[DeTomaso] Bad gas or bad ju-ju?

[Doug Braun]

I'd siphon out some of the gas, spill a small amount on a concrete surface
and light it with a match to see how well it burns.  Compare the burn with
some other gas from a different pump and check for a difference.  If the
difference is noticeable, you've got bad gas.  If your tank is only 1/2
full, you could also try adding a can of gas dryer and fill it all the way
with gas from another pump.

Doug Braun
blue 73L #5505

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
[mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]On Behalf Of cengles at cox.net
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 6:40 AM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Bad gas or bad ju-ju?



Dear Forum,

I have a sick Pantera and I suspect it is a tank of bad gas. Please advise.

On New Year's Day, it was clear, dry and cold. I pulled the Pantera off the
lift and it started right up and acted its usual slightly unhappy self at
the cold temp. It idled and ran normally for two miles when I noticed that I
was on a nearly empty tank. I stopped at the local gas station that I
frequent and filled up with about fifteen gallons. It started right up and
ran fine for five miles down the super slab, but when I got to my
destination and slowed down and was doing street speed stop&go and traffic
lights the engine was not running well.

It wanted to sputter and die below 2200 rpm. Above that it seemed to run
normally, until the rpms dropped below 2400 or so.

I originally suspected that the carburetor had gone wonky or the
oft-predicted welding curse on the MSD had finally occurred, but the more I
think about it, the more I suspect that I may have a tank of bad gasoline or
water in the gas (same thing?). I am not sure what the symptoms of bad
gasoline are.

The weekend is coming up and I will tackle the problem, but I was hoping for
experienced tips on where and how to proceed.

Warmest regards, Chuck Engles