What is this?
 

I have 1966 Mustang coupe, 200 CID, she had been sitting for 6 months. I had the carb rebuilt, and put in a new fuel pump and an in-line fuel filter. She drove like a dream for about 100 miles, then she started to lose power. If I pull over and let her sit for a minute, then she will go for a mile or two before losing power again.

I decided to replace the fuel filter with one of those glass ones and when I removed the old in-line filter, a bunch (about 1/2 cup) of very dark red fluid poured out of the fuel line. I put the fuel line into a bucket and started the car. I got about 4 cups of this nasty looking stuff, then clean gas started flowing. The red stuff looks like automatic transmission fluid. Wierd.

Now the fuel will run clear for anywhere from 20 to 100 miles then a few cups of the red stuff come out. I have to clean the filter so I can continue on my way.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be and/or how to fix it?

Thanks!

Kalyn

Have the gas tank cleaned and flush the fuel line throughly

Yeah, I kinda figured that was needed. But I will most likely have to wait until after christmas before I can afford to get that done.

Any idea's as to what this is? My first thought was rust, but it is not flakes. Whatever it is, it does not mix with gas and appears to be some kind of liquid.

I am just wondering is this from bad gas? old gas? Rust? or did someone pour something into my tank?

I know it doesn't really matter what it is, but I hate unanswered questions and want to know.

top the tank, drain it, clean it out good, and flush the fuel lines ASAP!!!

You guys are right. I am taking her into the shop tomorrow and having a new tank and new gas lines installed.

I would guess that it's just old gas. The nine-year-old gas I drained out of my tank was red and smelled like turpentine.

Its most likely water ... it lays in the bottom of the tank (heavier than gas) and picks up the corrosion on the bottom of the tank. It doesn't have to have flakes.
You probably have a bunch of it in there ... best to have it professionally flushed ... if its really corroded they can get rid of the corrosion and seal it.

New tank
 

A new re-pop tank is only about $100. Seems to me like a new tank and fuel line is the way to go. An easy installation on the '66 Mustang as I recall.

Rev

I agree with Rev. For the money, you'd be better off just replacing the tank.

Rev-
Where've you been? I haven't seen you in quite a while, and was getting concerned! I hope all is well!

Yeah. That brings back a real pleasant memory. A buddy and I built a street rod out of a '64 Ranchero a few years back, and I was the lucky dog that got to remove the fuel tank so that we could install our fuel cell. This thing hadn't been fired in 10 years, and had more than a 1/4 tank of "stuff" in it. I didn't realize how much was in it until I got it loose from the straps, and was balancing it between a jack stand and my left arm. Well, my left arm lost the balancing battle with the jack stand, and the tank dumped several gallons of what can best be described as the worst, stinkiest, foulest turpentine you've ever seen, ALL over me.

Two 15 minute showers later, I still stunk, and the clothes I was wearing probably had to be burned. Up until that point, I thought gear oil was the worst, hard-to-get-rid-of smell there was, but this 10 year old fuel beat it hands down.

The point I'm getting to is that if it was old gas that was coming out, you'd definitely smell it.

Man, that really sucked. I can still smell it when I think about it.

Take care,
~Chris

Replace tank, flush lines and clean out carb.

Fairly simple repair and the tanks are cheap too.