Leaky carb....

[Thumper]

I had a bit of a scare yesterday. As I parked in front of the garage, the car stood on a slant, nose higher that the back. Almost immediately I smelled petrol. Upon inspection I was greeted with fuel dripping on the now hot engine!! I rolled the car back into the street where it is level and the leak disappeared. I tried it again to be sure.

It leaks when the car is at an angle. Not from the fuel line, it appears from the linkages etc. I have noticed that the idling creeps up in traffic when the car is standing at an angle. Relevant? I have just fitted new gaskets etc a month ago. I am not driving it like that if I can help it. Is the carb shot? Did I screw up something while rebuilding it? Otherwise the car ran well. An annoying flat spot, and won't idle when cold the only complaint. Exhaust burns white on the a freeway run. Suggestions?

[calooker]

Sounds to me like you have a float level issue and a possible worn out carb as well as a badly adjusted choke. If the float level is wrong it will cause damage to your motor, if you have fuel running past the shaft and out the side of the carb and also into the motor and the shaft has a wobble, it is worn, this can be re-bushed but it will be better to get a new carb in the long run. The choke\carb has markings on it that need to be lined up to get a ballpark setting for of the choke for cold starting and fast idle. It sounds to me like you are looking at a tired worn out carb that needs replacing. I'm sure that your consumption is also high, and battles to start after standing for a couple of minutes when hot. Check your oil level and take a sniff of the dipstick if it smells remotely like fuel or your oil level has risen and the motor has picked up more oil leaks recently you have a serious problem.

[Tony Z]

With the nose of the car in the air, this would cause the fuel from the gas tank and fuel line to possibly have more pressure to the fuel pump, but if the engine is not running, this is irrelevent; the fuel pump is not pumping fuel.

The only other possibility is that the angle of the car is forcing the fuel in the carburator's bowl to be seeping out through it's seams, or the float level adjustment is not set correctly. To rule this out, I'd remove the carb that's leaking (I don't know if you have a single or dual carb setup) and check the float valve and float, and the float adjustment. The float itself should be empty (shake it and listen for gas inside it), and check the float needle to verify it is sealing and closing good against it's seat. If all that checks out to be correct, verify the float adjustment to make sure the float is not set too high, allowing too much gas to be in the bowl before the float valve closes.

If this syndrome is anything like the one on my daughters car, it will drain the whole fuel tank down the carb if it has the chance!!

Hers is a 75 with a carb and an elec fuel pump up under the fuel tank.

If she puts more than $10 in the tank or parks on a little hill the gas will drizzle (not drip) down the carb throat from the overflow and land on the throttle plate and look like it is drippin off the linkage.

I have rebuilt the carb many times and used several different needle valves that appear and test to be good. Put several washers under it and if you tip the carb just a little it drains down the throat. Take the air cleaner off and watch it!!

"I have rebuilt the carb many times and used several different needle valves that appear and test to be good. Put several washers under it and if you tip the carb just a little it drains down the throat. Take the air cleaner off and watch it!!"

Yikes! Did you try a new carb? Or check the float adjustment? You may need to bend the tab slightly to allow the float valve to close sooner. I've never seen where a float valve would allow the tank to drain itself dry. Very dangerous indeed.

[vader]

Maybe a match would help find the source of the leak....

[Thumper]

Thanks for the help Vader.... Velly funny. The carb is coming out and I am setting the float level. However, the carb is - 34 years old. maybe it needs a break. The consumption is not bad, the oil is clean. I will let you know what happens....

[Tony Z]

I fyou had let me know earlier, I could have given you my old 31PICT3 carb.

[Thumper]

Damn. I could have used it too. Thanks anyway.

[Tony Z]

I still got my 36DCD7 and Empi manifold lying in the garage as well. If you need anything when I get back, let me know, I am sure I can help you

[Thumper]

Thanks pal. Will do. Coming back soon?

[Tony Z]

no idea. Hoping for May, but who knows....