Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Had this 1930 model A for about a month. Put 11 gallons in her the day I drove her home. That day drove 25 miles. The guage was between full and 3/4 full. Since then drove her about 6 miles total. I can now see the 0 under the 1/4 mark. Very interesting..

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

What you said equates to about 3MPG. I’m gonna say you either have a leak or the gauge is wrong. How did the car run on your 25 mile drive?

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Have you looked in the tank, maybe float is sinking.


Bob

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Make sure to turn off the fuel valve when parked, especially if your carb. needle & seat valve leak. If you garage your car, you would have noticed gas on the floor, so maybe that's not the case. It is still considered "best practice" to turn off the fuel valve on any Model A when parked for any length of time. Especially overnight.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Sounds like the float is gas-logged. You will need to replace the float. Be sure to use a neoprene float as a replacement. It will not get gas-logged...

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Next time you have a full tank, place your finger on the underside of the tank near the steering column support bracket and see if its leaking. And try not to get into the habit of pulling on the steering wheel when you get in the car.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

did you fill it back up to actually see how much it used?

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Haha... If he lost ~½ a tank of gas in the interior of the car I would guess he could smell it?? But if that is a concern, install the late '31 steering column support.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Do you have a teenager with their own car? Or was that just me? I think as someone mentioned, fill the tank back up and see what you have. Gauge could be bad.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Bad float!

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

DITTO !!!

Club member had gas valve go bad AND at same time the carburetor float hung up and he had an entire tank of gasoline leak onto the kitty litter-filled drip pan! He walked into his garage and was bowled over with the smell of gasoline.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Thanks for all the ideas. The car is running fine. . . in my opinion. Starts right up first or second crank (starter). The only leak I have is when the throttle and or shut-off valve are left open. then it will drip a drop every few seconds from the carburetor. Only a very weak smell of gas around the carburetor after driving. The float seems okay. I looked in the tank and the float is floating. Added two gallons today and it came up to 1/4 tank. The float is a brass type bulb, and floats like a cork, at present. The exhaust appears clear . . . no smoke. I guess I'll need to get more analytical about this. I think she is about 50 years overdue for a carburetor rebuild. I'll definitely let everyone know if I locate the source of this anomaly. I was expecting to have at least a half tank left. Gremlins siphoning gas from my car?. :-)


PS. Measured the gas in the tank with a stick before adding two gallons. There was about 1.25 inches. The float was floating on the gas then, and after adding more gas. I'll start her up in the morn. when there's plenty of light. Can't recall examining the carburetor for dripping when the engine was running.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

If this car has a downdraft carb, check the oil level. That may be where the gas went and could be bad news if you run the engine with the sump half full of fuel.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

That’s a lot of gas to lose...hard to believe no sign of it, and a good float.....

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Here's what I'm working with . . .

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Your brass gas tank float may be partially full of gas? A dripping carb won’t dump that much gas and still run as well as you say, I just can’t believe that.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

There is an old joke where your friends siphon gas to drive you crazy.

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

If the gas was leaking I'd think you would have smelled it if you think you've lost that much. JMO
Paul in CT

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

Check around possibly you will find the siphon hose that was used!!

Re: Where oh where has all the gas gone?
 

When I was a kid dad was a cop, came home in the cruiser all the time. I would suck out about five gallons so I could tool around in my car...funny, he never said anything about that, wonder if if ever knew, he's dead now so I'll never know.
Do you have kids?