess it is from the Opti when I cleaned out the radiator.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,455
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From: East TN
Something I remembered while reading this thread, I heard this from a friend and don't know if it's true but it sounds logical. He said to always drive your car down to a little above empty to burn off all the junk in the tank and not let it build up. Or never drive it past 1/2 a tank so the junk doesn't have a chance to get sucked in the system.
!["swamp rat"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%2391a5cf' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
Instructor
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http://www.racetronix.com/RX-C44-FPKG-2.html
For $100 and a little more elbow grease, he can have a better pump. That is unless he is also having trouble with his fuel sender.
For $100 and a little more elbow grease, he can have a better pump. That is unless he is also having trouble with his fuel sender.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Something I remembered while reading this thread, I heard this from a friend and don't know if it's true but it sounds logical. He said to always drive your car down to a little above empty to burn off all the junk in the tank and not let it build up. Or never drive it past 1/2 a tank so the junk doesn't have a chance to get sucked in the system.
