The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Symptoms of a bad fuel pump? - UPDATE

Hello all,

UPDATE

I was able to find the issue with my truck not idling. First issue was my float setting was off almost a 1/4 inch. Second issue was the gasket between the throttle body and insulator was incorrect causing some sort of vacuum leak. The truck idles really nice now.

One issue that is still not resolved is that it WILL NOT start on its own. It needs either starting fluid or a drop of gas to get it going. Once it fires up it idles really nice.

Second issue is that it seems to load up on acceleration. It idles really smooth, but when I slowly accelerate the truck I see a good bit of white smoke come out of the tailpipe almost like there is condensation is the system. I have good clean non-ethanol fuel going to the carb. Now…this is an engine that has sat for around 15 years so it’s just now getting back to life.

Any ideas on these two issues? Not losing any coolant and the oil checks out fine.

Thanks again!




Recently got myself a 53 pickup, with a 235 engine built in 1955. I have already done all of the basic tuneup things (plugs, wires, rebuilt carb, etc). Truck fired right up and would idle pretty well, although it did have a slight miss. Now for some reason it wont run, and I am not sure what is wrong....

Here are my symptoms:

1) Truck will not start on its own - it needs a small bit of fuel in the carb to fire up
2) It will only fire up and stay running for about 2-3 seconds
3) Occasionally it will start and idle very quiet- almost like it's running on a few cylinders for about 5-6 seconds

I am leaning towards a bad fuel pump. Due to it starting right away with some fuel in the carb I think that eliminates anything electrical (coil, condenser, spark, etc). I took the fuel line off the carb and cranked the engine over a few times and there was no fuel pumping out of the line, so that should mean fuel pump correct? Well just today I decided to unhook the line to the carb and out poured some fresh gas, meaning the pump must have brought some fuel up?

My thoughts are that I have a faulty fuel pump that isn't pumping enough fuel pressure into the carb. Then again, assuming my float bowl is full, shouldn't the truck start running longer than just a few seconds? A little direction would be great! I am not one to start taking things apart and replacing parts without trying all the simple things first.