Low Fuel Problem: 1994 Pro DX

[mp94]

Do all 94 Pro DX have low fuel warning light? Just acquired the car a few weeks ago.

A few days ago while driving, all in a sudden car started jerking and weak in accelaration, black smoke coming out of exhaust also. Fuel gauge needle was slightly above empty mark, and no low fuel warning light.

That scared me and didn't know what's happening, fortunately I was close to home and managed to get the car home. Turned off the engine, and found soot in tail pipe, before it was quite clean.

Since fuel was low, I put in 3-gal of gas and re-started the engine, then surprisingly everything worked fine, no black smoke, nothing wrong. And it's been driving fine since then.

Now I am a little concerned about the fuel delivery system in this car. It just went crazy without low-fuel warning.

Anthing do I need to check for that scary black smoke?

Also I felt a single quick jerk twice when driving in 4th and 5th gears. Not sure what was that.

BTW, the car has manual transmission and 1.8L SOHC engine, 127k miles.

Thanks for comments.

[Ace]

it probably caught some of the crap thats accumulated on the bottom of the tank for the past 14 years. i wouldnt worry about it. just make sure to watch the gas gauge and maybe run some injector cleaner through it on top of the next full tank of gas.

[91SuperProtLX]

Yea, dont let it go low. I usually fill up at 1/2 tank. I dont like to let it go down too low. I like the Lucas fuel treatment, and Redline Injector Cleaner

[Turpro]

Haha. The title of this thread had me laughing. Was going to be a smartass and tell you to fill it lol. Seriously try filling it up and put a bottle of seafoam in there. Try not to let it go under 1/4 tank. You'll start picking up the crap as he stated.

[mp94]

Thanks for all the comments. I'll definitely not run the fuel low again. Will probably replace the fule filter sometime later. Considering the crap in fuel tank possibly being sucked up into the fuel line, the fuel filter might have taken a lot crap too.

[therieldeal]

every suggestion i would have given has already been covered, so you should be all set

[Skuce]

^^^ Well...besides dropping the tank and cleaning the sucker out

[MazdaNoob]

minor threadjack but related topic my project car has been sitting for over a year now with 1/4 tank of some undoubtedly stale gas . would it do any harm to power up the fuel pump direct with a battery, remove the fuel filter and let it pump itself out? ( harness and motor are out of the car atm )

[Ace]

minor threadjack but related topic my project car has been sitting for over a year now with 1/4 tank of some undoubtedly stale gas . would it do any harm to power up the fuel pump direct with a battery, remove the fuel filter and let it pump itself out? ( harness and motor are out of the car atm )

you would probably be better off taking off the tank so you dont clog the pump.

[MazdaNoob]

the tank was replaced about 3 yrs ago by PO so i'm not too worried about debris ... but that stale fuel with alot of condensation would not be fun to try and start / trouble shoot a "new" motor

[therieldeal]

i would drain it properly..

..or fill it with premium and a couple bottles of dry gas and go for it

...depends how lazy i'm feeling

[Turpro]

i would drain it properly..

..or fill it with premium and a couple bottles of dry gas and go for it

...depends how lazy i'm feeling