hello fellow enthusiastes ..

i have a '88 RAM350 "ramwagon" 5.2L

seems when it gets to about half tank of gas it starts to gasp, lurchs and sputter till engine dies ...

wait one minute and it cranks then contunies for some time before doing the same ...

if its a full tank it will go till about half before it starts to do it all over agin so i jusy keep filling just before half tank and it runs ok ..

but id like to be able to run a whole tank ...

any ideas ..

thanks james

 

anybody any ideas ???

 

I had a 87 Dodge van with a 5.2l with a similar problem. It would start great, have plenty of power on take-off, but if the tank was not full enough, the engine would not get enough gas and stall. I tried replacing the fuel pump, and it did the exact same thing. It was the fuel filter. These types of filters have a retirn line coming from them, running back to the fuel tank. A small hole limits the gas that goes back, and lets the rest go to the carb. The new filter I had just put on had too large a hole, so when I took off the carb was full, but as I got
going 55-60, it would use too much gas and start stalling the engine. All i had to do was limit the return line even more. I don't know if this is the case here, but you can try clamping off the return line and seeing if it helps any. It could also be a weak fuel pump.

 

If the fuel filter doesn't do the trick like BlueVanACD2005 suggests to replace
plus you have already replaced the pump, your problem *may* be a worn
cam lob that drives the pump.

I had that problem with a very high mileage 5.2.. I fixed the problem
with a electric in-line pump.

I still say the 5.2 was a real work horse! Not a hot rod engine, just plain
well built. I doubt the 4.7 that took its place will last like the 5.2 did.

 

thank you for the replys i have bought a new fuel filter ill try it this weekend ..

then ill try the fuel pump (havent replaced it yet ) as sugested by Radman ..

if the filter doesnt fix it ...

this 5.2L has 98K miles on it ...

thanks again ....

could the O2 sensor have anything to do with this ??