Breakdown Information
Moderators Note: This thread is intending to report a problem and its resolution. If you are seeking help or information to help you resolve a problem you would best be served by initiating a thread o...
Forum Discussion
1995 Thor Pinnacle
8.2L Chevrolet engine
Workhorse chassis
Fuel pump, water in gas tank, rusty gas tank
low power
Last MH was a gas unit that had been sitting for a few years. Got sold to a dealer and I got a "great deal" on it. Drove fine during the test drive and on the way home, about 75 miles total. Next trip out it started losing power and ultimately wouldn't go faster than 25 mph.
Problem turned out to be rust particles in the gas tank. A LOT of rust particles, resulting from the 3 1/2 gallons of water I siphoned out of the tank. The rust particles would get sucked up to the fuel pump pickup sock (first line filter) and starve it for gas. When I stopped the rust particles would settle away and it would run great for a couple miles.
The solution was to thouroghly clean out and seal the tank since a nationwide search using 3 independent sources couldn't come up with a new tank. I used a couple of pounds of dry wall screws as abrasives and rolled the tank around the yard. You don't shake an 80 gallon tank in your hands like you would a motorcycle tank. Then I rinsed it out with water a couple of times followed by a couple of rinses with acetone.
After it dried it was fairly clean but with all the baffles, there was no way to get all the rust out of it. After doing a bit of research, I used an epoxy sealant from Caswell Plating. It was spendy and a lot of work, but it was a great solution for me.
I don't think I have enough money to have work like this done.
8.2L Chevrolet engine
Workhorse chassis
Fuel pump, water in gas tank, rusty gas tank
low power
Last MH was a gas unit that had been sitting for a few years. Got sold to a dealer and I got a "great deal" on it. Drove fine during the test drive and on the way home, about 75 miles total. Next trip out it started losing power and ultimately wouldn't go faster than 25 mph.
Problem turned out to be rust particles in the gas tank. A LOT of rust particles, resulting from the 3 1/2 gallons of water I siphoned out of the tank. The rust particles would get sucked up to the fuel pump pickup sock (first line filter) and starve it for gas. When I stopped the rust particles would settle away and it would run great for a couple miles.
The solution was to thouroghly clean out and seal the tank since a nationwide search using 3 independent sources couldn't come up with a new tank. I used a couple of pounds of dry wall screws as abrasives and rolled the tank around the yard. You don't shake an 80 gallon tank in your hands like you would a motorcycle tank. Then I rinsed it out with water a couple of times followed by a couple of rinses with acetone.
After it dried it was fairly clean but with all the baffles, there was no way to get all the rust out of it. After doing a bit of research, I used an epoxy sealant from Caswell Plating. It was spendy and a lot of work, but it was a great solution for me.
I don't think I have enough money to have work like this done.
