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[holtender]

I bought a 2.5 Estate a couple of months back for the wife to use for her work and a few times she's let the fuel drop below where there is 35 miles left. 

When this happens the car runs like a dog, but if you put more fuel in it runs normally after a couple of miles.

Any ideas?

 My wife says it's the fuel filter, please don't tell me she is right or I'll never hear the last of it!

[Neil (Cardiff)]

I'm afraid to say that it might well be the problem! I've seen a few cars where muck is dragged up from fuel tank when its low leading to all sorts of problems (including blocked filters).

I know this may not be very popular but personally I would just keep half a tank of petrol in it!

[Seth]

I'd be looking at the in-tank pump/swirl-chamber ......
Probably a build-up of crud in the chamber-base/pump intake screen.

[Selseybill]

Easy one this,don't let the fuel get that low.Probably sucking up the crud in the tank.

[Rockhampton]

I'm afraid to say that it might well be the problem! I've seen a few cars where muck is dragged up from fuel tank when its low leading to all sorts of problems (including blocked filters).

I know this may not be very popular but personally I would just keep half a tank of petrol in it!

I agree - my wife's last car started doing the same, as she would let it always get near empty... It's always best to keep at least 1/4 full to stop the cr*p getting sucked in 

[I_want_an_Omega]

I agree, as I know from personal experience that my '96 Elite ran as sweet as anything until it actually ran out. Mind you, it was almost new so that holds up with the crud in the tank theory too.

[Marks DTM Calib]

A blocked fuel filter should pay no part in such symptoms as the pump is pre the filter and mounted in a swirl pot.

Plus, if it was the filter it would work like a rev limiter even on a full tank.

Possibles.....thinking out loud

Fuel pump feed pipe in the tank detached.

Issue with fuel pump cover plate (rusted etc, remove inspection cover in the boot to see)

[Andy B]

I've asked this before . All this crap that we're supposed to get in a fuel tank .... has anyone seen any lately?  :-/ When tanks were steel, you got a tank full of rusty $h1te, I've had it in the past in cars years ago. if your tank is  non-rusting plastic ....... where's all the sh1te come from?  :-?  :-?  :-?

[Marks DTM Calib]

I've asked this before . All this crap that we're supposed to get in a fuel tank .... has anyone seen any lately?  :-/ When tanks were steel, you got a tank full of rusty $h1te, I've had it in the past in cars years ago. if your tank is  non-rusting plastic ....... where's all the sh1te come from?  :-?  :-?  :-?

I suspect most of it comes from the suppliers these days.

When your filter is blocked....YOU WILL KNOW IT

[tunnie]

I've asked this before . All this crap that we're supposed to get in a fuel tank .... has anyone seen any lately?  :-/ When tanks were steel, you got a tank full of rusty $h1te, I've had it in the past in cars years ago. if your tank is  non-rusting plastic ....... where's all the sh1te come from?  :-?  :-?  :-?

Have to agree......  Err yes agree 

When we dropped the fuel tank on project tractor, which had 130K(?) ish miles, the petrol tank looked perfectly clean inside, it was covered in crap on the outside on top. But inside totally clean

[Andy B]

.....

Have to agree......  Err yes agree 

 .......

   Steady ...... we don't want to make a habit of it ...   

[holtender]

First, it is good to know the wife cannot after all diagnose car faults! But getting her to not run her tank so low will mean changing a habit of a lifetime, she does it with mine and her fathers car also!!

I'll check the fuel pump.

I put a couple of gallons of diesel into my Astra petrol estate a few years ago, fortunately I didn't start it up. But had to drop the tank and empty the contents and perfectly clean fuel came out.