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Old 10-05-2009, 12:53 AM   #11
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

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I didn't care about ruining the engine to get the last few drops.
Why would using the last drops ruin the engine?

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Old 10-05-2009, 07:58 AM   #12
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

The modern Ford diesels can be damaged by running out of fuel. Before I knew that, and before I knew how to fill my tank, I had the pleasure of finding out what happens when you get really close- the engine stumbles or stutters, and I think it's the computer. It's too consistent to be irregular fuel delivery but it is impossible to ignore, or imagine you're going to proceed more than another 15 feet... which would cause most sane people to park and start walking for gas, which protects the engine even after all the warning signs have been ignored.

Since at the time I hadn't heard running out completely makes them really hard to start (which may be where the damage comes in?) I puttered around for about a mile before being able to splash some diesel from a 18 wheeler sized nozzle, a desperation move since the station had no "car" sized diesel pumps. About a gallon and a half and ¼ mile down the road the sputtering stops completely, and that got me to a real gas station.

In my defense I was consistently filling near 38 gallons at the time and so felt like I was "missing" around 8 gallons in the transfer flow tank. Someone at a major custom van company (*ahem*) had curtly informed me that when the needle bottomed out on E I still had 8-10 gallons in the tank which would give me ~100 mile range. In fact I have approximately 6-8 gallons OVER the F on the gauge, but the pumps cut off before that extra fuel goes in.
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Old 10-07-2009, 11:28 AM   #13
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

Would that then be the high pressure common rail diesel fuel system? I had several diesels but always had a primer pump (manual) for re-pressurising the diesel in the fuel lines...

Well I take not that next time I use a recent diesel van I will check the fuel gauge often
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Old 10-07-2009, 01:44 PM   #14
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

The problem with running out of fuel may be unique to the IH/Ford engine. I believe the fuel is needed to lubricate the injectors, and running out of fuel will cause injector failures.

Other engine designs may be different.

Mike
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Old 10-08-2009, 12:56 AM   #15
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
In my defense I was consistently filling near 38 gallons at the time and so felt like I was "missing" around 8 gallons in the transfer flow tank. Someone at a major custom van company (*ahem*) had curtly informed me that when the needle bottomed out on E I still had 8-10 gallons in the tank which would give me ~100 mile range. In fact I have approximately 6-8 gallons OVER the F on the gauge, but the pumps cut off before that extra fuel goes in.
I think you know this -- but I know exactly what you mean! Ever get your tank modified to properly fill those extra 8-10?

-- Geoff
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Old 10-08-2009, 07:10 AM   #16
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Re: Sportsmobile Video with Interview of Alan Feld

I have not. I get by on 38, generally there is plenty of diesel around. I only take the extra 15 minutes to fill to the brim when diesel is really cheap and I'm going into a higher priced area or I'm hitting some backcountry and don't want the extra. Oh, and every once in a while I find the perfect pump that just trickles it in and doesn't click off every 15 seconds.

The main problem with this is that it is really hard to stop before dumping diesel all over the van, since you have to go slow enough to avoid the auto cut off, it doesn't cut off at all.

But don't get me started about my list of "intended" projects... compiling a list of intended projects is a project I'm putting off...
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