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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fuel Tank Problem. Where is it going?

Hi all hopefully somebody can shed some light on this problem for me.

Fuel tank capacity approx. 27 Litres or 6 IMP gallons. I purposefully ran the car out of fuel on Friday, gauge was reading half a tank. Top up the tank with a jerry can approx. 3.5 litres went to the garage to fill up and it will only take about 10.5 litres and it was full to the top of the neck. So what is happening to the other half a tank of fuel? Why should it stop getting fuel from the tank when there is still approx. half a tankful still there?
Forget the reading on the gauge, I know they are not too accurate, I have worked this out with the available capacity left after running out of fuel.

Many thanks Ian
I Pickering

There could be a problem with the pick-up no longer at the bottom of the tank for one reason or another. Drop the tank (an easy job) remove the tank unit and look inside.
Paul Walbran

The fuel pipe connection may not be seating correctly also but if original not likely the cause. I used a non standard fitting into the tank and had no end of problems for a while with fuel starvation at around half a tank until I realised that the tank union pushes the internal pick-up into the boss to form a seal.
David Billington

Hi David

Does this picture of the tank fitting and union look like the standard set up. This is how it was when I got the car, apart from the Facet pump which I have recently installed.

Thanks Ian

I Pickering

Gday Ian
IMHO someone's been at your fuel tank. It looks like the edge seam has been cut off and re-welded (somewhat roughly by the looks of it) probably to fix a leak. My point is what else did they mess with?
On level ground you should be able to pick up approx.25 litres. I dunno if this helps, David's suggestion sounds reasonable.
Cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

all looks normal to my eye; ISTR others have had the pickup pipe fracture inside the tank which causes the problem like you've described.
David Smith

Ian,
I'll put money on the pick up pipe in side the tank being cracked and when the fuel level drops the pump will only pick up air / fumes. Unfortunately engines wont run of them.

Mike
Mike J Pearson

Thanks for the advice. Looks like its a new tank on the shopping list then.
I Pickering

This thread was discussed between 22/09/2013 and 24/09/2013

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