Ran out of gas, and it was full after 10 gallons??

[Gregsenne]

So think I stalled my truck today trying to take off in 2nd gear (sometimes 1st is too hard to get into quickly at a stop light and I have to use 2nd. Then it wouldn't restart, and my gas gauge doesnt work, so I thought i might be out of gas. Put a gallon in from a gas can in my bed, and it took it a while of acting like it was going to to start before it actually did. Had to almost lay it to the floor as it was trying to start to get it to finally run. Drove it about one minute to the gas station, and I couldn't put more than 9.8 gallons in it (pump kept clicking off). Its a short bed with a 16 gallon tank. and I drove it home another 10 minutes and didn't have any more problems.

1986 k10 short bed single cab, 350 with a quadrajet.

Thanks!
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[Gregsenne]

My question is
If I ran out of gas why could I not put more than 10 gallons in?
And if I wasn't out of gas, why was it so hard to start back up?
Its a fresh motor with under 200 miles, carb was rebuilt too.
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[Corts60]

It kinda sounds like your carb was flooding out. Usually when you have to hold it to the floor to get it to start, that is what is going on.

I can usually run my 16 gal tanks to about 13 gal before I start having suction issues.

[Mrknowitall]

Originally Posted by Gregsenne

My question is
If I ran out of gas why could I not put more than 10 gallons in?
And if I wasn't out of gas, why was it so hard to start back up?
Its a fresh motor with under 200 miles, carb was rebuilt too.
Posted via Mobile Device

How hot was it on this day? How hot was the truck? Could be vapor lock, bad pump, low oil pressure saftey switch activated or improper float level.
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[Gregsenne]

Maybe it was flooded, but why? I've never had a flooding problem before, the truck drove fine afterwards, and it's a new float, needle, and seat in the carb.
The temp outside was about 70 degrees. The truck was about 175 degrees. The truck always stays between 170 and 180. Fuel pump is brand new. No low electric oil pressure switch installed, just a mechanical gauge.

When it died, and I tried to restart, I tried cranking about 3 times, about 7-10 seconds each time. Each time I did it, I heard nothing but cranking. Then, I added the gallon of gas, and cranked again for about 7 seconds. After 7 seconds or so, I heard it sputtering. You could tell it was getting a little bit of gas, but it seemed like it wasn't enough to get it started. The engine would try to start, but never fully get started. I kept trying to start it, each time it would do something more than just crank, but never fully start. As it was doing this, I pumped the accelerator a few times (maybe 10 total, during the cranking). Finally, as it was doing it's sputtering thing, I laid the accelerator down, and it took it about 5 seconds, but it VERY SLOWLY fired up and stayed running.

[Goldfinger]

If it does it again hold the pedal all the way to the floor for around 10 seconds then half a pump and see if she cranks. That can help prove a flood condition

[andrewmp6]

Do you have a carb spacer if not get one it helps.

[71swb4x4]

I agree sounds like you flooded it. You killed the truck starting in 2nd, truck didn't fire immediately for one reason or another and all of a sudden had a little too much fuel. IMO it's just one of those things that happens.

[Goldfinger]

Also if it is a quadrajet mine will have the habit to pour more fuel than it can possible burn and either sputter and stall or sputter and stall then roast tires through 3 gears

[Gregsenne]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

If it does it again hold the pedal all the way to the floor for around 10 seconds then half a pump and see if she cranks. That can help prove a flood condition

So I hold it on the floor for 10 seconds without cranking? Then one pump, then try to start cranking?

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Do you have a carb spacer if not get one it helps.

Between the intake and carb? Just a gasket (maybe it's a spacer) it's a little more than 1/4" thick.

Thanks for all the replies!

[86 K-10]

The float on your fresh carb may not be set correctly...that would explain the flooding as you came to a stop and not being able to start it right back up.

Some of the fuel may have also evaporated in the time it took you to put that gallon in, thereby making it easier to crank back up.
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[Gregsenne]

Ok, so until I get the problem fixed, if it should happen again, just lay the accelerator to the floor for about 10 seconds before cranking, and then give it a try? I always thought you held it to the floor WHILE cranking.
Thanks.

[Goldfinger]

without cranking