rootedtree

Fist let me thank the members of Yotatech.com! Your wealth of knowledge and willingness to help others is awesome......and has saved me a bundle on wasted labor hours and needlessly replacing parts! Thank You!

The vehicle: 1991 4runner, 3vze (198,973 miles), 5sp, 4wd, factory 31's"

The problem: So my kids were playing around in the garage (tsk, tsk) and somehow allowed a plastic pen cap to fall into the tank, through the filler neck.

A few days later, after I filled up I got on the freeway....at which point My truck began running like crap: sputtering, stumbling, and generally sluggish.

I began searching Yotatech and based on what I've read, I think that the cap has probably partially liquified or has become soft and pliable enough to be drawn against the inlet screen and is blocking the flow of fuel.

What does everyone think? Should I drop the tank and clean everything out and hope it hasn't damaged my fuel pump?

Thanks in advance.

tree

1987tanyota

yeah that sounds like the first place to start... escecially if its a pen cap...

hope your FP is ok man!

WFO

There is a drain on the tank. Maybe you'll get lucky and be able to fish it out... That is if its not stuck to the screen.

mt_goat

I doubt that the pen cap caused a problem, if that's really all that went in. (Sometimes kids will only admit to some of their bad deeds) Try putting a similar pen cap into a small container of gas and see if it dissolves or softens, floats or sinks.

The screen on a fuel pump pickup is pretty big, not easily clogged.

luvmy1stgenrunner

I don't know about 91 trucks, but on the 80's they made it extremely easy to get to the fuel pump, fold up back seat, lift carpet, unbolt panel in floor, access to top of fuel tank, there's the fuel pump, you don't have to drain the tank just to check out the situation. And yah, sometimes kids don't admit everything! Good Luck!

Squiddy

Here's my "how to get it apart" thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...nsight-131902/

rootedtree

Awesome, thanks Squiddy. That thread was very helpful. I now see what the pickup screen looks like, and know what I'm up against.
Looks like I'll be dropping the tank tonight.
I live in SoCal so hopefully the rust won't be an issue, keeping my fingers crossed.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

I would look to other problems. The pen cap is likely just a coincidence.

The fuel tank baffle would prohibit the pen cap from entering the fuel pump "bowl", and besides that, the sock on the end of the fuel pump is large enough the pen cap couldn't cover even 1/2 of it.

Crack your cold start injector line and see if you are getting enought fuel. Obviously a small dribble would be a big ol no. But if its spraying out like normal, its not the fuel pump.

mt_goat

If you have a 4runner you don't need to drop the tank, you have an easy access panel.

Squiddy

Welcome. I'd agree with Death Cougar re the likelyhood the pen cap ain't it. Of course one shudders to think at kids having access to your tank... (!)

Targetnut

I also think that a pen cap wouldn't be the cause.

I'd be concerned ,knowing kids, that you may not have gotten the straight scoop on what else may have been "fed" to your truck.

I'd suggest testing the fuel pressure and delivery volume, as well as taking a fuel sample.

abecedarian

maybe one of the kids fell in the tank.