Sputter, backfire and engine is missing.

[GGnz]

Today I was driving home on an almost empty tank of gas when my car started missing. I went to the gas station and I now have a full tank of gas but the car is still missing.

If I floor it the car accelerates fine and takes off as it does when you floor it. However if I nana the car it splutters, missing and backfires then will sometimes come right.

Now I realise that shit in the bottom of the has gone through the fuel lines and probably clogged up the filters, even one of the injectors. My question is I have heard of Fuel Cleaning formulas like STP and a couple of others that clean your fuel injectors, carburetors, intake valves and ports, combustion chambers, cylinder heads and piston tops etc.

My question is are these any good and do they do the job? Also if its not something to do with the fuel lines (doubt it though) what else could it be?

[GGnz]

Someone please help me. Im due to be in Chch tomorrow so is an urgent matter...

[Alex B]

Put a new fuel filter in. Be careful its pressurized. Best to have a bucket handy.

[GGnz]

Put a new fuel filter in. Be careful its pressurized. Best to have a bucket handy.

I just filled my tank... haha. I'll give this cleaning thing a go cos I dont have time to do it before tomorrow so fingers crossed.

[Alex B]

Filter isn't in the tank, i have a feeling its on the firewall passengers side

[deaf_rattle]

take fuel cap off when doin fuel filter, it will release some of the pressure.

I doubt there is stuff from the bottom of the tank though. all the fuel tanks ive seen into inc an 82 MA61 tank was clean as a clean thing.

Couldve been a bad batch of fuel, in which case may take a few ks before the new fuel starts going through.

checked your air filter?
otherwise maybe time to replace plugs and/or leads and cap and rotor.

[bluemaumau]

yup take the cap off.

i agree with deaf rattle, i dont think itd be "sediments".

[Malcolm]

the best way to relieve fuel pressure is to remove the fuel pump relay (or circuit opening relay) and crank the engine a few times, or pull the relay while it's running and wait for it to die (will be almost instantaneous)

[GGnz]

Yeah possibly a bad batch. Seems wierd that is was a batch that was in the car for a week and no probs though. Its only just started happening when I ran the tank dry. I don't think its the fuel filter since this was done now too long ago and I don't think I've have time tonight or tomorrow to do this :S. So where is the filter exactly (I didn't do it last time)? In the engine bay? Passengers side?

[bluemaumau]

yup passengers side on the firewall.

[Bling]

PITA to do aswell!

so only do as a last resort IMO, i'd try injector cleaner, its not too expensive to give it a try

[GGnz]

Chucked injector cleaner in. How long does it usually take to work. Gonna get a new fuel filter tomorrow. They cheap enough by the looks of it. Fingers crossed...

Edit: I got the one that cleans the lines, injectors and carb...

[Alex B]

Heh you dont really need one that cleans the carb, and it will have gone through when you have used that tank up pretty much.

[Jazza]

Couldnt help but read "and the engine is missing" and thinking to myself, that could be why its not running....

[GGnz]

Great, engine doesn't want to start now and I got to be in Chch by 7pm

[barryogen]

Great, engine doesn't want to start now and I got to be in Chch by 7pm

PM sent... with offer of loaner(nicer than his car )

[sergei]

There is possibility that fuel pump is at fault.

[postfach]

There is possibility that fuel pump is at fault.

agreed, fuel pumps use the fuel as lubrication, possibly if the fuel level was so low that the pump was only just picking up fuel, it could have been damaged. I've had a fuel pump that was dodgy before and it was doing almost exactly what you describe.

[Alex B]

In other words go see a mechanic, i doubt youl have the gear handy to check fuel pressure etc.

[AJz]

how long since you changed the sparkplugs???