How was fuel delivered to the Ford Model T's engine?

Fuel was delivered to the Ford Model T’s engine by gravity feed.

The Model T’s fuel tank was mounted beneath the front seat for most of its production, and gasoline flowed downhill to the carburetor without a mechanical fuel pump. The carburetor still mixed fuel with air; gravity feed describes how fuel reached it, while the carburetor describes how the mixture was prepared for combustion.

This simple arrangement reduced cost, weight, and mechanical complexity. It suited Ford’s goal of producing a dependable car with few parts to maintain. The system did have a weakness: when the tank was nearly empty, the car could struggle on steep uphill grades because the carburetor was higher than the remaining fuel. Drivers sometimes climbed such hills in reverse, placing the tank’s fuel level more favorably.

In 1926, Ford moved the fuel tank forward and upward under the cowl on most models, improving the system’s ability to feed the carburetor. Aftermarket fuel pumps were also available, but a pump was not part of the original standard fuel-delivery system.