18 replies to this topic

[r08rob]

since filling up with fuel from my local tesco, i filled up to the brim from empty, now my mini is running with a definate lack of power, it seems to start ok, and revs fine whilst on driveway but when driving it just lacks power and when giving it the beans, it starts to die, I have noticed that if i dip the clutch and blip the throttle it sometimes recovers and pulls a bit better. can anyone give me some advice on what could be the cause if it's not the tesco petrol that i have read can cause problems, I changed the coil and resistor, cleaned up the connectors and it did run smoother but the lack of power is still there. I also topped up with about a gallon of shells v power unleaded to try and give the fuel a boost. My mini is a L/93 1275 mayfair, standard except for a janspeed exhaust.

[Bungle]

is that injection or carb ?

[Kam]

Basic one, check and top up the oil in the dashpot cover

It might not be the fuel, just might be a general running problem thats occured at the same time after filling up

I'm not sure how you can test the fuel?

[Carlos W]

Fill it with another make of fuel and see if it improves! I think I get less mpg in my mondeo from supermarket fuel, but this may be psychological

[r08rob]

is that injection or carb ?

it's carb.
I put some oil in the dash pot but wasn't sure how much to put in, when I did it the first time it over filled and ran into the dashpot itself making the engine run really poorly, misfiring, so I took off the dashpot and cleaned out the inside, put the oil in the dashpot before reassembling and in ran fine again except for the lack of power. One thing I failed to mention was that some time ago I went down a big dip in the road which caused the mini to bottom out, thought the car was going to fall apart and the car started to die, I nursed it home and left it for a while and somehow it recovered, this was a few months ago though and the mini ran really well up until the tesco filling up. I've also checked the battery terminals and engine earth for tightness and rattled the wiring to provoke a response but it seems fine.

[Kam]

Silly one, if you know someone with another car open there fuel filler cap and have a sniff, then do the same on yours, if yours is off you'll be able to smell it

If you got a small plastic fuel carrier (jerry can type) get the minimum amount of fuel from another petrol station to have a sniff

Disclaimer: I've never done this myself so don't know what normal fuel smells like, also don't take in alot

[Ryan Hunt]

Many people have said to me that ASDA's petrol gives them poor results compared to other petrol station..

[r08rob]

Many people have said to me that ASDA's petrol gives them poor results compared to other petrol station..

talking to a mate from the MOD, he says that the supermarkets buy their fuel from them just as it reaches it's sell by date before it becomes useless.

[maggies_minder]

maybe because your tank was some empty, your fuel lines are clogged with cack.
i try and avoid supermarket fuel, theres a tescos in brum which is renound for putting diesel in their petrol storage, i think they've done it 3 times in the last 2years.

[Carlos W]

maybe because your tank was some empty, your fuel lines are clogged with cack.
i try and avoid supermarket fuel, theres a tescos in brum which is renound for putting diesel in their petrol storage, i think they've done it 3 times in the last 2years.

I bet that's an expensive bill if you end up fixing peoples damaged cars

[Frank the Tank]

I used to run my Scooby on Tesco SUL and it was always fine. I currently run my mini on Tesco UL and so far all is good.

Not sure about the M.O.D thing as 99% of our fuel is diesel and with the turn around of vehicles filling up I can't imagine fuel being left long enough.

[mab01uk]

Doubt fuel from Tescos would have been stored for long but I have had those symptoms when my Mini has been left unused over the winter months..............modern unleaded fuel goes off much quicker than leaded in the past. Even my lawnmower would not run properly on what came out, drain/syphon out old and put in new fuel and make sure the old stuff is out of the carb float chamber for easy starting.

Edited by mab01uk, 24 May 2011 - 07:51 AM.

[r08rob]

Doubt fuel from Tescos would have been stored for long but I have had those symptoms when my Mini has been left unused over the winter months..............modern unleaded fuel goes off much quicker than leaded in the past. Even my lawnmower would not run properly on what came out, drain/syphon out old and put in new fuel and make sure the old stuff is out of the carb float chamber for easy starting.

I'm going to check the fuel pump this morning, I have a new electronic pointless pump handy that i'll try and replace it with the old one. a fuel filter wouldn't be a bad idea either, failing that a carb kit is the next thing.
has anyone any info on the later coil pack that some people fit to the older mini's I saw some fitted at the mini action day at castle coombe last year.

[devilpaint]

i would drain/syphon the tank. then fill it with a gallon of new fuel from a different garage. if that clears the problem then you can add to old stuff a gallon at a time with good fuel, or if you earn enough , bin the bad stuff.
i would also change the filter at the same time.
hth

[r08rob]

i would drain/syphon the tank. then fill it with a gallon of new fuel from a different garage. if that clears the problem then you can add to old stuff a gallon at a time with good fuel, or if you earn enough , bin the bad stuff.
i would also change the filter at the same time.
hth

OK just looked at the fuel pump and it's mechanical, thought those old things went out with the earlier spridgets, so not bothering with that, I'm gonna cheat and get the garage to service it, the guys there are into their mini's so fingers crossed...