Fuel cell foam breaking up?

Guys - we have one car that we can't get running reliably. (GTRA) - It always starts fine, we've timed it at 13degrees, checked all the basics - swapped out ECU, fuel pump, filter - good plugs wires - but it wil go off song after maybe 1-4 laps...runs fine then just starts breaking up...one time we had a renter who stayed out there and it heated up to 235....but didn't boil over....just can't get it settled down....Anyone discover that their fuel cell is breaking up and clogging filters, lines or injectors? These cells have to have been sitting around for a long time...we have Texas cars - serial numbers in the 40's....david

Hmmm... I've never had a fuel cell in a car before, but did notice that my foam looks out of whack. I dont' know what it's supposed to look like though.... I did notice that when I ran the car a bit low on gas it would cut out on hard right hand turns.

Anyone have a shot of what the fuel cell foam should look like in the proper position?

Guys - we have one car that we can't get running reliably. (GTRA) - It always starts fine, we've timed it at 13degrees, checked all the basics - swapped out ECU, fuel pump, filter - good plugs wires - but it wil go off song after maybe 1-4 laps...runs fine then just starts breaking up...one time we had a renter who stayed out there and it heated up to 235....but didn't boil over....just can't get it settled down....Anyone discover that their fuel cell is breaking up and clogging filters, lines or injectors? These cells have to have been sitting around for a long time...we have Texas cars - serial numbers in the 40's....david

Are you getting any alarms on the dash? When you return to the paddock after a run, the dash will go into tell tale mode. It will show you the minimum fuel pressure for the outing. It should be easy to confirm or eleminate fuel that way. If the cell foam is breaking up, you should see foam in the filter.

Have you hooked up a code reader to it?

mine was doing the same as it turned out the spark plug boots where getting too hot and deteriorating and arching on the headers, as the ywhere too close. I do not think the foam would get past the screen on the pickup and it should not clog anything, but you can flush the tank with water and then disassemble it. If the foam broke down after time I think fuel safe would have info. on its shelf life.

Good comments guys...will check these out - yes, it was low on pressure...

We just fixed one of our WC cars with a similar problem..3-4 laps then a loss of power..It turns out the MAS Mass Airflow Sensor was very dirty....

Lots of rubber and dirt thrown up into the airfilter then the MAS got dirty..worth a quick look

James Redman
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Yup. Another good suggestion.

Man - you guys are good...thanks for the input - we WILL check that out immediately...on all our cars...also - we had a former Champ Car team mechanic drive one of our cars...he had fun...but saw we were struggling with one of the others...he just observed that the fuel pump should never be above the cell..making it a sucker...it should be on or below the level of the tank...making it a pusher...make sense??