Tank not allowing fuel to come out :-(

[MsRose]

Can anyone advise please......

Worked all day yesterday to make sure my 1962 saloon was ready for MOT.

In the process I noticed a leak from the fuel tank and so changed the tank (a borrowed one from my 1970 traveller).

I went to put the car away, it started, ran and then cut out. It sounded just like it had run out of fuel. To cut a long story short the problem has been located to fuel not being able to come out of the tank. The tank was 3/4 full.

I thought that maybe the filter on the end of the uptake pipe was blocked and so I managed to create two big holes in the filter. Still no luck.....

My question is can anything be done about the uptake pipe or will I need a whole new tank?

Any help or advice would be appreciated...... felling pretty gutted that I had to cancel the MOT retest today

[myoldjalopy]

It may be that there was some crud in the tank you fitted which has blocked the fuel line. Try undoing the feed pipe at the petrol pump and blow back down the fuel line which may clear it. If that works then I would advise giving the tank a good rinse out to remove any flakes of rust floating around............

[MsRose]

The main line from the pump to the tank is clear. It appears to be a problem within the tank itself. If it's the uptake pipe which is blocked then how would one try and clear it?

[ianmack]

The best way to clear blocked pipes is with compressed air.

You mention making new holes, if these are above the fuel level or the pipe was damaged then it may just be drawing air.

[MsRose]

Thanks Ian

I only made two holes in the internal filter as it may have been blocked

[bmcecosse]

I would blow down the filler pipe - does petrol appear at the pump?

[MsRose]

How would blowing down the filler pipe help???

[bmcecosse]

By proving that fuel could flow through to the pump..... Is that not what you want ?? And - if just air appears at the pump, then you know you have an air leak....

[MsRose]

Can I really build up enough pressure by blowing through a huge filler hole and enable petrol to travel up the pipe and along the main fuel line to the pump? Sorry if I sound stupid.....

[MsRose]

So, at the top of the internal intake pipe there is a seal? If that seal was damaged or perished could I push the intake pipe out and re feed with an O ring at the top?

[bmcecosse]

If anything is damaged there - fuel will leak out.. Did the blowing do any good? Obviously you need to make a good 'seal' round the filler pipe neck with maybe a clean damp cloth - then blow as hard as you can.

[MsRose]

This is now all sorted.

The pickup pipe inside the tank was blocked

[myoldjalopy]

Good, that's a relief Let's hope it doesn't happen again - but it is worth rinsing the tank out as there may be more 'crud' still slopping about in there

[bmcecosse]

Well done -how did you clear it? May be of interest to others who have this problem.