I have a 95 ford ranger, over 234,000 miles. It’s probably closer to 270,00 as the odometer was broken for a long time. It’s got lots of problems but I’m not quite ready to buy a new car so I need it to last a bit longer.
I was using 89 octane but the station near my house no longer carries it, only 87 and 93. I switched to 87 and it runs fine. The person I bought it from 3 years ago told me he used 87 but it was his recently deceased father’s truck and the father always used 89. I don’t know if any of this is relevant.
Also, I never let the tank go below one quarter because the truck will stall at red lights and stop signs.
Several months ago I stopped at a different station and put 89 octane in. No problems. The next time I got gas I went back to 87 and I drove off to a store a few miles down the road… When I came out and tried to start it it wouldn’t start. It sounded like it wasn’t getting gas. I let it sit a little and then it started right up and ran fine for a while. Then started sputtering and losing power.
We limped back home with it alternating between sputtering, stalling and running great. The next day it runs great like it never had a problem.
Until the next time I get gas, then the problems start all over. Two days later it’s fine again. This has been the pattern since then. Buy gas it stalls and sputters, a few days later it runs great.
I thought maybe I’m letting the gas get too low, who knows how accurate the fuel gauge is, so yesterday even though I didn’t need gas I put a few gallons in and it’s back to sputtering and stalling.
The fuel pump and fuel filter are fairly new. Also I never fill the tank completely because the cut off doesn’t work and the gas spills out. I only drive 1 or 2 days a week and probably no more than 50 miles a week. Very little highway or high speed because the transmission won’t go into the highest gear. Don’t know if any of that is relevant. The engine sounds great when it runs.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Sounds like you have crud in the gas tank, I don’t know about this specific truck but with the fuel cutoff not working probably has no back pressure. This likely means that the fuel tube into the tank is compromised and allowing entry of dirt and debris into the tank. You are probably stirring up sediments in the tank every time you fill it.
The solution is pretty easy, you have to drop the fuel tank and clean it out(there will be a filter or screen inside). Be very careful when you do this and NEVER do this in a confined space(like a garage), you can literally blow yourself up, you will spill fuel, please clean it up. Drive around and use up as much gas as possible, you will have to disconnect fuel lines(often two), and the fill tube. Tank will be held on by a couple of bands that can be loosened with a ratchet. Be careful
Also there are forums on line with detailed instructions just search in google for your make, model, year and gas tank someone probably did this and photographed every major step. Good luck
If the pump and filter are new and working, maybe something else is causing a leak of pressure. Maybe there is an actual fuel leak so check all the lines completely. Maybe the fuel pressure regulator is bad. I believe there is an outlet to check the fuel pressure on the fuel rail. See what it is and what it’s supposed to be and go from there.
Thank you Capt Kirk and Al Bundy (wouldn’t that make for an interesting gathering) for your help. Now I know where to look for the problem and am working on it.
I’m sorry it took so long to thank you but my computer and/or router went wonky. It’s very hard to post online when you keep connecting and disconnecting from the internet. Verizon says it’s my computer, GeekSquad says it’s Verizon - such fun!
To make it extra special, my tablet and cell phone decided they would like to join the fun and work erratically as well.
Ain’t life grand?!
This, and your other systems point to a venting problem in your fuel tank.