Fuel Tank baffles. Can they come loose?

[General Geoff]

I mentioned the problem I was having with the car sputtering at WOT on a low tank (likely due to the fuel sloshing around so much and introducing air pockets into the lines) to a friend, and he suggested that the baffles inside the tank might have broken somehow. Is there any merit to this potential diagnosis? I don't know how the baffles inside these tanks are constructed. I can tell you that on 3/4 to a 1/2 tank, if I nudge the car forward and then hit the brake to make the car stop immediately, I can hear and feel the fuel sloshing around in the tank.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Is the sputter present in a higher gear where the powere is less likely to move the fuel.

It is unlikely that the plastic baffle came loose inside.

 

[General Geoff]

the sputter only happens under WOT in lower gears at higher RPMs. No sputtering when going WOT on the highway in, say, fifth gear to go from 70 to 85. And it only happens when I have less than 1/4 tank.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Higher RPM only? I'm guessing the fuel filter may be the culprit... and/or the pump.

 

[General Geoff]

the filter and pump are new.

 

[strictlysho]

i have this exact same problem. and a friend also suggested baffles to me also. my filter and 255lph pump are new. so i talked to another friend of mine with a fox body mustang has the same problem but only when he turns left and said that he pulled his pump out and found that the floater ball in the pump thats supposed to release the air bubble that happens when the fuel slooshes around gets stuck so it cant burp the air out. cause he said he got the pump off ebay which is where i got mine also. i havent had a chance to drop my tank yet to check mine. just my 2 cents. hope it helps

 

[kevinspann]

A 255lph? Isn't an aftermarket regulator needed for one of those?

 

[jimtash]

The baffles are stout inside the tank. If they came loose, you'd hear them rattling around especially when close to empty.

The Delphi pump at Rockauto is actually a repackaged Walbro 526 pump if anyone is in the market.

 

[luigisho]

i have this exact same problem. and a friend also suggested baffles to me also. my filter and 255lph pump are new.

The flow rate on that pump is too high for the stock regulator. Most of us use a max 155lph pump and the Walbro in the post above flows 109. I have seen 190lph in a car or two but I think that also may be too high. What was stock? Maybe 110 or 120lph?

 

[strictlysho]

Just to clarify i do have shonuts fpr just to let everyone know.

 

[jimtash]

According to this thread, the 526 flows 140lph and is a stock replacement.

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=113683