by softesttouch Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:16 amhey, while i am at it. does anyone experience a problem with idling? seems like it runs smoothly when i am cruising down the road but when i am in slow traffic or stopped, it seems to 'load up' like it is choking. i always thought that it was a matter of insufficient airflow to the carb, since the engine sits in a constricted air space. once again, through 3 vans (65/66 chev/gmc), 10+ years, and at least 200,000 miles, i just lived with it because i thought it was just "the nature of 'the beast'". how common is this problem, and how do you smart guys remedy it? thanks from the new kid in town.
3 posters
IDLE ISSUES
softesttouch- Number of posts : 64
Location : montrose,colorado
Registration date : 2010-10-22
Guest- Guest
i had flat rusty shale bits in my tank that would only catch the pick up tube when at an idle or stopped... does it every completely die at an idle? if you didn't keep it alive with your foot?
softesttouch- Number of posts : 64
Location : montrose,colorado
Registration date : 2010-10-22
hmmmmmm--you know it has been so long, i can't really remember, and am only now getting back into the old van game after a nearly 20 year hiatus. i think what happened is i just got so used to keeping it in play with my foot at every stop light, etc. when i get this one running again, i will be better able to answer your questions. thanks for the offer.
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
You say you also have gas smell every time you turn it off.
I think your carb float is either set too high or its sinking.
Rough Idle becsause the carb is floading over. Gas smell because the carb is flooding over when turnrd off and gasoline is boiling in the intake manifold.
I bet your oil is dirty black and feels thin because its gasoline saturated. Your fuel mialage is probobly crap too.
M1D.
I think your carb float is either set too high or its sinking.
Rough Idle becsause the carb is floading over. Gas smell because the carb is flooding over when turnrd off and gasoline is boiling in the intake manifold.
I bet your oil is dirty black and feels thin because its gasoline saturated. Your fuel mialage is probobly crap too.
M1D.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12245
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Thats what you want to look for 1st,,,,,,is the gas leaking on the outside or inside while it is idling,,,,,,or if the exhaust is black or smells rich. Its always going to smell if you shut down the engine after a long hot run but actually seeing gas is a float circuit problem. The engine gets plenty of air in in the Doghouse as long as you don't have a dirty air filter. The test would be,,,,,get it to idle bad, spray some carb cleaner on the outside and then down the throat of the carb,,,,,,,,if the engine speeds up and acts better,,,,,you got a lean condition, like a vacuum leak,,,,,,,,if it dies or gets worst,,,,,then it is too rich,,,,,,,,,,you can take out the mixture screw and spray some cleaner in the hole and on the needle and put it back in,,,,tighten it up,,,,,,back it out a turn and see if that helps and see if you can adjust the mixture screw enough for a good idle speed. But you need to dial the problem in a little better by running tests,,,,,,you could have worn linkage that won't let the van idle right. So it's just a process of elimination,,,,,,until you narrow down where the problem is and then we concentrate on fixing it.
