77 cj5 fuel tank versus later

[hondo]

yeah could be the wrong sender never bothered to check. it was installed already and i didn't bother to pull it out and check. if you bend it then it will read full at 3/4. i would pull it out and check but i am not going to pull the tank again.

 

[Hedgehog]

And I would absolutely not expect you to. My tank is like yours with the sending unit installed. Now I know to pull it and check to see how far it drops into the tank. Yes, bending it would be a little odd. But I'd rather know when it's about to be empty, after all full is full.

To do it right the float should hit the top or come close to it when full and the same is true of the bottom. If the float arm lays along the flat portion of the top extending it a few inches to come close to the bottom should be doable...... has anyone actually done his, if so please feel free to chime in.

One thing that would make me nervous is I were you. Does the pick up go all the way to the bottom. I'd run it out of gas, or nearly so on purpose to make sure you are getting all the available gas. Man wouldn't it suck to run out of gas with 5 gallons left in the tank.

 

[hondo]

filled it up the other day and put 18 gallons in. i have ran out of gas on the road 3 times with the 15 gallon tank and was very lucky every time the last time being getting on the highway and being able to coast to the last turn off for 3 miles. don't want to purposely run out. i will I'm sure get closer and closer as i figure out mileage and get to trust the system more. by the way i ALWAYS carry 5 extra gallons. after that first time

 

[Hedgehog]

My gauge is a little wonky and inconsistent, sometimes 1/4 tank means just that, at other times 1/4 tank means empty. I've run out of gas more times with this CJ than with any other vehicle I've ever owned. You bet it is frustrating and yes I also carry an extra 5 gallons. Running out of gas on purpose would be a way to answer many questions and if prepared not really all that bad an experience as long as you have your trusty gas can along for the ride.

 

[hondo]

your fuel gauge sounds like my speedometer my fuel gauge is good except as mentioned. my main thing about purposely running out of gas is it happening in town or on the highway. wouldn't mind if it happened up in the mountains. (about 50% of my driving but the gauge always seems to say empty when i am on my way to town.)

 

[Hedgehog]

After filling my tank It seems that my gauge might actually be correct, but there's some kind of crud blocking the intake line preventing fuel from entering the fuel lines. Filling the tank seems to allow fuel to flow again. The CJ has run out of fuel, but after a few minutes will start back up again. No, its not like a vapor lock. It acts like the flow isn't enough to keep the engine running, kind of like the reverse of a slow moving drain.

 

[hondo]

do you have a clear inline filter? i had a similar problem where it would stall like it was out of gas then later start back up, then it started eating fuel pumps. so i put in a inline filter and it stopped eating fuel pumps then when i did the tank i put in all new lines. i think the problem was a rotting rubber line right above the tank.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'm thinking the rubber line inside the tank is rotting away causing trouble. The new tank will have (the filter is sitting on my work bench) an inline filter to help monitor what's going on inside the tank.