"Ran out of petrol, now it won't start"

[roboxm3]

Morning all,

I've just had a conversation with a friend (as many of you who "know about cars" will have had over the years) along the lines of:

Friend: "might need your help with the X5 tonight"

Me: "Why, what's up with it??"

Friend: "Ran out of petrol, now it won't start"

He's got a 3.0 X5 (petrol) that he has since put 3 gallons of fuel in but it apparently still won't start ("ticks over but won't start" were his words but what I suspect is that it's either turning over or he gets the "tick" when he turns the key but nothing else).

I know that some cars / engines require manual pumping / priming of the fuel system if you ever run out but I wouldn't have a clue if this is the case for his X5 and a google search didn't turn up too much in the way of useful advise.

So, as most people who "know about cars" but can't answer a question do... I'm asking PH!!

Anyone got any experience of this / ideas??

Thanks in advance guys.

[T16OLE]

Is he sure he didnt run out of diesel?


Seriously, he may not run out of petrol, perhaps something has broken

[roboxm3]

T16OLE said:

Is he sure he didnt run out of diesel?


Seriously, he may not run out of petrol, perhaps something has broken

It's a possiblity (the 'something broken' bit not the 'run out of diesel' bit (I hope)) but the only information I have for now is that it was fine, ran out of fuel, now it's not working.

[TonyHetherington]

doogz said:

If he's emptied the fuel lines, it'll take a little minute for the fuel to make it's way through the filter and down the lines to the injectors, he's tried it a couple of times, yeah?

Yep - he'll need to keep it going for a little while (assuming no manual pumping is required)

[roboxm3]

TonyHetherington said:

Yep - he'll need to keep it going for a little while (assuming no manual pumping is required)

I've just asked...I'm at work so it's tech by text at the moment...

[jp7152]

I think it should work if he turns on and off the ignition several times as should self prime.

[tomsugden]

Some years ago I ran out of petrol in my old TVR 350i. As the fuel lubricates the fuel pump this caused the fuel pump itself to burn out, and it had to be replaced.

[alfa pint]

Old carb cars needed to have the throttle pedal pumped a few times as well to get it going. This is NOT the case with fuel injection, so if he's gone for the former there may be a few snags. Feet well off the pedals and hope it's not one that needs a manual pump to get the fuel to the plugs.

[Dog Star]

Is the tank a "saddle" type? I had this problem with the OHs car (Merc C220 CDi) - ran it out of diesel, lobbed a gallon in and it started, ran for a minute and then that was it. Called Brittania who advised that the fuel pump had failed and flat-bedded the car home. I chucked some more fuel in (3 gallons) and bingo - it started. For some reason you can run the car til it's nearly empty but if you completely run it out you need about a quarter of a tank to get it going again.

I'd advise your mate to stick more fuel in.

Edited to add:

Yes, the X5 is a saddle type tank.
http://www.justanswer.com/bmw/2g83z-want-ddrain-bm...

I would definitely advise your friend to add more fuel - I'm presuming this technique will submerge and prime the transfer pump?

Edited by Dog Star on Tuesday 8th March 11:54

[Mr2Mike]

Dog Star said:

Is the tank a "saddle" type? I had this problem with the OHs car (Merc C220 CDi) - ran it out of diesel, lobbed a gallon in and it started, ran for a minute and then that was it. Called Brittania who advised that the fuel pump had failed and flat-bedded the car home. I chucked some more fuel in (3 gallons) and bingo - it started. For some reason you can run the car til it's nearly empty but if you completely run it out you need about a quarter of a tank to get it going again.

I'd advise your mate to stick more fuel in.

I had the same experience with my MR2, it seems the in-tank pumps aren't very effective at priming and need to be at least partialy immersed if they have run dry.

[CampDavid]

Dog Star said:

Is the tank a "saddle" type? I had this problem with the OHs car (Merc C220 CDi) - ran it out of diesel, lobbed a gallon in and it started, ran for a minute and then that was it. Called Brittania who advised that the fuel pump had failed and flat-bedded the car home. I chucked some more fuel in (3 gallons) and bingo - it started. For some reason you can run the car til it's nearly empty but if you completely run it out you need about a quarter of a tank to get it going again.

I'd advise your mate to stick more fuel in.

The 220CDI needs some fuel in it to pressurise part of the fuel system, about 3 litres I think. I believe it can run right down but it'll not like it. When you put more fuel in it'll pressurise the system again leaving only a small amount in the tank.

The Jaguar system for the 2.0D is similar except that it can't re-pressurise itself, meaning that the car will cut out while theres still technically fuel in it.

I'm sure someone with a better knowledge of how these things work will be able to put this better, however I think I'm principally right

[redstu]

My old e28 528i didn't like starting after running dry on petrol. Took me a while to work out what the problem was. This had an in tank pump.

[Dog Star]

Maybe so - however it will, effectively, cost the OPs mate nothing to try this (he will use the fuel regardless of whether this solves the problem or not).

[roboxm3]

Morning PHers,

So, last night I took my 20l fuel bowser to my mate with the stranded X5, put enough juice in the tank to take the needle to just under 1/4 on the guage, put the battery booster on the terminals under the bonnet (battery didn't have enough charge to turn the engine over), switched the ignition on - wait 5 secs - switched of (repeat 3 times), then tried to fire her up.....not havnig it!!

Looked under the bonnet and back seat to see if there was any means of manually pumping / priming the fuel system, couldn't see anything (my mate looked in the manual and found no such information / instructions).

So....I'm a bit stumped!! For some reason it's not getting fuel, there's plenty there and it's been turned over for long enough for it to get through, should it wish. And to add insult to injury, the police paid my mate a visit yesterday to say that there had been complaints about his stricken vehicle blocking a pathway

Any ideas??

[trickywoo]

Easy start in the airbox

[g3org3y]

tomsugden said:

Some years ago I ran out of petrol in my old TVR 350i. As the fuel lubricates the fuel pump this caused the fuel pump itself to burn out, and it had to be replaced.

I'd be concerned about this.

[Dog Star]

roboxm3 said:

Any ideas??

Well I'm stumped then. Has nobody got AA membership?

[TonyHetherington]

g3org3y said:

tomsugden said:

Some years ago I ran out of petrol in my old TVR 350i. As the fuel lubricates the fuel pump this caused the fuel pump itself to burn out, and it had to be replaced.

I'd be concerned about this.

It's ok - it was years ago, and he's replaced the fuel pump already.

[roboxm3]

trickywoo said:

Easy start in the airbox

Please expand...

I'm back at work today, so if I need to relay any info it will have to be pretty detailed...

Many thanks

[garycat]

Give it a spray of this... gotta love ozzie brand names.