RE: [DML] fuel tank

["Tom Tait" <TTait@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Fred:

 

Depending on what you are up to, and if the car has been sitting for
some time, you may want to do more than just clean the pump.  Follwing
is a procedure I have done twice to flush the fuel lines as well.  It
may be helpful.

 

 

I think I posted it a long time back, but it feels easier to write it
out than find it in some odd way...

 

I'll assume you have already pulled the pump, baffle assembly and fuel
level sender and cleaned the inside of the tank to within an inch of its
life.  If you need instructions on that part, let me know.

 

To flush the fuel system, first go to the fuel distributor.  You will
find the fuel supply and return lines there, they are much larger banjo
bolts than the others, lots of diagrams, let me know if you don't have
one.  

 

Remove the hollow bolts holding these two lines to the fuel distributor,
be careful not to drop the copper washers.

 

Then you need to connect these two lines together.  To do this get a
smaller bolt and some washers, copper washers help here too. The bolt
should be several sizes smaller than the hollow bolts that held the
banjos in place.

 

Place a large/fender washer on the end of the bolt, then a copper
washer, then the first banjo fitting, lets say for the fuel supply line,
another copper washer, the second banjo, another copper washer, a steel
washer and then the nut. Make sure all the washers are well aligned as
you tighten the nut up.  This fitting is going to leak a bit, so put a
catchbasin on top of the fuel distributor and get this bolted up joint
over it to catch the drips.

 

Now go to your local auto parts store where there is a intelligent and
helpful guy, as he needs to find you a cheap, low pressure electric fuel
pump.  The 16 year old kid will just repeatedly ask you what make and
model, and maybe eventually bring you an $80 fuel pump - the guy who
knows what he's doing will grab you one in 15 seconds that costs $20.
Also pick up a gallon of Berrymans B12 fuel system cleaner, if they
still sell it there, or a good fuel system cleaner in bulk, maybe lucas.
Get a bit more fuel line, a brass barb to join 2 fuel lines together,
and several of the cheap plastic fuel filters that are clear with a
paper filter in them (the $3 ones).  You also need another catchbasin.

 

Also get a gallon of gas in a gas can.  If it's going to be some time
before you actually run the car, put fuel stabilizer in the gas.

 

Back at the car, remove the banjo from your old fuel feed line that used
to tie to the top of the pump.  Plug the output of your new cheap fuel
pump on it.  Use the brass barb if required.  Put another length of fuel
hose onto the inlet side of the pump, this is your temporary feed line.

 

On the fuel return hose, put one of the cheap plastic fuel filters on
the end.  Set that hose with the filter on the end into a clean
catchbasin.  Use another length of hose after the filter if needed.

 

You are going to need to make the pump run, I use a 12v car battery
charger, you can wire to your lighter plug if needed, but use something
fused to feed it, don't just wire it directly to the battery, this is a
bad time for a fire.

 

Now you are prepped, before you flush, make sure you have your can of
gasoline, some empty jugs to pour waste into, a funnel, rags etc. before
you start.  B12, or whatever cleaner you use, can be really hard on the
rubber in the fuel accumulator and other spots if left for an extended
period of time.  I've had no problems with an hour, but I wouldn't want
that stuff in there for days. It will certainly take a toll on the fuel
accumulator.  Don't start till you have the time and materials you need.

 

To begin flushing, pour about a quart of the cleaner into the
catchbasin. Submerge the inlet hose from the small fuel pump into it and
turn on the pump.  Add a bit more cleaner if needed so you don't run
dry.  Have someone at the engine bay watch that area for bad leaks.
After perhaps a minute at the most, you will see black chunky liquid
coming into the cheap filter.  Let the fluid recirculate for a while in
the basin, until the filter clogs or the chunks slow down a bit, then
turn off the pump.  Pour the foul liquid into an empty jug, wipe the
basin, add more cleaner, perhaps replace the filter and run it some
more.  Run the gallon of cleaner through over the course of 30-60
minutes, changing the filters as required.  When the chunks stop coming,
and the color of the liquid lightens to the color of iced tea or even
lighter, you are done cleaning.  

 

Turn off the pump, remove the filter and stick the return line directly
into an empty jug. Either fill the catchbasin with gas or just stick the
inlet hose down into the gas can, and start sucking the gas through and
letting it drain into the empty jug.  Run at least half a gallon
through, perhaps a full gallon to flush out the fuel cleaner.

 

Turn off the pump, clean up.  Its best to now replace the two hoses at
the fuel pump, the feed and return lines that are about 16" long and run
to the hard lines.  You will likely have to cut them off.  Make sure you
know which hard line is the feed line and which is the return.  I think
the feed line is the drivers side hard line, but that's just from
memory.

 

Re-connect the banjo bolts at the fuel distributor, using fresh copper
washers if possible.  Replace your fuel filter, 50/50 that you will need
to replace the accumulator too, but it's worth a shot to try it.

 

Make sure the inside of the tank is immaculate when you reassemble.  You
can consider using hervey's baffle assembly - I like it, some don't -
it's a lot simpler.

 

When I do this (I have twice on both our cars) I replace the fuel
filter, the hoses at the tank, the filter, accumulator, all the copper
washers at the fuel distributor, the tiny O ring inside the front of the
fuel distributor, and I clean the injectors - easiest way to do is mail
them to Hervey as he does more testing, but you could clean them in B12
in a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight, but use Hervey if you
can so you know what your are re-installing.

 

 

Tom

10902

03238 (both sat about 12 years with old gas...)

 

From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Fred Phaup
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 6:41 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] fuel tank

 

Hi Group
 
I need to drain and clean my fuel tank. Any tricks to help? Or do I have
to open and pull the pump?
 
Thanks for your input.
 
Fred
vin 1765

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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