Engine flooded-empty tank to full tank?

Optimiser · 05-16-2016, 09:41 PM

Hi All,
I have the stock Stillen SC kit which has been reliable so far.
I recently let the fuel tank empty to the point that the indicated driving range was "****" and 1 dot was left on the gauge. I have done this a few times before and never had fuel starvation, even at the track.
I filled the tank to the absolute brim where you could see the fuel right up to nearly the opening of the fill pipe, 67 and a bit litres of fuel!
When I started the car it wouldn't idle properly, coughed and spluttered till it stopped and I had to restart about 4 times and then I had to keep the revs up using the accelerator pedal or it would cut out. I think it was flooding as an unusual amount of unburnt vapour came out of the exhaust.
Once I finally got going on the road after leaving the petrol station it sorted its self out and started idling normally again when at a stop.
Could the very empty to very full state of the fuel tank have upset the ECU, fuel system or something?

wideglideleon · 05-17-2016, 10:32 AM

It might have sucked in some deposits, water and other junk at the bottom of your fuel tank.

BuckeyeZ · 05-17-2016, 12:10 PM

Just a question: Why fill it so full that you can see the gas in the neck? That is way too full on any modern car. My guess would be that you overfilled the tank and that will mess with the vapor recovery system that is a part of modern emissions. This probably flooded the on-board vapor recovery system and dumped raw gas back into the canisters instead of vapor.

My suggestion is that you don't overfill your tank and see if it happens again.

Chuck33079 · 05-17-2016, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeZ

Just a question: Why fill it so full that you can see the gas in the neck? That is way too full on any modern car. My guess would be that you overfilled the tank and that will mess with the vapor recovery system that is a part of modern emissions. This probably flooded the on-board vapor recovery system and dumped raw gas back into the canisters instead of vapor.

My suggestion is that you don't overfill your tank and see if it happens again.

Stop when the pumps shut off.

barncobob · 05-17-2016, 12:41 PM

mate, fill up at 1/4 tank and no problems then

Optimiser · 05-17-2016, 06:14 PM

Thank you very much for the answers.
I will not let it get so empty and will not overfill it in the future and see what happens.

POS VETT · 05-17-2016, 09:27 PM

I never have any problem "packing in" fuel (gasoline) into the tank of any of my cars for decades. For the last several years, I have been buying gasoline by the 30-gallon increment, thus most of my cars are filled using containers and each one, including the Z, is slowly filled to the brim until the fuel level does not come down anymore. Never a fuel-related problem.

Back to the problem mentioned in the original post. All I could come up with was water contamination. Fuel pump pickup is in the bottom of the tank, so the water must have been introduced or carried by the fresh load of fuel. There is also a possibility in a difference in the properties of the fresh fuel compared to the previous batch. Without a proper monitoring equipment while it was happening, it's difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

Optimiser · 05-18-2016, 05:48 PM

Just to follow up I have driven the car for a couple of days now, not a great distance and still all dots illuminated on the fuel gauge. The problem seems to have sorted itself out and idling at all stages of motor warm up seems to be back to normal now. No more spluttering and cut outs. Interesting thought on a possible bit of water contamination. I always buy the most expensive (highest octane) fuel from the same company and get it from the same servo 99% of the time. I did however get this last tank from a different servo. Perhaps their fuel was a bit water contaminated?

Optimiser · 05-20-2016, 02:23 AM

Would it help get rid of any water in the tank if I put in a litre (say) of methylated spirits?

Jhill · 05-20-2016, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeZ

Just a question: Why fill it so full that you can see the gas in the neck? That is way too full on any modern car. My guess would be that you overfilled the tank and that will mess with the vapor recovery system that is a part of modern emissions. This probably flooded the on-board vapor recovery system and dumped raw gas back into the canisters instead of vapor.

My suggestion is that you don't overfill your tank and see if it happens again.

^ this. I have seen it multiple times on different cars. If you've saturated the charcoal canister then you have screwed yourself and will have to replace it. Very expensive when people do it to the ML Mercedes where it is integrated on top the fuel tank. Hopefully the z's isn't.

POS VETT · 05-20-2016, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimiser

Would it help get rid of any water in the tank if I put in a litre (say) of methylated spirits?

I have blended E85 in a rather large quantity (about half the tank) with standard E10 gasoline, or petrol in your speak, in my Z. I'm unfamiliar with methylated spirits, but if E85 was unavailable in your area, you could blend in straight ethanol. One litre is fine in any level of fuel currently in the tank; personally I would blend in more.

Optimiser · 05-21-2016, 12:33 AM

Thanks all again for your responses.
The car spluttered and stalled one more time after I used about a 1/4 tank from full. Seems to be OK again now.

05-16-2016, 09:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Engine flooded-empty tank to full tank? Hi All, I have the stock Stillen SC kit which has been reliable so far. I recently let the fuel tank empty to the point that the indicated driving range was "****" and 1 dot was left on the gauge. I have done this a few times before and never had fuel starvation, even at the track. I filled the tank to the absolute brim where you could see the fuel right up to nearly the opening of the fill pipe, 67 and a bit litres of fuel! When I started the car it wouldn't idle properly, coughed and spluttered till it stopped and I had to restart about 4 times and then I had to keep the revs up using the accelerator pedal or it would cut out. I think it was flooding as an unusual amount of unburnt vapour came out of the exhaust. Once I finally got going on the road after leaving the petrol station it sorted its self out and started idling normally again when at a stop. Could the very empty to very full state of the fuel tank have upset the ECU, fuel system or something?

05-17-2016, 12:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
BuckeyeZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Music City Posts: 291 Drives: 370Z BMW M4 Rep Power: 65	Just a question: Why fill it so full that you can see the gas in the neck? That is way too full on any modern car. My guess would be that you overfilled the tank and that will mess with the vapor recovery system that is a part of modern emissions. This probably flooded the on-board vapor recovery system and dumped raw gas back into the canisters instead of vapor. My suggestion is that you don't overfill your tank and see if it happens again. __________________ Stillen \| EVO-R \| HPS \| K&N \| Hotchkis \| Modshack Oil Cooler \| SPL

05-17-2016, 12:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
barncobob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: hangtown, CA Posts: 1,164 Drives: 16 370Z auto Rep Power: 589	mate, fill up at 1/4 tank and no problems then gomer_110 likes this.

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05-17-2016, 10:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
wideglideleon Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 569 Drives: SC 09 370Z LG 7AT Rep Power: 64085	It might have sucked in some deposits, water and other junk at the bottom of your fuel tank.

05-17-2016, 06:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Thank you very much for the answers. I will not let it get so empty and will not overfill it in the future and see what happens.

05-17-2016, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3366	I never have any problem "packing in" fuel (gasoline) into the tank of any of my cars for decades. For the last several years, I have been buying gasoline by the 30-gallon increment, thus most of my cars are filled using containers and each one, including the Z, is slowly filled to the brim until the fuel level does not come down anymore. Never a fuel-related problem. Back to the problem mentioned in the original post. All I could come up with was water contamination. Fuel pump pickup is in the bottom of the tank, so the water must have been introduced or carried by the fresh load of fuel. There is also a possibility in a difference in the properties of the fresh fuel compared to the previous batch. Without a proper monitoring equipment while it was happening, it's difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

05-18-2016, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Just to follow up I have driven the car for a couple of days now, not a great distance and still all dots illuminated on the fuel gauge. The problem seems to have sorted itself out and idling at all stages of motor warm up seems to be back to normal now. No more spluttering and cut outs. Interesting thought on a possible bit of water contamination. I always buy the most expensive (highest octane) fuel from the same company and get it from the same servo 99% of the time. I did however get this last tank from a different servo. Perhaps their fuel was a bit water contaminated?

05-20-2016, 02:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Would it help get rid of any water in the tank if I put in a litre (say) of methylated spirits?

05-21-2016, 12:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Thanks all again for your responses. The car spluttered and stalled one more time after I used about a 1/4 tank from full. Seems to be OK again now.