Common Fuel System
Fuel tank rust and sediment
Symptoms
Fuel starvation, clogged filters, rough running, won't start. Brown gunk in the fuel filter.
Cause
Steel fuel tanks rust from the inside, especially if the car has sat for years with stale fuel. Water gets in through poor sealing or condensation. The rust flakes off and clogs everything downstream.
Fix
Drop the tank, inspect it.
If it's rusty, have it chemically cleaned and sealed (POR-15, Red Kote, etc.) or replace it.
Repro tanks are available but not cheap ($500+).
Fit an inline fuel filter and replace it regularly.
Flush the fuel lines.
Cost mentioned in fix
$500+
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