The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 12-20-2022, 01:44 PM

As part of my major tune up of my Victoria I decided to open the carburetor and just look things over. It has been 2 years since I rebuilt the carburetor. The inside of the carburetor looked very good. There were a couple of specs of dirt in the bottom of the bowl but they were very tiny. Next, I checked the flow rates on all the jets. I have the tester that uses a 36 in column of water to check the flow rates along with a graduated cylinder to measure flow in ml/min.
I was disappointed to see that the flow rates had dropped off about 4-5% on all the jets. The cap jet is less critical and in most cases will not be a problem. This means that with time and use, our carburetors are being fowled with the lousy gas. The inside of the jets are being coated. I soaked the jets in Barrymore cleaner and hosed them out and in most cases the flow rates came back to my restored values. Perhaps we should be periodically using a can of carburetor/fuel injector cleaner. Ed

Y-Blockhead · 12-20-2022, 02:19 PM

I pour in 1 oz per gal of Seafoam every fill up. Claims to clean jets and absorb water, two issues we see with our gas these days.

I am convinced that Seafoam does do some good. It freed up my fuel gauge in my '06 F-150. The gauge had stuck at ¼ tank when it sat for a while during Covid. Saved me from pulling the tank.

Ray in La Mesa · 12-20-2022, 02:47 PM

Seafoam works great for me too.

nkaminar · 12-20-2022, 06:13 PM

If fowling, move the L to just after the F and everything will be flowing fine.

Otherwise use one of the injection system cleaners that go in the tank, available at the auto parts stores.

mcgarrett · 12-20-2022, 10:17 PM

Since you're running a Zenith, I'm wondering if it's possible that the water and alcohol in our modern gasoline are causing some corrosion of the iron carb body and is possibly microscopically dissolving some of the iron casting and leaving the deposits you mentioned in your jets and passageways. Just a thought, but I don't have any evidence to back it up.

I guess it's a "marvel" that I haven't had any issues like that yet - I'm running a Marvel carburetor and add Marvel Mystery Oil to every fill up.

Since the Marvel is a pot metal casting it wouldn't be a victim of rust that could easily form in an iron body Zenith. Occasionally I do use Seafoam and agree that it's a good product and probably helps more than we know.

jeepguy1948 · 12-21-2022, 12:25 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Ed, I’m very impressed that you would dive in that deep as a part of a tune up. We’re you experiencing any notable performance symptoms with the reduced fuel flow? Put me down as another satisfied Sea Foam user I run it in every single engine I have except for my daily drivers (they get a different additive). I have not had a carburetor problem since I started using it 25 years ago. Ethanol is basically water and if allowed to sit without a stabilizer “phase separation “ starts which means that the water will separate from the gasoline and settle to the bottom of the container (gas can, gas tank, carburetor,etc.) (a friend of mine has a boat with a 100 gallon aluminum gas tank. To save money he was buying gas at a gas station rather than the marina. When his motor puked they found 16 gallons of water in the bottom of the gas tank). If allowed to sit it will indeed rust the bottom of the float bowl in a Zenith. It can cause even worse problems in a Marvel or Tillotson. I don’t know enough about fuels to even guess what is building up inside the jets.

katy · 12-21-2022, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed in Maine

I soaked the jets in Barrymore cleaner and hosed them out and in most cases the flow rates came back to my restored values.

What is Barrymore cleaner? An online search came up empty.

Y-Blockhead · 12-21-2022, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katy

What is Barrymore cleaner? An online search came up empty.

I think he meant "Berryman" Carburetor Cleaner. https://smile.amazon.com/Berryman-Pr...s%2C231&sr=8-1

katy · 12-21-2022, 01:41 PM

Ah so, thanks. Methinks I'll stick w/the ultrasonic.

Patrick L. · 12-21-2022, 01:42 PM

So if the jets are being fouled by the fuel, what fuel are you using ? Ethanol or non ?

I can see it with ethanol especially if the car sit for awhile between runs.

I'm a big fan of Sea-Foam, it works. Can't say the same for some others.

Y-Blockhead · 12-21-2022, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepguy1948

Ethanol is basically water and if allowed to sit without a stabilizer “phase separation “ starts which means that the water will separate from the gasoline and settle to the bottom of the container (gas can, gas tank, carburetor,etc.)

Ethanol is hydroscopic and absorbs water from the atmosphere. In a modern with a sealed fuel system it is not so much of a problem. In our cars that are vented to the atmosphere, then it becomes an issue

1965 Mustang · 12-23-2022, 08:33 PM

Merry Xmas

12-20-2022, 01:44 PM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,120	Carburetor Fowling As part of my major tune up of my Victoria I decided to open the carburetor and just look things over. It has been 2 years since I rebuilt the carburetor. The inside of the carburetor looked very good. There were a couple of specs of dirt in the bottom of the bowl but they were very tiny. Next, I checked the flow rates on all the jets. I have the tester that uses a 36 in column of water to check the flow rates along with a graduated cylinder to measure flow in ml/min. I was disappointed to see that the flow rates had dropped off about 4-5% on all the jets. The cap jet is less critical and in most cases will not be a problem. This means that with time and use, our carburetors are being fowled with the lousy gas. The inside of the jets are being coated. I soaked the jets in Barrymore cleaner and hosed them out and in most cases the flow rates came back to my restored values. Perhaps we should be periodically using a can of carburetor/fuel injector cleaner. Ed

12-20-2022, 02:19 PM	#2
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,907	Re: Carburetor Fowling I pour in 1 oz per gal of Seafoam every fill up. Claims to clean jets and absorb water, two issues we see with our gas these days. I am convinced that Seafoam does do some good. It freed up my fuel gauge in my '06 F-150. The gauge had stuck at ¼ tank when it sat for a while during Covid. Saved me from pulling the tank.

12-20-2022, 02:47 PM	#3
Ray in La Mesa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Mesa Ca Posts: 1,172	Re: Carburetor Fowling Seafoam works great for me too.

12-20-2022, 06:13 PM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,058	Re: Carburetor Fowling If fowling, move the L to just after the F and everything will be flowing fine. Otherwise use one of the injection system cleaners that go in the tank, available at the auto parts stores. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

12-20-2022, 10:17 PM	#5
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Waxahachie, Texas Posts: 987	Re: Carburetor Fowling Since you're running a Zenith, I'm wondering if it's possible that the water and alcohol in our modern gasoline are causing some corrosion of the iron carb body and is possibly microscopically dissolving some of the iron casting and leaving the deposits you mentioned in your jets and passageways. Just a thought, but I don't have any evidence to back it up. I guess it's a "marvel" that I haven't had any issues like that yet - I'm running a Marvel carburetor and add Marvel Mystery Oil to every fill up. Since the Marvel is a pot metal casting it wouldn't be a victim of rust that could easily form in an iron body Zenith. Occasionally I do use Seafoam and agree that it's a good product and probably helps more than we know.

12-21-2022, 12:25 PM	#6
jeepguy1948 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 747	Re: Carburetor Fowling Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Ed, I’m very impressed that you would dive in that deep as a part of a tune up. We’re you experiencing any notable performance symptoms with the reduced fuel flow? Put me down as another satisfied Sea Foam user I run it in every single engine I have except for my daily drivers (they get a different additive). I have not had a carburetor problem since I started using it 25 years ago. Ethanol is basically water and if allowed to sit without a stabilizer “phase separation “ starts which means that the water will separate from the gasoline and settle to the bottom of the container (gas can, gas tank, carburetor,etc.) (a friend of mine has a boat with a 100 gallon aluminum gas tank. To save money he was buying gas at a gas station rather than the marina. When his motor puked they found 16 gallons of water in the bottom of the gas tank). If allowed to sit it will indeed rust the bottom of the float bowl in a Zenith. It can cause even worse problems in a Marvel or Tillotson. I don’t know enough about fuels to even guess what is building up inside the jets.

12-21-2022, 01:41 PM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,084	Re: Carburetor Fowling Ah so, thanks. Methinks I'll stick w/the ultrasonic. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

12-21-2022, 01:42 PM	#10
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Carburetor Fowling So if the jets are being fouled by the fuel, what fuel are you using ? Ethanol or non ? I can see it with ethanol especially if the car sit for awhile between runs. I'm a big fan of Sea-Foam, it works. Can't say the same for some others.

12-23-2022, 08:33 PM	#12
1965 Mustang Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Rochester WA Posts: 34	Re: Carburetor Fowling Merry Xmas Last edited by 1965 Mustang; 12-25-2022 at 04:14 PM.