Community Forums

Bilito · 01-14-2018, 08:58 AM

Hi All, back again after a long time way, MY RV has been sitting unused since Wife's mom passed a few years ago.
Anyway, charged up the batteries and used the fuel pump to pump all the fuel out to use to run the generator aftter the hurricane a few months ago and now have 5 gal of fresh fuel in it,
Hit the starter, it fires off, ran for 10-15 minutes and quits.
When Turn on the key I can hear the fuel pump at the tank run,
what can be causing that? It is an old ford big block with a 4 barrel carb.

**Petro** · 01-14-2018, 09:15 AM

Just my 2 cents worth. I wonder if 5 gallons of gas in the fuel tank is adequate especially if it is not level? The other thought I have is when you used the fuel pump to empty the tank of gas you may have plugged the fuel filter.

My advice would be to replace the fuel filter, add an additive that would clean up the carburetor, and maybe 5 gallons more of gas. JMHO

When you get your problem solved please post your solution as we all learn from each other. That is what makes this site so valuable.

Don

steppinstone · 01-14-2018, 09:30 AM

not sure if your rig has 2 fuel pumps or not. On my parents coach it has 2 because of the length a low pressure pump in the fuel tank and another one on the frame rail which is high pressure. How is the oil pressure? you may have a bad sending unit or bad connection.

lrsses · 01-14-2018, 12:38 PM

If you are trying to just run your generator and like most RV fuel tank are larger than 20 Gal you need to have over 1/4 tank of fuel or your generator shutdown you may also need to clean the carb as well.

nosticks · 01-14-2018, 01:30 PM

Fill fuel tank to at least half full. Pick up for generator is a little higher in the tank so that you will have at least 1/4 tank to get you where you are going.

twinboat · 01-14-2018, 01:44 PM

Its an old Ford with a big block. Not a generator.

lrsses · 01-14-2018, 03:18 PM

Ok 460 get yourself a couple cans of Seafoam add to tank buy one can of seafoam in a spray remove intake start the motor spray spray into carb must gummed from setting to long

DENSHER · 01-14-2018, 03:30 PM

It should be at least a 40 gallon tank so 5 gallon isn't much considering width and length of tank. Try adding another 5 gl. and dump in some Seafoam as mentioned above.

Jim18655 · 01-14-2018, 04:09 PM

Carburetor? What's a carburetor?
Seriously, carb cleaner in the gas tank might fix it. I think the float is sticking in the fuel bowl. Try tapping on the bowl while the engine is running to diagnose.

Bilito · 01-17-2018, 12:37 PM

Ok, started to troubleshoot the fuel system, first thing, I no longer hear the fuel pump running when I turn the key on, cannot find a fuse anywhere marked fuel pump, so I left the key on and went back and crawled under the RV and as I got near the pump I could hear it running faintly, I can feel it running, I checked online it is a holly red pump and should put out 7 PSI but I see a fuel pressure regulator on the engine itself, anyone have any idea what the pressure going to the carb should be? I have a test gauge but do not want to open any lines until I know what I am looking to see.

whem2fish · 01-17-2018, 12:58 PM

A red pump puts out around 11 or 12 psi a blue is 14 psi that's why you see a regulator

Bilito · 01-19-2018, 08:44 AM

I went to the Holley fuel pump web site and they said the red pumps put out 7 PSI and the blue pumps put out more, what I am wondering is what psi should the regulator knock that down to before it enters the carburetor? Mine is running but it does not seem to be running as fast as it used to run, I used to hear it run the minute I turned the key on.

It is just too cold for me to get out there and fool around with it right now, at my age the one thing I do not want to catch is a case of pneumonia.

On a related subject does any one know how to adjust the fuel level in a holley carb fuel bowls using those external adjusters on top of the bowls? It looks like a big slotted screw on top of lock nut.

Quincy · 01-19-2018, 08:58 AM

I hope this is not the case, but running the tank completely empty is just about the worst thing you can do to a pump and the injectors. Putting the 5 gal of fuel in the tank might be just enough to float all the moisture and debris it is carrying up to the level of the pick up and allow it to be drawn in to the system. Stuff that would not be there but for the empty tank which is the fastest way to allow moisture to accumulate inside the tank. Hopefully you just "ran out of gas" and I am an alarmist, be careful.

MotorPro · 01-19-2018, 09:17 AM

A Holley red pump should put out 7 psi and should not need a reg. With a Holley carb. What happens when it dies? Does it start right back up? Does it start after cooling down? Before I get into how to adjust floats lets get a better idea where to look.