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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 | I went to visit my friend today,to schedule a load time for a dump run. Engine ran good on the way to his place,but started sputtering after driving about a mile. A mile later,it was acting like it was starved for gas,but would only try to run with the choke almost full-closed. The engine was warm to the touch,but certainly not hot enough to cause vapor-lock. It ran great the day before,on a longer non-stop trip! I had a 1/2-tank of 89 octane ethanol in it since it was last run in November,but added another 6 gallons of the same a couple of days ago. This evening,i added a bottle of "Heet",in case of condensation in the tank. Any ideas?? It's parked in a bad neighborhood,'cause DUMMY ME didn't pack something simple like a tool set! I'm already kicking myself! but,go ahead!
Last edited by wetwilly5757; 07/29/2014 2:58 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | plugged fuel filter? junk in the carb inlet? fuel pump giving out? get your tools and get on back - pop the carb top and see if the bowl is full, disconnect the line at the carb and put it in a can, start it for a minute and see how good it's moving fuel
Bill | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,189 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,189 | A vacuum line could have come loose leaning out the fuel mixture. Check in areas you have worked around recently to see if you knocked a hose loose. Does this truck have vacuum 2-speed??? Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 | Thanks,Bill! I got my tools lined-up.and those are the spots I'll be checking out! As always,GOOD advice!! Yes,Mike,it has a vac. 2-speed,and I just replaced both "pumpkin" hoses. I fixed a vacuum leak on one yesterday,that was hissing like a snake,but can't keep the truck idling enough to check for leaks today. Good possibility! When I disconnected the vac. advance hose,it didn't make a bit of difference,either! Shouldn't there be suction if you put your finger on the end leading to the carb. base?? Doesn't the idle increase when it's dis-connected,(normally)? If so,what would cause a blockage there? Vacuum leak somewhere else??
Last edited by wetwilly5757; 07/29/2014 5:59 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,320 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,320 | If you are running a Rochester carb there will not be any vacuum to the vacuum advance at an idle.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 215 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2014 Posts: 215 | What did you mean by 89 octane ethanol? Regular pump gas at 10% ethanol, or 85% ethanol (you are in corn country)? Too much ethanol will cause problems. Years ago some stations had more than the regular 10% ethanol and customers would have problems with engines vapor-locking. The EPA has a standard field test for monitoring alcohol levels in gasoline. Fuel injection and the higher pressure fuel pumps did not suffer from it, just low pressure standard pumps. And now the EPA is pushing 15% ethanol!
Alcohol attracts water. I believe HEET is mostly methanol alcohol. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 285 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 285 | I had a car many years ago that exhibited almost exactly that behavior: you could get it to run (barely) by choking the crap out of it, but putting any load on it would kill it. Turned out to be a bad condenser in the distributor. Replaced that and it was fine. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,248 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,248 | Probably sucked up some varnish into the carb or loosened some that was already in it....
John | | |
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