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Sticky Situation

vping

Yoda
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Does lead additive cause/help problems in gas tanks? The reason I ask this..... when I got the car there was about a gallon of gas in it. The tank was drained it via the fuel pump and the float bowls were cleaned out as they had about a 1/2" of rust dust in them. Tank that came with the car is new from moss about 7 years ago but car was never used in that time. My assumption is the rust is from the original tank.

The problem I am having is this. I started the car about a week ago which I had difficulty doing. For those following my progress the jet tubes were replaced. (one anyway) When I was changing them I noticed that the carbs had a gooey sticky gas like residual on them. I had cleaned them right after I got the car 3 months ago. I cleaned everything out and took her for a nice ride.

Fast forward to last night. She would not start.I was getting gas to the filter. but not to the bowls. As I removed the lines you could here air hissing out but no gas. The bowl covers were removed & has hardly any gas was in them, maybe a 1/4in. Took the bowls off, cleaned them out, reinstalled other jet.

What I noticed was that the bolws and carbs were sticky again.

Put everything back together again & she started right up & ran perfectly for about a 45 minute cruise.

My thoughts are the floats are also getting stuck preventing the bowls from filling up preventing a start up.

What is going on?

Even though there was only a gallon of old gas in there, was I stupid not to remove it and have it cleaned out?

Does lead additive prevent this sticky-ness?
 
The gooey mess you found in the carbs is old gas that has turned to varnish. Usually this is gas that has been in the carbs for a long time and not necessarily from the gas tank on initial start up. You must get ALL of this out of the carbs. Not saying that the fuel system should't be cleaned out to get rid of all the contamination in the system. Lead additive won't correct or cause this situation. In fact, I think lead additive is a waste of money, but this is only my opinion. PJ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Clean, clean clean, carbs, lines, filter, tank.
 
Carbs are spotless but that is the end of the line so I am just wasting my time cleaning these out every week. I think my next major to do starts at the tank, removing it and having it cleaned, boiled...whatever. I might even have it powdercoated.

Once I get this cleaned out, what is the best way to clean out the fuel lines other than replacement?

Lesson learned and I quote from The Autoist's list;
"
____ Drop gas tank & visually inspect for rust.
____ Remove gas sending unit & check for free operation of arm.
____ Have gas tank boiled/cleaned as necessary (I take mine to my local radiator
repair shop).
____ Install cleaned & newly painted gas tank."

I'll never take a short cut again!!!!!!!
 
While it is still damp with fuel blow the lines with air maybe 100 lbs pressure, hehe, take off the filter and throw it away first. Nice new filter for when tank goes back.

You know when tank is out you can peek inside through the sending unit hole, maybe it just needs emptied and swished out with some fresh fuel. In side might be just fine as it is only some 6 years old?
 
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