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[rrblizard]

Today my fuel filter is clogging up with black gunk – the second time in two weeks – and the engine starves for fuel over about 3k RPM. The last time I had this problem the engine was actually dying for lack of fuel. What is going on? Do I need to replace the tank? If I do, is there anything special I need to pay attention to in selecting a tank?

For reference, the car has approx. 39K original miles. Don’t know if the tank is original; doubt it is…

Question remains of where the black crud in the filter is coming from. Is there a rubberized lining in the tank that might be disintegrating under the attach of today's gasoline?

Replaced the filter – same black gunk as the first time. Took the car out for a test drive. Fuel supply seems OK, but about half the time I try to accelerate, I can’t get the revs much past 3K. It just seems to run out of steam - no missing or stuttering, just stops accelerating.

Could I be having another problem besides the gunk? Is this an ignition issue? Points or condenser? Both were replaced in March.

Is the Ignitor electronic point replacement (from Pertronics) worth the money? I remember I had to replace the ignition on my ’74 FIAT with a CD ignition in order to get a reliable spark. Is that what I’m up against here?

Bob Blizard
'72 TR6 CC78264

[TR3driver]

I don't know what the black gunk is.  Certainly the factory didn't use any kind of coating inside the tank, but there have been aftermarket products to add a coating, some of which won't stand up to gasohol.

But it seems very likely to be the source of your performance problems.  With the throttle wide open, the fuel consumption goes up directly with rpm; and low fuel levels cause the mixture to lean out, producing less power.  So I would definitely work on getting the black gunk solved, before worrying about possible ignition problems.

Lots of folks love the Pertronix conversion, but I didn't have such good luck with mine and took it back off.  Likely my problems were due to other issues (bad battery, bad coil) but IMO the original points work fine if you service them as suggested and your distributor is not too badly worn out.

[BobH]

Is it the insides of your old, rubber, ethanol sensitive fuel line?

[rrblizard]

Replaced the sections of rubber fuel line yesterday. Managed to get my son to be the one lying on the ground in the path of the gasoline pouring out of the tank when we changed the section just past the tank - excellent move on my part. Only spilled about a cup, but it sure seems like more.

Cut apart a couple of chunks of line that we pulled out, and nothing seems obviously eroded.

Took it for a drive today. The problem seems to be there still. At about 3250 rpm it seems to run out of steam and takes forever to go higher. I may be imagining things, but it sounds as if I am hearing/feeling some ignition misses around that point as well. Maybe I have an ignition problem...

Bob Blizard

Any other brilliant ideas out there?

[charley fitch]

I am sure that there are a number of folks out there with some crazy ideas of where your problems lie.  Here is what I was thinking. First, could something such as a gasket from the fuel cap have found its way down into the fuel tank? The second thing is that I am not all that familiar with the Strombergs, but the SU's give the same result of loss of acceleration when the fuel supply is impeded by a problem at the shut off valve going into the fuel bowl on each carb.  So is there someplace  on the carbs that could be partially plugged with something?  Remember that the fact that you are getting fuel does not mean that you are getting enough fuel to run at speeds over 3000 RPM.  Also don't the TR6's have a fuel pressure regulator?  It might be worth checking both for a blockage and for proper pressure.

Hope that this helps.
Charley