Help!

[nfpgasmask]

OK, after not getting much sleep last night, today I got up and went in the garage. I started up the VX, same rough idle, especially in gear. I went back in and moped in front of the PC for about an hour, and then my buddy called and said we should at least change the spark plugs. I said ok since I figure it won't hurt.

So, I got some plugs from Pep Boys and went back to the garage and changed all the plugs. Took less than and hour. That right hand screw in the back really pissed me off. Anyway, the plug change went smooth. My old plugs looked ok, not overly burnt or anything.

We unplugged the battery while we did this work as well. Once the plugs were back in and ready to go, I hooked up the battery and fired up the VX. Still, things were rough but the CE light had not come back on...

My buddy had to leave and I decided it was time to go get some gas, despite the fact that I didn't want to drive her at all in this condition. So I went in, cleaned up and had some lunch, then went back out and fired her up. To my surprise, the engine seemed to be running better. Fingers crossed. I back out of the garage, still OK, no CE light.

I rolled 3 blocks to the nearest gas station and still no CE light. Then I filled up the tank with PREMIUM gas @ $3.29 a gallon. It cost me $61.54 before the pump clicked off. This means I was HELLA low on gas. I have run her down to E a couple times before but never put $61.54 in, even when gas was like $3.59 a gallon for regular! Now, the thing is, my low feul lamp never came on. Since I have owned the VX I have never even seen it on. And for those of you wondering why I let the gas get so low in the first place, well, look above ($3.29 a gallon). I usually fill up in the 'burbs by work since it is about .25 - .35 cents cheaper. And I figured I had enough to get out there. Basically, I was just being lazy and cheap. That being said, this was:

THE FIRST TIME, AND THE LAST TIME

I will ever let my VX get this low on gas again. After the fill up, I drove around aimlessly a bit with no CE and the engine feeling "normal".

Now I am home and about to go back out and change the oil, which was my plan from the get go yesterday.

So, as for right now, I think things are normal again. I don't know if it was the gas level, bad gas, water in my tank or actually the spark plugs.

Your guess is as good as mine. Any extra pointers or tips welcome.

Hopefully I am good to go. I will report back tomorrow after a drive back and forth to work (about 15 each way).

Thanks everyone,

Bart

[Triathlete]

I've ran mine out of gas twice (don't ask). It never had any ill running problems. It ran...gas ran out...engine stopped runing! Put in gas and it fired right up and ran like a champ!
Also try tapping on your fuel rail. It may be clogged. Run some cleaner through it.

[nfpgasmask]

Well, I suppose it could have been the plugs. I honestly don't know, and I'm still not 100% sure all is well.

Would it be possible for me to have had some "bad" gas? I mean, I have never experienced anything like this in all of my cars I have ever had.

Bart

I've ran mine out of gas twice (don't ask). It never had any ill running problems. It ran...gas ran out...engine stopped runing! Put in gas and it fired right up and ran like a champ!
Also try tapping on your fuel rail. It may be clogged. Run some cleaner through it.

[Joe_Black]

It's very likey you could have had a little bit of water rolling around on the bottom of the tank since it's heavier than gas, and by letting your VX get so low it managed to get into the fuel line. Keep some 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol on hand to put in occasionally as that's the same stuff in "water remover", just much less expensive.

If it would have been the plugs you would have seen an immediate difference. Don't forget to note the date and mileage info in your maintenance log for the plug change!

[nfpgasmask]

Thanks Joe! Its funny, you should see my maintenace log. I made a special VehiCROSS binder and I keep it under my seat. I write down everything I do to my VX, and I mean EVERYTHING.

So yes, mileage, plug change, oil change, filter change, PCV Valve, all noted and then some.

And just another quick update, I just finished changing the oil and took her around the block again, things are looking good. I might go to get some dinner at Chilis (Its a chips & salsa and beer night) which is a ways out in the burbs so I may take the VX out on the highway shortly.

Thanks - Bart

It's very likey you could have had a little bit of water rolling around on the bottom of the tank since it's heavier than gas, and by letting your VX get so low it managed to get into the fuel line. Keep some 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol on hand to put in occasionally as that's the same stuff in "water remover", just much less expensive.

If it would have been the plugs you would have seen an immediate difference. Don't forget to note the date and mileage info in your maintenance log for the plug change!

[nfpgasmask]

Hey, what about this product called "HEET"??

It is supposed to clear up condensation in your gas tank. Anyone ever use it on their VX?

It sounds similar to your alcohol method, Joe.

Bart

It's very likey you could have had a little bit of water rolling around on the bottom of the tank since it's heavier than gas, and by letting your VX get so low it managed to get into the fuel line. Keep some 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol on hand to put in occasionally as that's the same stuff in "water remover", just much less expensive.

If it would have been the plugs you would have seen an immediate difference. Don't forget to note the date and mileage info in your maintenance log for the plug change!

[Joe_Black]

HEET is pretty much just methanol which does the same thing at a premium price. A lot of folk use it for making small (like less than a litre) batches of biodiesel and also for fueling small-scale pulsejet engines.

[nfpgasmask]

Premium price?? I just bought a jug for $1.19....

Bart

HEET is pretty much just methanol which does the same thing at a premium price. A lot of folk use it for making small (like less than a litre) batches of biodiesel and also for fueling small-scale pulsejet engines.

[zilik]

Since water is heavier than gas is it not rolling around on the bottom of the tank all of the time? Unless we have floating pickups in our tanks I don't think the volume of gas would make much difference.

Gary

It's very likey you could have had a little bit of water rolling around on the bottom of the tank since it's heavier than gas, and by letting your VX get so low it managed to get into the fuel line. Keep some 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol on hand to put in occasionally as that's the same stuff in "water remover", just much less expensive.

If it would have been the plugs you would have seen an immediate difference. Don't forget to note the date and mileage info in your maintenance log for the plug change!

[Joe_Black]

Since water is heavier than gas is it not rolling around on the bottom of the tank all of the time? Unless we have floating pickups in our tanks I don't think the volume of gas would make much difference.

Gary

The bottom of the tank isn't perfectly smooth and water will tend to accumulate in the low spots and stay there while a consistent level of fuel is providing compressive force on the liquid. When the tanks gets very low the fuel will tend to slosh around to the extent that these low areas are completely exposed to air and will be picked up and moved to the pick-up area of the tank more readily than when a greater volume of fuel is in the tank.

That's really an over-simplification of what happens, but although infrequent it still happens.

[nfpgasmask]

Yeah, I talked to my mom yesterday, she is STILL driving her '96 Trooper, and she said this exact thing has happened to her a couple times...

Bart

[vxDAKINECHICvx]

My VX had a similar problem about a month ago (running rough), but the CE light never came on. Come to find out the place where I got my gas a few days earlier was known for giving cars problems. ( I had no knowledge of this beforehand of course). The bf ran some sort of (lets call it 'gas ointment' -since Im too stupid to remember the name of it) in the gas tank, cleaned it out and haven't had anymore problems. So that may have been your problem. My 2 cents...not sure what its worth.