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Re: My guess is fuel system . . . (archive)
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Posted by ljp on June 04, 2001 at 00:04:29:

In Reply to: Re: My guess is fuel system . . . posted by Peter S on June 03, 2001 at 19:58:50:

Like I said, my approach was not very scientific and didn't involve a pressure gauge. So no help there. My only idea is to check your injectors.

Otherwise, I just lathered-rinsed-repeated until the system cleaned out. Sometimes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

Lee

PS: Unlike tii injectors, 320 injectors aren't all that expensive. I just replaced them rather than trying to figure out why they worked at idle but not under load.


Hmm. Well, the car was sitting a couple of months before I got it. The fuel was completely drained out and new filter and several lines were replaced. After 214K miles it would be reasonable to have further problems but I'm not sure where to start. Where do you suggest I start first? How about back flushing the main fuel line from the engine side. Sounds like a pressure gauge and flow meter would be good for this but where do I attach it?
Peter S


A few years ago I bought a 320 that had been sitting for a while. Car drove fine for the first week or so, then started to bog down under load. Someone wiser than me suspected fuel, so we changed fuel filter and blew fuel lines clear. Car drove fine, then started to bog down again. More junk in the fuel system.

The un-scientific results: two fuel filters, blew lines clear three times and, finally, new fuel injectors (old ones had hard deposits in them).

I think it's just a matter of letting the fuel system flush it self out (with a little help).

Lee
323i


Recently developed an odd but serious lack of power. Feels like at 50% loss of power especially above about 3000rpm. Seems to be only affected during load (simply driving). Idles smooth, runs smooth, but no power. Flooring it seems to make it gasp for fuel as letting off actually helps. I don't think its ignition. I think its fuel - maybe pressure regulator. Fuel filter has about 150 miles on it as do several fuel lines. No pressure/vacuum in the tank noticed when removing the cap. Fuel is fresh though it was the same on the last tank. From a standing start everything seems fine then feeble power soon after. I bet it was max out at 60mph.
I'd like to attach a fuel pressure gauge but where and with what? How can I test the pressure regulator. What does it do anyway?

Peter S - new paint looks great, but now it won't go :(





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