Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

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Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

January 15, 2015, 11:42:01 am

I think I read a post that some units had the fuel lines hooked up wrong.
I'm pretty sure mine is one. Monday I was driving at the 1\4 mark and my engine would stumble like running out of fuel. Filled up it took 141 gals and it ran smooth again. I would say my engine is hooked to the gen set pick up. I believe I will deal with 400 miles less range. Unless someone knows an easy way to get to the pickups. 1190 miles ran gen set 4 hours 72 mph with jeep 141 gal = 8.4 mpg
I'm very happy with that. Paid $2.59 a gal.
Thanks Alan

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #1 – January 15, 2015, 11:51:26 am

This sounds like a problem you can live with. Yes, it sounds like the fuel lines are reversed. As it stands, you can run the generator past the point where the engine won't run. As long as you religiously fill up at half a tank, you will be fine. The good news is that the engine filters won't be picking up as much sediment when you run low.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #2 – January 15, 2015, 12:12:45 pm

It isn't worth the effort (my thought) until you pull the tank to replace the lines. 1100 miles is more than the size of my bladder anyway.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #3 – January 15, 2015, 12:18:53 pm

Mine to. Can't make the cruise work like autopilot.
So to replace lines you have to pull the tank?

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #4 – January 15, 2015, 12:23:32 pm

On your 320 it would make getting to the fittings a lot simpler. Not saying it can't be done without pulling the tank as some have cut access holes through the floor under the carpet, one or two have went in from the drivers side by removing the battery vent hoses.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #5 – January 15, 2015, 12:28:15 pm

That's how Bernd did mine.

After they emptied the tank and filled a few 55 gal drums ...

best, paul

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #6 – January 15, 2015, 12:47:38 pm

Cutting thru the wood floor is so easy to do if you have carpet. Just figure out exactly were the fittings are on tank then measure inside and cut a 12" sq hole but be very very careful to not let blade go thrutotally or you will cut thru air lines etc. That last stage is important and should be using a vibratery saw to cut thru. Once there it is easy to change lines if you want. I checked my hoses for cracks and had it all put back in around 2 hrs.
JohnH

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #7 – January 15, 2015, 01:16:13 pm

Cutting thru the floor is probably easy, it is the re-assembly that intrigues me. How do you support the section you cutout?

Roland

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #8 – January 15, 2015, 01:20:47 pm

So I assume the pick ups are on the left side of tank. If I can access it on the left side I'm taking the battery's out to add a 4th battery. Maybe I could do it then.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #9 – January 15, 2015, 01:44:32 pm

you glue and screw peices under the perimeter to support the piece back in then use screws to hold that down to the pieces. I will do it on yours and show you in Q !!!!he-he, or, just pull carpet over hole and step over it all the time.
JohnH

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #10 – January 15, 2015, 02:06:25 pm

Probably correct that the lines are reversed. Other possibility is the hose or fitting has a small air leak and lifting the fuel when tank is low allows air into the system.

Pierce

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #11 – January 15, 2015, 02:37:23 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – January 15, 2015, 01:44:32 pm

you glue and screw peices under the perimeter to support the piece back in then use screws to hold that down to the pieces.
JohnH

OK that would work.

Roland

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #12 – January 15, 2015, 04:05:56 pm

Am I missing something, or just dumb?

why can't you cut the lines somewhere where they are accessible, then run crossover lines?

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #13 – January 15, 2015, 04:07:31 pm

Quote from: alan1958 – January 15, 2015, 01:20:47 pm

So I assume the pick ups are on the left side of tank. If I can access it on the left side I'm taking the battery's out to add a 4th battery. Maybe I could do it then.

They are just roadside of center. To get to them from the battery side you have to remove both battery vent hoses. This will give you access to see the connections. They can be reached with a crows foot on the end of a long extension. Remember if you are swapping, the other hose taps maybe on the passengers side of the tank hid behind where your Aqua Hot fuel tap is. If this is the route you go make sure which hose is which.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #14 – January 15, 2015, 04:10:22 pm

Tom,

That is a good idea but all the hoses are trapped on top of the tank. The generator lines go one way & the engine the other. On our coach the fuel line to the engine is larger than the one that feeds the generator.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #15 – January 15, 2015, 08:44:35 pm

Same thing happened to me. Mine would not start at 1/4. Towed to Cummins. This happened when it was new (8 years ago). After hours of troubleshooting by Cummins, the issue was the fuel pump was hooked up backwards. Again, I am doing this from memory but I think the engine has a fuel lift pump and a fuel pump. So, in my case, they were working against each other. When the fuel tank was above 1/4 there was no issue. Never had a problem since.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #16 – January 15, 2015, 08:49:36 pm

replace the fuel lines. things get worse. low tank and cold weather can leave you stranded. safety item to me..

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #17 – January 15, 2015, 09:14:10 pm

The first thing Cummins did was to replace my fuel lines which did not solve my problem.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #18 – January 16, 2015, 06:40:28 am

I think it is unlikely that the pick up tube has a hole or crack it would only
Stumble around corners and the low fuel light would flash on and off as the sloshes. I will just look for cheap fuel sooner until RR all the lines.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #19 – January 16, 2015, 08:25:09 am

Quote from: Roland Begin – January 15, 2015, 01:16:13 pm

Cutting thru the floor is probably easy, it is the re-assembly that intrigues me. How do you support the section you cutout?

Roland

Someone did this on my coach before I purchased it. Four inch diameter hole - I assume a hole saw. Then they used a 6" x 6" square piece of sheet metal on the top (carpet side) with flathead screws going into both pieces.
I don't think perimeter support pieces will work well on the bottom (tank) side because there is only a thin sheet of filon bonded to the foam - nothing structural to attach to. To have it stand up to someone standing on it I think you need to tie the plywood on the carpet side together.

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #20 – January 16, 2015, 10:52:06 am

I believe John screws and glues pieces of wood to the underside of the existing floor, not the insulation, then he replaces the piece that he cut out and screws that to the wood that he added. At least that is how I understand it. Sure John will pipe in if I have it incorrect.

Roland

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #21 – January 16, 2015, 12:55:47 pm

On my 1999 the fuel tank capacity is 148 gallons . If you took 141 galls to fill up where you just out of fuel with your fuel gauge reading a little high ? for me a 3/4 fill up would be 111 gallons. Gam

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #22 – January 16, 2015, 06:03:21 pm

Joseph,

Your 295 has a smaller tank than Allen's 320. (his is roughly 50 gal larger) I understand this was done to help offset the fuel use of the A/H.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #23 – January 16, 2015, 09:26:54 pm

Interesting Related Issue:

My fuel gauge reads low. It isn't a problem as I have a VMS which indicates accurate fuel levels. Anyhow, when my dash gauge reads 1/4, I actually have well over 1/2 tank. Just about the time the dash gauge hits 1/4 the low fuel light comes on. Now, here's the intersting part. From then on the generator will not run. Fill up with fuel and it operates normally.
jor

Re: Engine stumbling at 1\4 tank

Reply #24 – January 21, 2015, 06:42:23 am

I do know that my service work truck that has a large welder on it will not run if my fuel tank is at or below the 1\4 mark. Been told they do this to keep you from getting stranded. I'm sure motorhome company's do the same.

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