Stutter/Hesitation= Bad Gas?

uxler

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Bought a 97 mark viii a couple weeks ago and been driving it daily with no problems. Today on my way home from work I stopped to get gas as I was running below E with less than a gallon of gas in the tank. I put $20 in the tank and pulled off. All of a sudden, my car is seriously stuttering when I try to accelerate, like its about to run out of gas. 20 miles down the road when i got home it was still doing the same thing and right before i was about to shut the car off the check engine light came on. It could just be coincidence but im thinking maybe i got some bad gas...Immmediately went out and bought some seafoam and added to the gas in hope that it will get rid of any water that may have been in the fuel I just bought. Also, thinking its possible that I clogged an injector since I was running so low on fuel and if so the seafoam should take care of that too. what do you guys think?? Bad fuel or something else???
 
The first question is, why would you let the fuel level get that low? That's when you start burning up fuel pumps. They are cooled by the fuel around them.

Now, if it started bucking right after you got gast, there is a good chance you got bad gas. Try a can of "Heet" in the fuel tank. It could be that if you ran the fuel tank that low, when you added fuel to it you stirred up some sediment from the bottom of the tank and started sucking it through your fuel filter.
 
The CEL isnt flashing, its on solid. Will the seafoam accomplish the same thing as the Heet? If not, id think i should probably wait until I refuel to add the a new product right?
 
How far can you go when the "low fuel level" comes on? how many gallons are left?
 
Ideally, you should get gas before the light comes on.
But once that light comes on, you should immediately get gas. As mentioned, the fuel functions to also keep the electric fuel pump cool. Running low on gas leads to premature pump failure.

Changing the fuel pump is a huge P.I.T.A!

I think the light comes on at about 2 1/2 gal.- but I'm guessing.
 
No if it was an ignition misfire issue the CEL would be flashing. Get the codes checked to see what's up.
 
i have a code scanner that i used on my 93 mark viii. can i use the same one for the 97?
 

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