never enough gas - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

wayfastwhitey · 02-04-2010, 05:08 PM

so i bought an 86 chevy lwb with saddle tanks three days ago and it was running fine. yesterday i was driving and it just died. when i crank it it takes forever to get enough fuel into the filter and to the carb to start. when it finally starts it idles fine until it drains the filter and dies. i replaced the fuel pump and it started up again and ran fine for ten minutes. now it is doing the same thing again. replaced the pump AGAIN and still no better. has anyone here had issues with the selector valve sucking air? i am beginning to think this is my culprit.

dieseldr4 · 02-04-2010, 05:25 PM

if it has a quadrajet carb check the filter at the inlet.. start with the easy stuff first.. almost sounds like some debris in the tank or the selector may have some junk in it.. hope this helps..

wayfastwhitey · 02-04-2010, 05:52 PM

it's wearing an edelbrock, and there is not an inline filter, already checked it.

dieseldr4 · 02-04-2010, 05:59 PM

after re-reading your post i am thinking you need to check out the selector valve and possibly the tanks.. im sure someone will chime in , but it has been my experiance that it is easier to remove the bed to get to the top of the tanks to have a look.. the pick up tubes go through the top of the sender, when you have the sender out you can evaluate the condition of the inside of the tank (rust,contaminates ,ect..).. sorry for misleading you..

*78 Chevyrado* · 02-04-2010, 07:16 PM

Sometimes when they're going out the fuel selector valve will stick in between tanks. so there's fuel, but the air in the empty tank moves easier so you'll get no fuel. Could be the lines from the tank to the selector valve, I was wondering how to change the lines, but I ended up taking the bed off for paint so i fixed the lines while it was off. I'm not sure if you can get the sender out while the tanks in the truck. I didn't take mine out but they are actually under the cab. good luck.

You could also run a rubber hose from the fuel pump inlet to a gas tank (like for the lawn mower) and try it then. If it works right then, you know the problem is before the fuel pump. If it still does the same thing, it's the pump or after the pump.

wayfastwhitey · 02-04-2010, 07:59 PM

well since i put two brand new fuel pumps on it yesterday and it is still not getting enough fuel i'm pretty positive it is the valve
any ideas on bypassing it? really i was hoping to find someone who had encountered the same problem.

wayfastwhitey · 02-04-2010, 11:49 PM

new theory, i think my carb is in need of a rebuild. started the truck today, and it kept the fuel filter full, touch the gas and it dies.

wayfastwhitey · 02-06-2010, 12:44 AM

spent three dollars and ninety seven cents on three feet of fuel line, i bypassed the selector valve and now it runs perfect. even had enough line leftover to replace my fuel line from the steel line after the pump up to the carburetor. feels nice to finally fix something and not spend 100 bucks

02-04-2010, 05:08 PM	#1
wayfastwhitey right below above average joe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: palm bay, fl Posts: 107	never enough gas so i bought an 86 chevy lwb with saddle tanks three days ago and it was running fine. yesterday i was driving and it just died. when i crank it it takes forever to get enough fuel into the filter and to the carb to start. when it finally starts it idles fine until it drains the filter and dies. i replaced the fuel pump and it started up again and ran fine for ten minutes. now it is doing the same thing again. replaced the pump AGAIN and still no better. has anyone here had issues with the selector valve sucking air? i am beginning to think this is my culprit. __________________ i flush the of weakness with mushroom clouds at hand '95 short bed x cab c1500... just another old truck someone else beat up, abused, hacked and didnt respect... my turn to turn it into a beat up old truck into a beat up and reliable pleasure to drive... them- "when you gonna put an exhaust on that thing?" me- "what do you mean? The exhaust comes all the way to the bumber and sounds great!" them- "straight pipes isnt an exhaust man..." me- "meh... who needs a fancy muffler when you've got straight pipes? its got a cat, doesnt resonate, and I like how it sounds, and to be perfectly honest, it makes me behave myself when I'm out and about!" ^^^ favorite conversation about my truck to date

02-04-2010, 05:25 PM	#2
dieseldr4 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: apple valley , ca Posts: 125	Re: never enough gas if it has a quadrajet carb check the filter at the inlet.. start with the easy stuff first.. almost sounds like some debris in the tank or the selector may have some junk in it.. hope this helps.. __________________ be a site supporter

02-04-2010, 05:52 PM	#3
wayfastwhitey right below above average joe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: palm bay, fl Posts: 107	Re: never enough gas it's wearing an edelbrock, and there is not an inline filter, already checked it. __________________ i flush the of weakness with mushroom clouds at hand '95 short bed x cab c1500... just another old truck someone else beat up, abused, hacked and didnt respect... my turn to turn it into a beat up old truck into a beat up and reliable pleasure to drive... them- "when you gonna put an exhaust on that thing?" me- "what do you mean? The exhaust comes all the way to the bumber and sounds great!" them- "straight pipes isnt an exhaust man..." me- "meh... who needs a fancy muffler when you've got straight pipes? its got a cat, doesnt resonate, and I like how it sounds, and to be perfectly honest, it makes me behave myself when I'm out and about!" ^^^ favorite conversation about my truck to date

02-04-2010, 05:59 PM	#4
dieseldr4 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: apple valley , ca Posts: 125	Re: never enough gas after re-reading your post i am thinking you need to check out the selector valve and possibly the tanks.. im sure someone will chime in , but it has been my experiance that it is easier to remove the bed to get to the top of the tanks to have a look.. the pick up tubes go through the top of the sender, when you have the sender out you can evaluate the condition of the inside of the tank (rust,contaminates ,ect..).. sorry for misleading you.. __________________ be a site supporter

02-04-2010, 07:16 PM	#5
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: never enough gas Sometimes when they're going out the fuel selector valve will stick in between tanks. so there's fuel, but the air in the empty tank moves easier so you'll get no fuel. Could be the lines from the tank to the selector valve, I was wondering how to change the lines, but I ended up taking the bed off for paint so i fixed the lines while it was off. I'm not sure if you can get the sender out while the tanks in the truck. I didn't take mine out but they are actually under the cab. good luck. You could also run a rubber hose from the fuel pump inlet to a gas tank (like for the lawn mower) and try it then. If it works right then, you know the problem is before the fuel pump. If it still does the same thing, it's the pump or after the pump.

02-04-2010, 07:59 PM	#6
wayfastwhitey right below above average joe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: palm bay, fl Posts: 107	Re: never enough gas well since i put two brand new fuel pumps on it yesterday and it is still not getting enough fuel i'm pretty positive it is the valve any ideas on bypassing it? really i was hoping to find someone who had encountered the same problem. __________________ i flush the of weakness with mushroom clouds at hand '95 short bed x cab c1500... just another old truck someone else beat up, abused, hacked and didnt respect... my turn to turn it into a beat up old truck into a beat up and reliable pleasure to drive... them- "when you gonna put an exhaust on that thing?" me- "what do you mean? The exhaust comes all the way to the bumber and sounds great!" them- "straight pipes isnt an exhaust man..." me- "meh... who needs a fancy muffler when you've got straight pipes? its got a cat, doesnt resonate, and I like how it sounds, and to be perfectly honest, it makes me behave myself when I'm out and about!" ^^^ favorite conversation about my truck to date

02-04-2010, 11:49 PM	#7
wayfastwhitey right below above average joe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: palm bay, fl Posts: 107	Re: never enough gas new theory, i think my carb is in need of a rebuild. started the truck today, and it kept the fuel filter full, touch the gas and it dies. __________________ i flush the of weakness with mushroom clouds at hand '95 short bed x cab c1500... just another old truck someone else beat up, abused, hacked and didnt respect... my turn to turn it into a beat up old truck into a beat up and reliable pleasure to drive... them- "when you gonna put an exhaust on that thing?" me- "what do you mean? The exhaust comes all the way to the bumber and sounds great!" them- "straight pipes isnt an exhaust man..." me- "meh... who needs a fancy muffler when you've got straight pipes? its got a cat, doesnt resonate, and I like how it sounds, and to be perfectly honest, it makes me behave myself when I'm out and about!" ^^^ favorite conversation about my truck to date

02-06-2010, 12:44 AM	#8
wayfastwhitey right below above average joe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: palm bay, fl Posts: 107	Re: never enough gas spent three dollars and ninety seven cents on three feet of fuel line, i bypassed the selector valve and now it runs perfect. even had enough line leftover to replace my fuel line from the steel line after the pump up to the carburetor. feels nice to finally fix something and not spend 100 bucks __________________ i flush the of weakness with mushroom clouds at hand '95 short bed x cab c1500... just another old truck someone else beat up, abused, hacked and didnt respect... my turn to turn it into a beat up old truck into a beat up and reliable pleasure to drive... them- "when you gonna put an exhaust on that thing?" me- "what do you mean? The exhaust comes all the way to the bumber and sounds great!" them- "straight pipes isnt an exhaust man..." me- "meh... who needs a fancy muffler when you've got straight pipes? its got a cat, doesnt resonate, and I like how it sounds, and to be perfectly honest, it makes me behave myself when I'm out and about!" ^^^ favorite conversation about my truck to date



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