Hello all,

I've got a 1987 Econoline 150 that recently stopped functioning. During a short road trip, the van started glugging as if it were out of gas. I had just recently filled the tank, so I knew that wasn't the issue. When gas was applied, the engine seemed to be even more choked out, as if it weren't getting any gas. After some hours on the side of the road, I got it towed home.

I asked a friend who is a bit more mechanically inclined if he could take a look and we determined the following:

1. Fuel pump turns on for 1-2 seconds when key is turned
2. Fuel makes its way to the fuel filter, at least.
3. Spark plugs get spark (although somewhat weak)
4. Inertia switch not tripped

We decided to try a fuel filter replacement. When I took out the old filter and drained it, the gas was light brown in color. With the new filter in, I gave the key a turn and the engine cranked, then slightly turned over, then quit.

I had another friend take a look and we used some engine starting spray in the air intake. This got the engine to turn over and it ran for about ten seconds before quitting. I did notice that when I pressed on the gas while the engine was running, it sounded as if I were choking the engine out.

My friend then suggested that, since it's running with the starting spray, it's getting spark + air, but the fuel is not getting where it needs to be. Because we have determined that the fuel pump is functioning (we can feel the cold fuel move all the way up through the filter), he suggested that there might be some electrical thing that is telling the engine not to provide fuel.

I'm not sure how to troubleshoot further. There doesn't seem to be much out there that I've been able to find relating to my issue. Any insights your may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need more info and I will do my best to get it to you.

Thanks,
​​​​​​​M

 

Hi 87, welcome to the club, you just purchased a load of water instead of gasoline .

Here is how you prove that, disconnect the fuelline to the carburetor and place the line in a clean jar . Cycle the key on and off a few times and let some , fuel ? , go into the jar. After you get about a1/4 of the jar let it set for an hour or two. If there is water mixed with the gas it will settle to the bottom of the jar.

There is another way to verify what we suspect and that is to remove one or two of the spark plugs, which should be wet .If you can lite the wetness with a match and it burns ,it is fuel , if not, IT IS LOADED with water..
Had a good friend chase his car that immediately quit after his wife purchased gasoline. He replaced, timing chain (older vehicle) carburetor fuel pump and battery thinking it had to be one of those problems.When he asked for help we tried the match test to one of the spark plugs, well you know the rest.

 

Thanks for the response, hanky. I'll check that out... I actually wouldn't be surprised. I live in rural Alaska and we've only got one poorly maintained station at which we can fill our tanks.

If it turns out there is water in the gasoline, is the solution then to siphon out the tanks and find some fresh gasoline?

 

You are partially correct, the other part consists of blowing out the fuel lines from the tank to engine .replace fuel filter and then add 2 bottles of dry gas that contains ONLY Isopropyl alcohol , never METHANOL.