Running out of fuel up hill

[John]

I got a mate with an FC with a red in it. He has trouble with the fuel "running out" heading up hills. Once on the flat its fine and this all happens with over a third of a tank full. Any ideas? Baffle broken off in the tank maybe???

Thanks guys

[Harv]

Could be...
a) fuel level set too low in carb (unlikely though as fuel offtakes are in back of bowl, which is flooded going up hill or under acceleration),
b) fuel tank suction pipe has come unbrazed and is floating around in the front of tank (even more unlikely),
c) carb float retaining clip has come loose, (or float/pin is bent), holding the float up (needle valve shut) when car is pointing upwards (dirty needle and seat won't help either),
d) fuel line between tank and pump has a (very fine) crack which flexes open when the car is pointing upwards, letting the fuel pump suck air,
e) fuel pump is on it's last legs and cannot handle pumping uphill,
f) fuel filter (inline or fuel pump glass bowl screen) is blocked, and either causing e) above or causing sediment to shift when the car is pointing upwards, blocking filter.

Easy solution is just to put horse blinkers (blinders) on the car so it can't tell when it's going uphill

Cheers,
Harv.

[MeFB]

My guess is that it is more to do with the fuel demand not being met under high load conditions and the engine is leaning out and dying. I think it would have to be a pretty steep hill for the 'angle of the dangle' to be the sole cause of the problem; especially with more than 1/3 of a tank of fuel.

Simplest explanation is blocked filter or failed fuel pump. If not these, then start working through the other scenarios that Harv mentioned. Might also want to have a look for air leaks around the base of the carb, pinched fuel lines or hoses etc.

What sort of carb/s is he running?

[Mick]

another thing in the very unlikely list, where the fuel line goes into the tank there's a brass fitting the same to look at as the fitting in the carb where the needle and seat is the one in the tank has a large internal hole where needle and seat is tiny hole, driving normal there's no probs but as soon as you put a bit of pressure on eg: driving up a hill the car just dies like out of fuel
how do i know this it happened to me god knows why any body would have done it and it was just a fluke i found it i was pulling the tank out to have it professionally cleaned and just happened to look at the fitting

[MeFB]

another thing in the very unlikely list, where the fuel line goes into the tank there's a brass fitting the same to look at as the fitting in the carb where the needle and seat is the one in the tank has a large internal hole where needle and seat is tiny hole, driving normal there's no probs but as soon as you put a bit of pressure on eg: driving up a hill the car just dies like out of fuel
how do i know this it happened to me god knows why any body would have done it and it was just a fluke i found it i was pulling the tank out to have it professionally cleaned and just happened to look at the fitting

You did well to pick that one up Mick I wonder if it was like that from the factory - maybe someone had a bit of a brain-spasm when they were doing the plumbing

[fingers]

Could be...
a) Easy solution is just to put horse blinkers (blinders) on the car so it can't tell when it's going uphill
Cheers,
Harv.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Or just dont drive up hills ........... ...............Fingers