Fuel problems

[wooster]

Since I bought my ’39 14 2 years ago I’ve always had a bit a trouble with mucky fuel. The previous owner had fitted a new electric fuel pump under the bonnet and an inline filter. The filter was only small and would clog up with rusty flakes after 150 miles or so, so I just kept replacing it. This was obviously not going to fix the problem long-term. Anyway recently I’ve had an intermittent problem of fuel not getting through at all. No fuel was entering the filter. This only happened sometimes. Other times it was fine. I decided the time had come to flush out the tank and check the fuel lines. I haven’t removed the tank or flushed it through yet but I will do. I did remove the pipes and the fuel gauge sender from the top of the tank and I found an electric pump (see photos). It looks like a washer bottle pump to me. Is it a standard part? Should it be there? Or has someone fitted it in bid to improve fuel supply? All advice gratefully received.

[luli]

What you show in the above pictures is the fuel reserve valve. See more on it here: http://wp.me/pXLKy-iO and also here: http://wp.me/pXLKy-1nF

[wooster]

Is it? Oh. Thanks for letting me know.

[wooster]

Tank seems pretty rust free. But the filler tube is quite rusty.

[RobHomewood]

I cleaned and resealed my fuel tank (also a 39 14) last year using the Frosts top spec kit. It involved several stages and I was very careful to make sure I followed the instructions to the letter, in particular making sure the coatings were covering every last part of the internal surface. You can only do this I believe by taking the tank off the car and tipping, turning, shaking etc etc many times during the process. I also had to fit a replacement reserve fuel unit (salvaged) and had to make a new brass mesh strainer for the bottom of the dip pipes which was fun. My original unit had been marmalised becasue of air leaks (common) with the main pipe soldered closed and the reserve pipe bent thro 90 degrees with an adapted disposable filter on the end. Luckily the replacement solenoid switch worked without any repair but I still had several goes at getting an airtight seal in the dip pipes into the body and from the body to the fuel line connection (in the end using Loxeal as recomended by Luli). I also had to have a new union made as the old one was well chewed up and I couldnt find a replacment although I am sure they are out there somewhere even though they are an unusual combination of threads.
Good luck with the repairs

[dhbuchanan]

When I acquired my first pre-war Rover 34 years ago, the advice from the previous owner was never, under any circumstances, to use the fuel reserve- make sure instead that there is always enough petrol in the tank and never let the level get really low. Having read the above correspondence, I now realise what good advice that was.

[luli]

The leak is always at the top of the suction tubes (see picture) - and for that matter the advice is irrelevant.

[wooster]

OK. There is where I'm at. Fuel pump is working fine. Clear plastic inline filter is brand new. Filter in carb is spotless. Fuel pipes are clear. Suction pipes are clear. Tank is clean. Fuel is fresh. But still I have intermittent fuel supply. Because the inline filter is clear plastic I can see when fuel is coming through. With ignition on, fuel pump is ticking away but no fuel is coming through. I keep trying, no luck. Then all of a sudden fuel starts to flow, engine starts and off we go. Get a few miles from home and fuel flow stops. Car rolls to stand still. Eventually it starts again and off we go again until.....

Any ideas anyone? It's driving me crazy!!

[luli]

Read carefully the following thread: http://www.rover-forum.thersr.co.uk/vie ... lit=petrol . Recent changes in the petrol composition make it necessary to change the petrol supply system too.

[wooster]

Wow there's a lot of information there. So a leak in the suction pipes could be the cause. A leak near the to as you suggest would mean that the pum is drawing air through through the system instead of fuel. Are replacements available?