Fuel problems and Question

[Domino]

I have a 30 Fordor that just stopped running and acts as if it was not getting adequate fuel. I cleaned the sidament bowl ( just a little rust in it) and still litle gas flow. So I drained the tank - removes the valve under the tank) and flushed multiple times over the past two days straining the gas through paint filters. I am amazed at the amount of rust I removed. Poured about half of it on a paper plate to show the amount. There was/is so much rust in the tank that the gas turns a dark tea color - picture. Trash seems to be out of the tank so I reassembled the fuel line and have gas flow to the carburetor. I pulled the carb to throughly clean it and noticed a strange black substance on the side of it - see picture - which I can't identify. Any guesses as to what it is?

Anyhow, I'll clean the carb and see if she runs. BTW, I drive this car weekly and a monthor so ago completed a 150-200 mile tour in it. I'll report the outcome later.

It seems a little rust can stop an engine dead in its tracks. Hope Pictures post.

[Rowdy]

Joe, Just a guesse here, but I am wondering if the tank was sealed at one point and the newer addatives in the gas are dissolving it resulting in black substance and opeing the door for the old rusty surface to put the junk in your fuel system. Seems the logical answer to me. Rod

[Aerocraft]

It would be worth considering the use of a screen in the inlet, just above the fuel valve. It will stop the rust particles.

I have installed one in my '30 Coupe to prevent tank sealant that I installed (my mistake) twenty years ago from plugging the fuel line. I used an aircraft tank sealer which worked well for a long time. Eventually, it started coming out in quarter size very thin "flakes". Occasionally, I fish out whatever is still laying on the bottom.

On other occasions in different Model A's, I have seen black goo come out in strings where the tank "sealer" has been dissolved by the fuel and is attempting to get to the lowest point in the system. The screen helps stop that but one does need to remove the loose sealer in some manner from the bottom of the tank. Gar Williams

[JD Miller]

Can't offer any advice on the rust in the tank.

However, the dark tea color of the fuel seems to be related to ethanol that's added to gasoline. A number of us in our club have noticed that the longer the fuel is in the tank the darker it becomes.

In my case, there is no rust in the tank. The car has a glass sediment bowl. There was no rust or trash in the bowl since the bowl was last cleaned over four years ago. Two weeks ago I drained the tank and sediment bowl. Put fresh 10% ethanol in the tank. At first the fuel was clear, just as it came from the pump. Now the fuel that you can see in the sediment bowl has started to turn tea color. It's not real dark yet, but it's on its way. We've had some cars, where you can see the gas in the sediment bowl, that the fuel is the color of Coke. I'd hate to see what the gas in my 65 Chrysler looks like.

I use fuel stabilizer but that doesn't seem to stop the fuel from changing color. I'm using 10-15 gallons of fuel per month but the fuel left in the tank at fill-up seems to speed up the new fuel changing color.

Chalk up another "advantage" of having to use ethanol!!!!!!!

[edzaha]

Put a magnet on the bottom of the tank near the fuel outlet

[Brentwood Bob]

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Check back a few weeks ago under black stuff in the gas tank. The alcohol in the new gas attaches the old tand coatings, especially the Permatex/alcohol of 20plus years ago.
If you took off the intake at the block you would see a buildup on the inside of the intake, and in the block. I have seen the carb frozen up when the car sits for an extended period of time from this stuff. Bob

[Domino]

Thanks for the input guys. The cleaning and a rebuilt carb seems to have solved the problem.