Fuel Problems

O

Owen1971P6B

New Member
I am new to owning the Rover P6 and have always wanted one for ages, so when I found a 1971 P6B in the part exchange section of a local garage for £425 - I decided to finally buy one.

I knew the engine had a few problems - which turned out to be one of the head gaskets - but on taking the engine to bits I found that a few other things needed doing - so decided a complete top end rebuild was needed. This is now done and the car is ready to be started. Apart from a small amount of welding that needed doing - all of the outer panels are in excellent condition. The only problem now is that I can seem to get the fuel pump to pick up any fuel. There is new, clean fuel in the fuel tank, and the pipe is not blocked. The pump works because I have tested it off the engine - but it still fails to pick up any fuel.

I have checked the engine by filling the carbs with some clean fuel - and it splutters a bit, but still doesn't start. There is a good strong spark and good compression - so it is definitely a fuel problem. No fuel comes out of the union with the hose for the carbs when the engine is turned over. Does the fuel pump need priming somehow? The workshop and haynes manuals haven't been too helpful about this!
 
Add more petrol and or try switching it to reserve

I had a problem with my car failing to start, intermittently, which I cured by servicing the fuel pump - a worn none return valve / weak diaphram
 
Also check the state of the fuel pipe from the tank - especially where it goes through the "floor" under the tank to run under the car. The pipe often corrodes there - all you need is a pinprick hole there and air will be drawn through.
 
I had fuel problems with my V8. Fitting a facet electric pump seems to have cured it has cured it, that may be the answer for you.

Dave.
 
It turned out there was a kink in the plastic fuel line!! After sorting that out - fuel was reaching the carbs on a few turns of the engine. After a quick adjustment of the ignition timing the engine started with no problems at all!
 
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