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Fuel starvation
Posted: 18 Apr 2020, 14:17
by zoona
This has happened twice to me now... And I intend to not let it happen again.
After driving up a hill (Swiss hill, so quite big) the engine has not started again after pulling over.
The first time this happened the breakdown guy and I didn't share a common language, so wasn't exactly sure what he thought it was.
This time, before I called breakdown, I pulled the fuel hose off the carb and ran it to a cup. When I turned the engine over, there was no fuel coming out.
When the breakdown guy turned up, he confirmed what I had done, and then tapped on the bottom of the tank.
This fixed it and it's been fine on the way home.
So, the theory is that there is some "pooh" in the tank/lines that had blocked it up.
Does that sound sensible?
I plan to empty, drop and clean the tank and replace the fuel lines.
It looks like this is a pretty simple job.
Questions:
Is it simple?
Is there anything else I should look at?
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 18 Apr 2020, 14:25
by Mocki
So, was the fuel filter down by the tank outlet blocked or dirty ?
The cone filter in the carb inlet ( I’m assuming Peirburg because you haven’t told us ) ?
If it’s a mechanical pump is the push rod the correct length ( 100mm +/- 0)
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 18 Apr 2020, 20:38
by maxstu
Hello Ian...
What Steve says. Check filter on fuel feed pipe just behind tank. Needs to be clean and 1/2 to 2/3 filled with petrol. And check in engine bay for another identical filter before carb. If you find one, get rid of it. Often a fire hazard.
You did check Wiki, didnt you

Plus itchylinks too.
Regards
Stuart
https://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/F ... nk_removal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 06:02
by zoona
Sorry - I thought my engine was in the profile bit. I am sure i filled it in. DG - so peirburg.
The filter was about half full of clean fuel. This is what surprised me as if the tank did have "pooh" in it, I had expected to see something in the filter.
I'll take a look at the carb inlet filter, and the pump as well.
I did not check the wiki... thank you for the link.
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 06:07
by zoona
maxstu wrote:
You did check Wiki, didnt you

Plus itchylinks too.
look what else i found. when i looked...
https://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/F ... Fuel_hoses" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 06:59
by maxstu
Also, reading back through your posts ' after tapping tank, it was fine all the way home'. Did you scale anymore hills getting home? I know there's a few in Switzerland..
Have you tried replicating same conditions at home. Start engine and drive a few miles. Return home and jack up front ( l bet you have ramps) of camper with engine still running. Revs up to replicate driving conditions. See what happens.
If the filter shows a continuous flow the fuel pump should be okay and look for problem after fuel pump.
Regards
Stuart
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 11:42
by zoona
maxstu wrote:Also, reading back through your posts ' after tapping tank, it was fine all the way home'. Did you scale anymore hills getting home? I know there's a few in Switzerland..
Have you tried replicating same conditions at home. Start engine and drive a few miles. Return home and jack up front ( l bet you have ramps) of camper with engine still running. Revs up to replicate driving conditions. See what happens.
If the filter shows a continuous flow the fuel pump should be okay and look for problem after fuel pump.
Regards
Stuart
I purposely avoided up hill roads on the way home...
I am convinced it is rubbish in the tank. That can be the only explanation for him tapping the tank at the outlet and fuel then flowing.
I am half way through draining it. Unfortunately, I had filled it up before putting it away in the barn last time... Just been out to buy some more fuel cans.
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 12:14
by Mocki
I don’t believe tapping the tank had any effect , and was just a coincidence , the time you had stopped ect
The tank outlet and return are not just nozzles in the end of the tank
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 14:02
by zoona
Hmm, thanks for the pic - that is helpful.
Well, it is half way out now, and i did find some rubbish when draining the fuel.
Will see soon enough...
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 14:43
by zoona
Well, I have my answer.
There was some rust in the tank, some patches on the interior and a fair bit floating about. But in addition there was some orange sealant.
It has been used around the sender socket (as you can see in the picture) and also on the fuel filler breather, it was still maleable. But there were also big sheets of it floating about.
Is it something somebody has used to try to cover up rust in the tank? I can't work out why there would be big sheets of it (a few about 5 or 6cm across).
Anyway, i can't be fagged messing about with this tank when I can buy a new one for £100. So new tank it is.
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 19:08
by Mocki
Well that will solve the issue if it is your tank ....please keep us in the loop
And if you have a endoscope or similar a confirmation that the inside of your tank represents that picture I found on the samba would be good .
I’m sure earlier ones had metal pipes inside , but I cannot find the diagram I had to back up my foggy memory
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 19:44
by zoona
Mocki wrote:Well that will solve the issue if it is your tank ....please keep us in the loop
And if you have a endoscope or similar a confirmation that the inside of your tank represents that picture I found on the samba would be good .
I’m sure earlier ones had metal pipes inside , but I cannot find the diagram I had to back up my foggy memory
I do have an endoscope camera somewhere, but I still can't find half my stuff even though we have been here nearly two years...
I'll have a look for it.
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 19:48
by Mocki
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 20 Apr 2020, 12:13
by zoona
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EKsZazcLJEAtXU3AA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Not the greatest video in the world, but it looks similar. Def rubber hoses and not metal anyway. At about 1:20 i had found my bearings, and you can see the big cone in the middle. That was from the fuel filler side, then after that i went in from the sender hole and you can see the cone again, and i tried to follow the hose to where the return line comes into the tank.
This is a small sample of what came out:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hKxq2VSKxUmZgS9W9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The sealant has stayed very soft. Consistency a bit like a small child's snot, for those of you unfortunate enough to know what that is like...
Re: Fuel starvation
Posted: 20 Apr 2020, 13:23
by Mocki
Excellent!
At least we now know the info is correct, and confirmed for ourselves, I feel confident relaying it in future now ....
That baby snot mess is confirmation that people should not slarrr sealant over everything "just to be safe" as is so often advised!