We follow independent Jaguar specialist Ken Jenkins faultfinding a fuelling issue on an E-type Series 1
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY ROB HAWKINS
WE ALWAYS conduct a fuel flow rate test on a full service,” explains Ken Jenkins when we discuss what needs to be checked on the E-type Series 1 fixedhead coupe seen here in his workshop. It’s a simple means of making sure sufficient fuel is supplied to the carburettors to avoid the risk of it running lean and potentially causing damage to the engine.
However, as the following steps reveal, if a problem is identified, it can be timeconsuming to find the cause, but provides a good opportunity to ensure all the fuel lines and their filters are clean. And with the threat of old petrol congealing or leaving deposits, perhaps this is worth including in routine maintenance.
We admit that we were a little stumped at times when we were trying to solve the problem of a low fuel flow rate on this E-type, which highlights the fact that such dilemmas are sometimes not so straightforward to fix. In the end, we resolved the problem with a new fuel pump, suspecting it was starting to fail, so not feeding sufficient fuel through to the engine bay from the boot.
A straightforward starting point for assessing the fuelling is to replace the fuel filter in the engine bay. Mechanic Dan at Ken Jenkins unscrews the base of it and carefully lifts the glass bowl out There’s a seal left on the underside of the fuel filter housing, which needs replacing. Plus, the seal from the old fuel filter has fallen off and remains stuck to the underside of the housing Dan discards the old fuel filter, sprays brake cleaner inside the glass bowl and wipes it clean, then refits it with a new fuel filter and seal. He tightens the nut on the base to ensure a leak-free fitment Ken Jenkins always measures the flow rate of fuel during a full service, so Dan detaches the fuel hose at the carburettors and positions it inside a measuring jug. He checks the battery’s voltage is sufficient The E-type’s ignition is switched on and we hear the electric fuel pump ticking over. After one minute, we look at the measuring jug and see there’s roughly one litre of fuel. It should be nearer to two litres Suspecting there’s a partial blockage in the fuel supply, Dan moves to the rear of the E-type and undoes the 9/16in bolt for the tank drain on the base of the sediment trap. He drains all the fuel from the tank Next,
