Morris Minor - disappearing fuel
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this:
My Morris Minor has a broken fuel guage.
I ran out of fuel, conveniently opposite a petrol station.
I used a petrol can and bought 5 litres of fuel and drove 3 miles home.
The car was then in my garage for 4 months or so over winter.
I came to start it and the fuel tank was empty. I can't possibly have used 5 litres to drive 3 miles and then run out with perfect timing when I garaged the car. There is no puddle of fuel under the car.
Could the remaining fuel conceivably have evaporated leaving the tank empty? Is this typical of old crocks? Does it mean the tank isn't sealed or something?
My Morris Minor has a broken fuel guage.
I ran out of fuel, conveniently opposite a petrol station.
I used a petrol can and bought 5 litres of fuel and drove 3 miles home.
The car was then in my garage for 4 months or so over winter.
I came to start it and the fuel tank was empty. I can't possibly have used 5 litres to drive 3 miles and then run out with perfect timing when I garaged the car. There is no puddle of fuel under the car.
Could the remaining fuel conceivably have evaporated leaving the tank empty? Is this typical of old crocks? Does it mean the tank isn't sealed or something?
Is the tank actually empty, or just no fuel coming through?
If the latter, could be a blockage in tank or fuel line somewhere.
If the former, the tank could be porous so fuel seeps out slowly enough to evaporate without a puddle forming.
How often do you check on the car? Could the fuel all have leaked out a while ago so puddle has gone now?
In either of the latter cases would expect a fuel smell.
Assuming its not a blockage then put more petrol in and monitor closely for leaks/damp patches on the tank/strong smell of fuel.
If the latter, could be a blockage in tank or fuel line somewhere.
If the former, the tank could be porous so fuel seeps out slowly enough to evaporate without a puddle forming.
How often do you check on the car? Could the fuel all have leaked out a while ago so puddle has gone now?
In either of the latter cases would expect a fuel smell.
Assuming its not a blockage then put more petrol in and monitor closely for leaks/damp patches on the tank/strong smell of fuel.
5 litres definitely won't evaporate from the tank vent in a UK garage,over winter.If there's no fuel it's a leak or fuel can siphon from the tank to the float bowl and evaporate from that; very unlikely with such a low level of fuel.
Having found old petrol ( ethanol free) from the 1960s in fuel lines removed thirty to forty years later, petrol doesn't all evaporate,you get an oily relatively viscous ( paraffin like viscosity) remaining.
Having found old petrol ( ethanol free) from the 1960s in fuel lines removed thirty to forty years later, petrol doesn't all evaporate,you get an oily relatively viscous ( paraffin like viscosity) remaining.
Edited by astonman on Saturday 19th March 11:50
Dogwatch said:
Given what comes out of pump nozzles these days I doubt that any residue after 4 months storage would be much good anyway.
Started my lawnmower on the first pull after 4 months of storage, using the old petrol, and cut the grass with no issues and that is with E10 unleaded.I also have a petrol car that has been off road unused for nearly a year and it still starts and runs on that year old petrol.
dontlookdown said:
Is the tank actually empty, or just no fuel coming through?
The gauge is broken. Shining a torch down the filler pipe and all looked dry, although you can't see much.I filled it with another five litres and it started immediately, so the issue definitely seems to have been a lack of fuel.
Bennet said:
The gauge is broken. Shining a torch down the filler pipe and all looked dry, although you can't see much.
I filled it with another five litres and it started immediately, so the issue definitely seems to have been a lack of fuel.
Result! In that case just keep a close eye on it for leaks/smelling. On a Minor the filler neck is quite straight as I recall, so you should be able to dip the tank with a clean garden cane or similar for level. Mark where the fuel comes up to on the stick, and check before you go out in it again to see if it has dropped while the car has been standing.I filled it with another five litres and it started immediately, so the issue definitely seems to have been a lack of fuel.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff