Fuel Problem?

[Mandymoo]

My little moggie had a work out today and had to get petrol from a truck stop she doesnt normally visit..anyhoo..after a long run she start choking on hills then stopping all together, It felt to me like to much petrol was getting through..other say not enough..she did (on the same journey) try to jump start my friends car..Im wondering if its just dirty petrol..as she was just about on empty before filling her..or just a long run..or perhaps generator problem after trying to jump start someone..any advice will be greatly appreciated

[rayofleamington]

Jump stsarting should not cause any running problems - the only chance is it may damage an alternator (fairly unlikely) and you got a flat battery at around 6 volts you stop gettign a working spark - however you would have noticed a flat battery!

Problems on hills can be:
points gap closing up
blocked fuel filter / struggling fuel pump
leaking High-voltage (faulty lead / rotor arm / coil)
and probably a couple of other things too.

[bmcecosse]

Check also for a vacuum forming in the petrol tank - sucking noise when you take the cap off. When it struggles/stops - is the fuelpump ticking away like mad - or ominously silent?

[Mandymoo]

thanks everyone, I think it was dirty fuel..problem seems to be solved now...fingers crossed

[rayofleamington]

lets hope there wasn't some diesel in there!

[bmcecosse]

Diesel in petrol is not so bad - just a bit smoky.. but petrol in diesel is 'death' to the diesel injection system

[rayofleamington]

Diesel in petrol is not so bad - just a bit smoky.. but petrol in diesel is 'death' to the diesel injection system

Diesel in a Petrol can be terminal for the engine. The risks are so severe that they have made the filler holes on modern petrol cars smaller so that a Diesel nozzle won't fit.

Up to 10% Petrol in a modern diesel - I doubt anyone would notice. Up to 25% in an older diesel shouldn't worry it, but not recommended for long term use as the lubrication is reduced and the HP pump can be affected over long periods.

[Neil MG]

Ray, I am not arguing with your petrol diesel logic but I thought the filler holes were made smaller for unleaded fuel? I got a new Volvo in 1989 and seem to remember that it was one of the early cars with a cat and so was intolerant of leaded fuel and that's why it had the restrictor style filler. Up until then all cars (that I had seen) had the same open filler pipes regardless of being petrol or diesel.

[bmcecosse]

It was indeed for unleaded fuel - to prevent leaded fuel being put in a car with a catalyst.