The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Burping idle 216 & 235

I 'm pretty sure I know the problem it's my valves. But I messed up big time with putting too much Sea Foam in the carb. Of course it smoked like a chainsmoker in a cage of bobcats. White smoke, then diesel looking smoke then died. for good measure I poured the rest of the can into 7 gallons of gas. Got it started still not right so as long as the old trucks were on gasoline drugs put about a 1/4 cup of de ice in it still not well went for broke and put octane booster and some Marvel etc. Hey, maybe i'm a warlock mixing up a brew. Took two times of draining tank and sloshing out then clean. Put high test in and after 1 1/2 hours of fast idle I got it. Running as much of the high test out then refill with white gas. Oh buy the way the mix of solvents and the other additives looked like baby poo. Here is the question? why does it still have a valve burp about every 40 seconds? Every valve was burping initially but know only one. Valves adjusted correctly, I know the head probably looks like black fur, valves have 31,000 on them. Should I just keep running it or not worry and slowly get it up to 45 or 50 mph. Doc

Every time I've used seafoam I deliberately kill the engine with the last 3rd of the can. I let it sit ~15min and fire it up and immediately go for a spirited drive. Never had a problem.

"Drive it like you stole it!" Most of these old engines don't get enough high RPM full throttle time to keep the combustion chambers and valve seats cleaned up and the valve stems from getting sticky. I'd suggest giving it a heavy dose of Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas tank, or some other type of top cylinder lube, and take a long trip at highway speed.
Jerry

Is it a good idea to use Marvel periodically? Ive been running a can of seafoam about every 3rd tank of gas. And I've been putting the gas pedal down too! Trying not to treat it like a complete baby.

Marvel is a "Top cylinder lubricant" that claims to keep the valve guides lubricated, reduce carbon deposits, regrow hair on bald guys, turn 98 pound weaklings into Charles Atlas, and make a 216 run like a 261. As always, "Your Mileage May Vary". I take all the claims of "Moose Juice" manufacturers with a healthy grain of salt!
Jerry