Fuel problem?

[Toolman Tom]

In the past six months my reserve has been kicking in very early.  Sometimes at 30 miles, sometimes 70 miles and varies.  My tech at the dealership says it could be caused by ethanol in the gas.  I've already changed the petcock.  Anyone had the same problem?  It would help to know where you stand on fuel even though the odometer helps.  Tom

[John U.]

How much fuel is she taking when you fill it up? In other words, are you using a lot of gas or are you starving for fuel and needing to go on reserve with plenty of fuel still in the tank?
Did you replace the petcock? Did anything change?
The problem could be a crack in the vacume line that runs to the petcock, causing the petcock not to open fully.
If you have a new petcock it's unlikely to be a vacume leak in the diaphragm.

[hubcapsc]

Did you change the screen around the feeder tube? If it was mostly clogged above the
regular/reserve separator it might act like what you're seeing...

Most everybody has to live with ethanol these days...

-Mike

[Patrick]

The guys have made excellent points.. Are you really on 'reserve' at 30Miles??  it sure seems like you have a petcock problem, anything from vacuum line to diaphram to screen.. Another thought,,Have you had the fuel tank off recently?? It isn't a matter of a kinked vent line is it??