Which is which Fuel line on the tank

C

CRO757

Member
Hi,

This must be such a simple question but I simply don't know which line is which on the fuel tank. There's one on its own (is this the main fuel line) then there's two joined together (are these the reserve and return fuel lines)?

Any help would be great, I am pretty sure my pump is faulty but I would like to check the lines too.

Also I could do with a manual if anyone has one for sale. I don't even know what the switch for the reserve tank looks like in the car.

I am completely new to rovers and I have started to restore a P6 V8. There are a number of problems with it which I am taking my time to get through. I have a P2 1937 but this was before the reserve tank days and I think I prefer it.

Thank you in advance. Ryan
 
Hi Ryan,

On our P5B the single pipe is the return line and the two together are main and reserve. The lower one is the main suction pipe and the reserve line is above that. They are both connected to the same downpipe and strainer but the reserve tube dips further into the tank. Everything is fitted on the top of the fuel tank.

If your connections are different you may not be the same !!
 
Hi,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I cannot see that this would change from model P5B to P6 so I will take this as fact.
Do you think it would be better if I just had one line going direct to the pump? This reserve tank thing just seems like a sales pitch.

Kind regards,
Ryan
 
CRO757 wrote,...
Thank you for your prompt reply. I cannot see that this would change from model P5B to P6 so I will take this as fact.
Do you think it would be better if I just had one line going direct to the pump? This reserve tank thing just seems like a sales pitch.
Click to expand...

Hi Ryan,

I am not familiar with the P5B in terms of fuel lines, but the layout that Bruce mentioned is not how it appears on the P6B.

The reserve and spill return are linked, whilst the main line is isolated. Both main and reserve lines meet at the fuel reserve tap, most often found behind the R/H cylinder head. A single line runs from the tap to the mechanical fuel pump.

Ron.
 
Hi, one thing you could check is to make sure the lever is one way or the other, if it's in the
half way position it can reduce the flow of fuel going through to the pump.

Colin
 
Hi Ryan,

A couple of (poor quality! :oops: ) pics of the sender unit:




First pic shows part of the internal arrangement. On the basis that any sediment in the tank falls to the bottom, there's only a filter on the reserve line.

Second pic shows the connections for the fuel lines, plus the two spade connectors. The reserve line is the upper connection, which is the one without the unshrouded earth spade between that connection and the shrouded terminal.

Hope that helps.

Re the manual, they come up on ebay from time to time.

Go for the factory Repair Operation Manual, rather than the Haynes. The Parts Catalogue is also worth its weight in gold!

Both are available on a single CDROM from the Rover P6 Club....for peanuts. http://www.p6club.com/content/regalia

Stan
 
Hi,

I just wanted to say thank you. I have been working on the car today and managed to get it running for about 1 minute. I am pretty sure the fuel pump needs an over all. I know you can get kits for the 19mm Non Return Valve but mine has the 23mm NRVs.

Does anyone know where I can get these?
I have started a new post to limit confusion. Thanks again for the information provided, on close inspection of the lines on my car all of them will need replacing.

Ryan
 
Also,

I cannot find the fuel change over switch in the car I think this could have been taken out, does anyone have a picture of it? And where it should be.

All the fun of restoration being had here.

Ryan
 
CRO757 said:
I cannot find the fuel change over switch in the car I think this could have been taken out,
Click to expand...

It's a cable, and it's on the opposite side of the centre console to the choke. Or at least, it should be......
 
Yep, I have that but the plastic has been broken off. Thank you. What are the operating options for it? I have ordered a workshop manual but it will take a while to arrive.
Thanks again, Ryan
 
Just an update.

Had a few problems with the fuel system. It turns out that the reserve tank selector is not working. I've taken the tank off and residue of fuel that had been left in the tank had congealed like syrup and blocked the line.

It has taken quite a while to clear this, but at least now I should be able to get fuel to the engine. The carbs are the next to clean and then we'll see how she runs.

I'm not expecting this to be the main fault as I will probably find out why it was laid up in the first place.

I'm intending to bypass the tank selector and have the returned fuel in one line and feed out of the other. Although I realise that by doing this there will always be a couple of litres that will not get taken by the engine. It just seems less problematic.


Again thank you
 
If you do use one for a return, it will need a restrictor of some sort to give some pressure to feed the carbs.
 
Hi, There's already a restrictor in the line, the return line fitting that goes on the carb
has a smaller hole in it. So as long as that fitting is used there shouldn't be a problem.

Colin
 
Hi not sure if I'm in the correct place just bought a 1972 Rover P6 I have changed the mechanical fuel pump to an electronic device but now can't pull the fuel from the tank also I'm not sure if the tank unit is installed the right way round is it possible to get the pipes mixed up with initially any help will be greatly appreciated
 
You may have inadvertently connected to the reserve feed line, in which case you need to have the reserve tap open to allow fuel to flow.
 
kiwiP6rover said:
Hi not sure if I'm in the correct place just bought a 1972 Rover P6 I have changed the mechanical fuel pump to an electronic device but now can't pull the fuel from the tank also I'm not sure if the tank unit is installed the right way round is it possible to get the pipes mixed up with initially any help will be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...

Hello KiwiP6rover.
I had the same problem regarding the draw of fuel, make sure the tank is clean and there's no gunk.
I fitted a £4 hand priming pump (similar to ones fitted to diesel cars/vans). Hand prime the pump until the pre pump filter is full with fuel. Now the pump will be able to draw fuel all the way from the system.

Also where have you taken the feed for the pump from? note that feed to the coil will drop to 6v when ignition is on. On my P6 there is an ignition feed that goes to the alternator mine goes to a red box situated under the passenger glove box near the passenger foot well and door. If you put a volt meter on here the feed only comes on when the ignition is on and it does not fluctuate voltage.

Hope this helps.

I will be honest I wish i had replaced the mechanical pump instead of going electrical.

Ryan
 
In addition.
I used a new fuel line and I have not used the reserve fuel selection. So my fuel return goes to the original main supply and my main supply is now connected to where the reserve tank and return pipe was fitted.

I am yet to run the car for more than 20 minutes as there's more to do on the car.

If like my car, you will notice the fuel return pipe (thinner pipe) connects on to the side of the reserve pipe. I have cut an blocked the reserve tank line so that this is now only a fuel return line. As I say I have switched these lines over so the main feed comes out of the very bottom of the tank and the return goes slightly higher where the main feed was originally. This way I use every bit of fuel if required. I don't think this matters too much but if you don't switch them over and don't have a return tank option there will always be a litre or 2 in the tank.

I hope this makes sense.
 
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