[Mini] Fueling issue

[Dr John C Bullas]

On 4 January 2013 09:49, Dr John C Bullas <john.bullas at gmail.com> wrote:
> Minis do not need a vented cap if the top to bottom vent pipe is
> functional, the sealed cap prevents fuel escape if the vehicle is
> inverted
>
> JB
>
> On 4 January 2013 09:23, Tom Parker <tom at carrott.org> wrote:
>> On 04/01/13 17:30, Anne wrote:
>>
>>> The Van has the tank in the back with a fuel line running under the car,
>>> coming up along the bulkhead connecting to a fuel filter and then to a
>>> (new) facet pump mounted on the bulkhead.
>>
>>
>> The pump is above the fuel tank?
>>
>>> Another thing I noticed is that in all cases the fuel filter is empty.
>>> When it fills again the engine starts and runs no problem.
>>> But that also is not a tell-all; at time the egnine will run (idle) just
>>> fine while there does not seem to be any fuel in the filter.
>>
>>
>> Where is the inlet in relation to the outlet on the filter? If the inlet is
>> such that air cannot exit the filter, it won't fill up with fuel.
>>
>>> As I also suspected the tank creating a vacuum, I removed part of the
>>> inner workings of a fuelcap and drilled a (small) hole through it, which
>>> should make sure it always can get air in.
>>
>>
>> The fuel system should be pressurised by the vapour pressure of the petrol.
>> When you open the fuel cap on a modern Japanese car a significant amount of
>> gas exits.
>>
>>> 4. Disable the power to the facet fuel pump to see how long the engine
>>> keeps running when no new fuel is coming.
>>
>>
>> Yes, do this. I found with a delorto carb the car would drive surprisingly
>> far with the fuel pump switched off.
>>
>>> I've had a similar issue before which turned out to be an air leak in an
>>> old fuel line. But these lines are new and most are not of the old black
>>> cracking, but of the flexible PVC(?) see through type.
>>
>>
>> Hopefully nylon, not pvc! I've not heard of plastic or see through fuel
>> hoses on cars. Are you sure they're designed for petrol?
>>
>> I don't know how the facet pump works, if it's above the tank it might stop
>> working if it fills with air. Are you sure you don't have any air leaks?
>> Does the fuel ever get hot on it's way to the pump? That can cause vapour in
>> the line which doesn't pump well.
>>
>> Get a small pressure gauge and connect it to the fuel system between the
>> pump and the carb. If the pressure drops, then you have a problem with the
>> pump, filter or pipes.
>>
>> Could the engine be flooding? I had somewhat similar symptoms once, I
>> stopped at some lights and the engine faltered and stopped. The smell of
>> fuel was strong and it eventually started with wide open throttle. I pulled
>> the fuel pump fuse and was able to drive the rest of the way by inserting it
>> every now and again. I believe the float valve jammed open, after
>> disassembly I never found the reason and it never repeated.
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>
>
>
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