Any of you readers good at fixing fuel systems on old vans?
I’ve had the same Ford Econoline van since I moved to America. I love this van probably more than I love my wife or children…maybe not more, but certainly as much. I’ve replaced the engine twice, painted it a few times—most recently camouflage. Typically my wife works on our vans, but she’s been building a blacksmithing forge in the yard for the last few weeks and there’s a new problem with the van.
Given the gas prices recently and the fact that the liberals are unreasonably apposed to invading additional oil producing countries, I decided to do something to help the V8 get better mileage. Thinking back to previous droughts in this area I remembered a technique of inserting a brick in the tank of the toilet. Since I couldn’t figure out how to get a brick in the gas tank of the van I poured some gravel into the tank. Now the van won’t start.
Sorry to use this blog as a soap box for my personal vehicular issues…but I need to get this van going and I can’t afford to take my wife off the forge-building project until she’s finished. Is there some sort of plug in the gas tank I can unscrew and empty the gravel from the tank? Also, what should I put in the tank to accomplish this task other than gravel?
I need to get this bad boy back on the road, where he or she belongs! Even though someone in my neighborhood keeps painting “Rapist Van” over the camo (if you’re reading this, you’re in for a surprise the next time you show up to vandalize my van!)
Thank you in advance.
HJ wrote:
The gravel was too large and blocked up your fuel line. First step - get the gravel out. Get a flexible hose large enough to accomodate the gravel - 4-5 feet long. With one end in the gas tank, let the other end dangle lower to the ground. This might sound gross, but give the low end of the hose a long suck to get the gas flowing (remember to have a bucket ready). Next, start the motor. This will shake loose the gravel from the fuel line, now that the pressure of the fuel is gone. If you still hear rattling, get a shovel full of fine sand. (Even sugar will work in a pinch). Pour this into the tank, followed by a gallon or two of hot water. This mixture makes a surprisingly good lubricant. Run the engine again. Now drain the lube mixture the same way with the hose. Drill a hole in the bottom of your gas tank to let the gravel fall out- not too big. You’ve got to be able o plg it up again when you’re done (duct tape is the poor man’s way and it works fine). Fill your first tank with diesel, then back to unleaded. You may still hear funny noises for a few miles, but that’s too be expected. And don’t forget about the bucket of gasoline you drained! You don’t want your kids sniffing it. Incineration is the quickest way to dispose of old gas, but have an umbrella open between you and the bucket, and stand back a few inches.
Good luck!
Posted on 30-May-07 at 4:14 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
Hey, I really appreciate your help, I’m going to follow your instructions tonight and get my baby on the road again!
Posted on 30-May-07 at 5:03 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
I started this project but ran into a snag, I think I’ve got most of the gravel out and I put the sand, but I could only get it to run for a few seconds and now it won’t start again, is it critical that the water is hot, because by now it’s cooled I’m sure. Should I put more sand in and new hot water or did I do something wrong?
Thanks again.
Posted on 30-May-07 at 10:11 pm | Permalink
HJ wrote:
Hmmm… It’s time to troubleshoot. Possibly your sand was not a fine enough grain. You could do the whole thing over with a 25 lb. bag of sugar (throw some in with your oil too for good measure, if you take this course). I’m wondering though what the weather was like when you did this. A change in the barometric pressure, or extreme temps outside can throw the whole thing off. What you want is a consistent environment to work in. One easy way to achieve this, is to close your garage doors and make sure any windows are sealed up tightly. Run the engine, if you can get it started. If it won’t turn over, run the lawnmower, the snowblower, your second vehicle — any gas powered machines in your garage. The fumes from their exhaust should create a nice, warm, constant atmosphere for the process to work right. You’ll know the air is just about right when you feel a little bit sleepy. I hope you didn’t forget to dispose of the gas bucket? You don’t want that to sit out overnight… you’ll have the neighbor kids partying and sniffing on your property. Again, good luck.
Posted on 30-May-07 at 11:34 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
The sand was just some stuff I use to fill sandbags for additional cover around my sniper holes. It’s not very fine. I’ll try the sugar. I’ve got to get this done, so I’ll try yoru suggestion tonight before I go to bed. Thanks again for your help.
Posted on 30-May-07 at 11:45 pm | Permalink
HJ wrote:
Just checking in. It’s been a few hours now. Hope everything went OK. Just thought I’d check on you. Write back OK? Just a word to say you’re, you know, OK.
Posted on 31-May-07 at 9:20 am | Permalink
HJ wrote:
I’ll just sit here by the computer. Anxious to hear how everything went.
Posted on 31-May-07 at 9:41 am | Permalink
speedball wrote:
hello i jjust got bac k from hospital i injured my hands with burns i need to get some sleep and then ill tell about the problems i had. thanks.
Posted on 31-May-07 at 10:56 am | Permalink
HJ wrote:
Your hands? That’s a real shame.
Posted on 31-May-07 at 3:49 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
it hurts to type
Posted on 31-May-07 at 4:21 pm | Permalink
HJ wrote:
Dang.
Posted on 31-May-07 at 7:28 pm | Permalink
speedball wrote:
I’m feeling a little better today after having a lot of medication.
I tried what you said a few times and it didn’t seem to have any different results, in fact nothing I did would even allow the van to start. I tried to spray out some of the lines with water but it didn’t help. I tried the sugar, but it basically turned to mud, which was a giant mess to clean up. I scooped all the sugar into a garbage can and realized that not only would it continue to produce dangerous fumes, but I was concerned that someone would eat the sugar and get gasoline poisoning…or ants would find the sugar/gasoline and someone would eat the ants and get poisoned. I didn’t want to burn the compound in the plastic garbage can so I tried to wash it down the drain in my garage utility sink. I figured that if I ran enough water down the sink it wouldn’t get clogged…I was wrong. After unsuccessfully trying to unclog it with a plunger I decided to try your method and see if I could burn some of it up and maybe unclog it that way. I threw a match in the sink and it basically exploded. The sugar/gasoline compound was like napalm and stuck to me while it burned. I tried to scoop the burning, sticky mess off my skin and that’s how I burned my hands.
I had been growing a beard for sasquatch-research season—it was ruined during the explosion, as was most of my right eyebrow and all the clothes I was wearing. My work out pants were vinyl and basically melted to my skin when the “napalm” hit. I haven’t been able to sleep very much because of the pain and continual nightmares related to the explosion.
I didn’t want to tell my wife I’d been working on the van, so I had to lie to her and tell her that some people came to our house to try and kill us all and threw a grenade at me. I was able to scare them off, but not without some damage to myself.
Basically this whole Van project is on hold until I heal a little more.
Posted on 01-Jun-07 at 10:03 am | Permalink
HJ wrote:
Well, I know I’m not the only one who waited quietly in prayer these last 24 hours, talking with God about your recovery and how it would effect your ability to type this blog, and ultimately how it would effect the world. I think I speak for most people in expressing my sincere regret that you received these minor, surface burns. It seems clear that you are very resilient and will bounce right back to your old self. *sigh* Well, don’t hesitate to ask for help in the future. I’ve got lots of ideas for you… how to improve the performance of your explosives, how to clean your weapons more efficiently, how to survive in a number of life-threatening situations, etc. I hope you feel better soon, and don’t have any further complications, infections, etc.
Posted on 01-Jun-07 at 11:09 am | Permalink
speedball wrote:
Thanks. I’ll probably hit you up for more advice on the Van once I heal a bit more. Typing is easy-ish, but wielding a wrench might be a stretch right now. Plus, any time my immune system is activated over an injury or illness it seems to awaken my sleeping giant known as sphincter paralysis. I’ve been crapping my pants all over town for the last 12 hours.
Posted on 01-Jun-07 at 12:12 pm | Permalink
Gitty wrote:
Seems you already gots an idea for the dude whats been painting ‘rapist van’ on your ride, but I hads me an idea. Maybe you kin use that sugar napalm and old gas as bit of … persuadin to get that dude to stop.
Oh and I mentioned the sand and sugar trick to my cousin Dingle when we was mud boggin on Sunday cause he knows lots about engines and stuff and he just laughed at me and called me a doof. I dunno what that means about your van.
Posted on 04-Jun-07 at 3:16 pm | Permalink