T25 - why does fuel not come out of the tank?!?!?!

[paulandchez]

Right.....was planning on changing the fuel lines anyway, but went to start the van today and it wouldn't at all. There was plenty of battery power etc but I was low on fuel, and the bloke I got it off at weekend said it ran out on him when the gauge was just about to touch the red. Anyway, I assumed I'd run out of fuel, so good excuse to change the lines. I replaced all the lines and put new filter in, and I moved the pump from in the engine bay to under the van. Finished it all and then put some fuel in. I put about £15 - £20 in and checked for leaks in the gravity feed part. All looked good but there was no fuel in the filter???? So I turned ignition on and the pump fired up, but didn't draw fuel through the filter. I switched off and disconnected the line connections one at a time untill I got to the tank....expecting fuel to be pouring out but there was nothing???? What the flipping heck is going on??? I even took the fuel cap off incase it was an airlock or something. I feel like poo today, so it might be affecting my sanity! But I'm sure I've not missed anything obvious. Please help asap.....
Thanks
Paul

[faggie]

your tanks full of rust blocking the outlet i have a good one if your intrested

[paulandchez]

Defo interested. PM'd you. That would explain the random loss of power I get too I suppose.

Thanks
Paul

[kevtherev]

Before you chuck money at the problem
Try sucking the fuel through first...

Mine does the same.

[paulandchez]

Not doubting your advice, but why would you need to prime the lines with suction? I know my bike tank has a venturi tap on it, so takes air pressure from the carbs to provide the pressure, but these tanks are just gravity feed aren't they? That was my reason for moving the pump to underneath the van, so it didn't have to suck the fuel upwards.

[kevtherev]

Not doubting your advice, but why would you need to prime the lines with suction? I know my bike tank has a venturi tap on it, so takes air pressure from the carbs to provide the pressure, but these tanks are just gravity feed aren't they? That was my reason for moving the pump to underneath the van, so it didn't have to suck the fuel upwards.

Old pumps have difficulty sucking air
Fluids are easier.

The filter in the tank is a barrier, fuel (unless there's a lot of it) likes to be sucked through it initially to set the syphoning effect into effect

[paulandchez]

ok thanks mate, I'll give it a try. This must be a recurring problem then if you run out of fuel eh