e30 ran out of gas, now runs terrible!, what to do

[cnardinola318is]

e30 ran out of gas, almost, got to the station put in half a tank and now it runs terrible!, sputtering and backfiring etc... it smooths out here and ther but I don't know what to do. please help

[mattdk318i]

your fuel pump might have ran dry for a little too long. And now its probably struggling

[cnardinola318is]

is there an easy fix, or replace the fuel pump?

[Jordan]

Bah.. fuel pump is fine.

You will have to remove the fuel pump and clean the filter sock, or just replace it... although I'm not certain its available separate from the pump.

Replace the main fuel filter, its on the drivers side just in front of the rear wheel well behind the rocker panel.

[nando]

most likely you never run your tank very low, and after many years all the crud has accumulated, so when you do run it low, it clogs everything up.

[dark89e30]

Bad gasoline? It DOES happen...

[golde30]

my dad drove my e30 till it ran out of gas the ONE TIME i let him barrow it. filled it up, replaced the fuel filter, ran like crap for a few days, then it was fine.

[nando]

if you run it until the reserve light comes on every time, you'll never have that problem.

[M42Technik]

if you run it until the reserve light comes on every time, you'll never have that problem.

Good thing mine doesn't work then!

[mattdk318i]

if you run it until the reserve light comes on every time, you'll never have that problem.

Thats me:grin:. Ive got it down to a science. But you have to know your car. Ive got to relearn that going to a M50

[jlevie]

An E30, due to age and fuel tank material, could easily have a sizeable collection of rust and sediment on the bottom of the tank. On the street that may not be much of a problem until you run the tank really low. Then the sloshing of the remaining gas can cause sediment to plug up the pump inlet screen and filter. With those plugged the car won't run well (if at all). The immediate fix is to pull the pump (or pumps on an early E30) and flush out the debris as well as replacing the fuel filter.

The long term fix is to drop the tank and at least clean the sediment out. Replacement or acid cleaning and sealing is the ultimate fix.

[cnardinola318is]

thanks, I'm going to try and pull the pump and clean it.
I am also ordering a new pump and filter to replace the old.

I normally run my car to empty then fill, I am bummed, hope I can do it.