Help(fuel problem)

[Nish]

Hi all

For about a few weeks now i've been having to keep my car filled up because it runs out or acts like it's out of petrol at a half a tank. I know its full because they fill it until you can see the some fuel at the top of hole.Even the OB comp says the range is 550km when fuel and when about half its says 225km.So what can be the problem.Fuel pump ???

Thanx

 

[ruaangrobler]

hmm. What fuel do you use i.e. brand and octane? What car, what year and what mileage?

 

[zaleonardz]

What it could be is that the breather pipe running to the tank has been pinched closed, so when the tank is sucking in fuel, it actually collapses the whole tank, its not getting in air.

I have had this before with a VW.

Alternatively, could be fuel pump, fuel regulator, clogged up fuel filters...

 

[Nish]

Hi guys

Thanks for the response.Car:1998 M3 4dr and mileage 97000km.I use 95 from Engen.I think dirt may be causing this as I let the fuel run empty once,but not sure

 

[ruaangrobler]

My advice would be first to swop brands. I can highly recommend shell's 95. Try it and see. If the problem persists, I would start with the filter and then look at the rest (since you still have such low mileage)

I'm not the the most technically savvy guy though, I just remember reading a similar issue somewhere, and my mom had an issue like this on her e30 316i. Was dirty petrol from engen. New tank and new filter cleaned it up. And in Engen's defence, when my dad told the owner of the garage, he immediately offered to pay for the costs.

But I don't think you'll find that these days. Service delivery has gone to sh!t...mostly.

 

[AryM]

Could be Air in the fuel pipeline!
Dirty Fuel filter
Faulty Fuel pump

Get those checked

 

[Jason1]

Same thing happened in my seat but that was a diesel.

It was the fuel level sensor.
Worth having that checked.

 

[M3_devil]

You problem has to be with breather pipe or fuel pump pick up.

If your car runs fine with full tank then there will be no issues with fuel filter and fuel lines being dirty.

1st thing, remove pump and make sure the pump is still okay. ( had a problem with BM where pick up pipe was loose resulting it only picking up fuel when tank is full.

Other reason can be breather pipe as mensioned in above post.

 

[ruaangrobler]

...If your car runs fine with full tank then there will be no issues with fuel filter and fuel lines being dirty...

Good point boet.