fuel consumption idleing?

[FrankWest]

How many gallons are consumed per hour?

[Mark DeRoseau]

I drank 3 12oz. In the last hour. Prob doesn't help much. The stick says 1/4" for 1/2 hour idle, whatever that converts to.

[tbirdtbird]

why again do you need to know this

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

why again do you need to know this

Excuse me!!!!
I recently started my car and left it ideling for 1 hr and then another 1 hr.
And then I can;t restart.
Just wanted to see if I ran out of gas!!!!
Excuse me for asking!
Because if my gas line now has air in it...I will have to inject gasin the line.

[Don/WI]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

why again do you need to know this

I did not think that it was required to have a reason in order to ask a question on this web site. Don/WI

[Mitch//pa]

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Are you able to stick the tank or remove the fuel line off the carb and ck for flow
You can also look in the tank with a flashlight

[C26Pinelake]

Any kind of clean stick in the tank should tell you whether you are out of gas.
Wayne

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

Excuse me!!!!
I recently started my car and left it ideling for 1 hr and then another 1 hr.
And then I can;t restart.y
Just wanted to see if I ran out of gas!!!!
Excuse me for asking!
Because if my gas line now has air in it...I will have to inject gasin the line.

What do you mean you will inject gas into the line ? I have never heard of this procedure.
Wayne

[tbirdtbird]

you could look inside the tank....

[Tom Wesenberg]

What year car and what engine are you asking about?
From what's been said I'd assume it's a later car, such as in your avatar.

On later cars that may need a prime, I have used a rag around my blow gun and given the gas tank a few shots of compressed air. Go easy though, so you don't expand the tank. If the filler is in the open, in an emergency I have also used my mouth to blow air in, but I really don't like to do it this way.

[C26Pinelake]

Are we not talking Model A ?
Wayne

[H. L. Chauvin]

1. Open gas line, then close gas line.

2. Start car & allow engine to run until it uses up gas this amount of gas in carb & gas line.

3. Repeat step one, omit step 2., loosen fitting at sediment bulb to brake the vacuum effect, & remove drain plug at bottom of carb, & allow to drain in a measuring cup.

4. Convert ounces to gallons -- should give a "rough" idea of gallons per hour at idling with "no"' load on engine.

[Marshall57]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

Excuse me!!!!
Excuse me for asking!
Because if my gas line now has air in it...I will have to inject gas in the line.

Please excuse the teasing; really these are great bunch of guy, and even a lady or two.
The fuel consumption at idle has not been important enough to check for most of us.
If you ran your Model A at idle for two hours there could be problems from a bad adjustment in your fuel/air mixture. From the factory a car could idle for a long time with no problems but there is little chance that the settings are the same now. There might be no problems (I don't know your car) but a rich setting could have added a layer of soot on the plugs in that amount of time making it hard to start.

The problem of an empty tank is another issue that can be solved and if you dip you tank (use a clean stick to test the level) you will see if it is empty, or if you think your fuel line is blocked in any way, you can disconnect it at any connection where rubber fuel line has been added (at a add on fuel filter etc.) or at the carburetor if you have a completely stock setup, when you turn the petcock under the tank you should see a full stream of fuel.

The fuel system on a Model A is gravity fed and will not require any priming or special tricks to get the fuel to the carburetor, just turn on the petcock under the tank and there should be no other blockages if you find blockages it is usually between the bottom of the tank to the carburetor.

I am writing to you believing we are talking about a model A, if not many other things could come into play.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

How many gallons are consumed per hour?

Stock model A? What's the carb on it?
What is the idle RPM?
Pure gas, corn gas?

A whole lot of variables.

[V8COOPMAN]

I believe FrankW has trans-posted his forums. The car is a '33 4 cylinder. He seems to be having a problem finding a good troubleshooting method.

FrankW........Over on the V8 Forum, you noted this morning that you added more fuel.......should not be a fuel quantity problem.

After being given lots of good advice, you FINALLY checked to see if you had any SPARK. You finally alluded to the "NO SPARK" result. Not sure why you'd come over to the Model A Forum and request fuel quantity info again, especially on a '33. You really need to be more clear and organized with your symptoms and other info if the 'Barn folks are going to be able to help you. This is at least the second time you've moved or re-started a thread on this subject. DD

[tbirdtbird]

get used to it

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

You probably fouled the plugs

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by Don/WI

I did not think that it was required to have a reason in order to ask a question on this web site. Don/WI

It's a really odd question and I too was curious as to why. Weren't you?

[Tom Wesenberg]

In the Twin Cities a lot of gas is wasted while the engine idles at red lights.
My Olds gets 32 to 34 MPG on the highway, but only 20 to 22 in town.

[CWPASADENA]

Why would a person want to leave their car idle for two hours?

I would think that this may be a bit hard on the engine.

JMO

Chris W.

[johnbuckley]

So... anyone care to answer the original question" What's the fuel consumption when idling?"

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

So... anyone care to answer the original question" What's the fuel consumption when idling?"

There is no answer as the poster never told us what kind of car.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would use a tygon hose and a quart jar of gas, then run the engine until you use up 1/2 quart of gas, then multiply the minutes times 8 and you'll know how long it will run on a gallon of gas. This would be good to know if you had to run the engine for heat while stuck in a snowbank. I got stuck in a blizzard in South Dakota with my Corvair, but after 30 minutes I had to walk a half mile to my uncle's farm house because the Corvair heat was poor when the temp was below about 10 degrees. After that my hands freeze up very quickly when I go outside in the winter, even with gloves on.

A Model A with a manifold or hot water heater would have provided much better heat.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

Excuse me!!!!
I recently started my car and left it ideling for 1 hr and then another 1 hr.
And then I can;t restart.
Just wanted to see if I ran out of gas!!!!
Excuse me for asking!
Because if my gas line now has air in it...I will have to inject gasin the line.

Why not take the gas cap off and put a stick in there and see if you have gas. Or put some gas in the tank and see if it starts.

There really is not a good answer to your question. It depends on a lot of things. How fast the ideal, where the spark is set, how you have the carb set, what kind of shape your engine is in,If you have the 10 percent crap gas, the list goes on.

[C26Pinelake]

Do we know the make of car involved ? I think not. It sounds like it may well not be a Model A Ford. Could FrankWest please clarify this issue first. .
Wayne

[1931 flamingo]

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It's a 33 4 cyl. Ck his avatar.
Paul in CT

[Big hammer]

Would a no reply be more productive than bashing Kind of like play ground
bulling I don't mean to be an ass IMO

[rocket1]

I think it is a interesting question,what amount of fuel does a model A burn at an idle for a given time,of course it would depend on the idle speed and carb settings,type of fuel etc.

[Don/WI]

Originally Posted by Chuck Sea/Tac

It's a really odd question and I too was curious as to why. Weren't you?

To answer your question, yes I was curious. But I have never understood why people answer questions with another question. That's just me. I'm sure not everyone will agree. Don/WI

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Don/WI

To answer your question, yes I was curious. But I have never understood why people answer questions with another question. That's just me. I'm sure not everyone will agree. Don/WI

Some people do it to gather more information to give a better answer, some just to be an ass.

[FrankWest]

Well!

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

I believe FrankW has trans-posted his forums. The car is a '33 4 cylinder. He seems to be having a problem finding a good troubleshooting method.

FrankW........Over on the V8 Forum, you noted this morning that you added more fuel.......should not be a fuel quantity problem.

After being given lots of good advice, you FINALLY checked to see if you had any SPARK. You finally alluded to the "NO SPARK" result. Not sure why you'd come over to the Model A Forum and request fuel quantity info again, especially on a '33. You really need to be more clear and organized with your symptoms and other info if the 'Barn folks are going to be able to help you. This is at least the second time you've moved or re-started a thread on this subject. DD

At 65 years old I never thought I would be bullied!
Did you attend PS 116 in Queens in 1961? Yout sound just like the kid that bullied me back then. I will not post again....., I will not use this forum
Excuseme for just being excited about my car...I should have known better an kept my excitement to myself.

[johnbuckley]

Good on yer Frank - illegitimi non carborundum- (don't let the bastards grind you down) From a very rough calculation I reckon a Ford A idles at about 6 litres per hour. ( er that's about 1.3 imperial galls per hour, er er 1.6 US galls)

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Frank,

FWIW:

In my humble opinion, your very simple, honest & straightforward question was no different than so many simple, basic questions ever asked on "any" vehicle Forum; like maybe:

1. Have coolant on floor, so where is my coolant leak? Why does my front tire leak?
2. Have oil on floor, so where is my oil leak? Gas, so where is my gas leak?
3. Why my car won't start? How many mpg should I expect with W18 plugs?

The "exact", correct answers, even though most embarrassing to the "Model A Know-It-Alls" are: Nobody on "any" Forum really knows the "exact", specific answers to such "general" questions.

So, in some cases, some reply with wild guesses; 79.46% ask you to check your condenser, (even if the problem is that the front tire is low); in good faith, some ask a few questions for more details; & some may try to make a joke out of the question; but such is life.

Again, in my opinion, your reply #32 should be a reminder for "all" of us that we "may" have accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc., who just obtained a vintage car.

Then this person, (very much "uninformed" about vintage vehicles, but skilled in another area), just asked a simple question.

If you re-review your above replies, it appears many were really trying to help.

We all have seen replies like your reply #32. It should be respected, & it hits home for those who care.

I like your car, & I think if you have any questions, you should just jump back in
& tell somebody else to check his coil when his transmission is leaking. Such is life.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

It's a 33 4 cyl. Ck his avatar.
Paul in CT

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

There is no answer as the poster never told us what kind of car.

I did see his avatar. That is not always the case. If you check back one of the posters on this question has an airplane as an Avatar. It was indeed a logical question.
Wayne

[Tom Wesenberg]

I can drive my Model A at 2000 RPM pushing the car down the road, and burn 2 gallons of gas per hour, so I would think the engine idleing at 500 RPM and not pushing a load would burn less than half a gallon per hour.

[johnbuckley]

Yes, you're right Tom , thanks. I think your figure using common sense is probably much nearer than my figure which i extrapolated from how long the engine idles after switching off the fuel tap!

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for your very intelligent & compassionate reply #35.

I sincerely hope Mr. Frank reads it & can assure him enough peace of mind to jump back on this Forum with both feet.

Furthermore, anyone ever notice what happens when someone reports on a Forum that he has a very parochial question which he announces as a "Stupid" question.

Next, "everybody" gets up on his soap box to preach: "There is no such thing as a "stupid" question."

Then another very kind & considerate person asks a very legitimate & honest question
where nobody really understands why this question was asked .......... so back on the soap box where some appear to preach -- What a "Stupid" question.

[marc hildebrant]

I have wanted to leave this forum at times too, due to personal attacks against me.

However, I have found that after awhile, I just skip the note if it's from the usual "insulting people".

I learned many years ago, that some people "hide" behind a keyboard and couldn't make it in a face to face meeting saying the type of crap that they use in the forum.

There are many good people here, but, there are also some real jerks...

Marc

[zzlegend]

Well said and right to the point Marc. And I totally agree with you.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for your very intelligent & compassionate reply #35.

I sincerely hope Mr. Frank reads it & can assure him enough peace of mind to jump back on this Forum with both feet.

Furthermore, anyone ever notice what happens when someone reports on a Forum that he has a very parochial question which he announces as a "Stupid" question.

Next, "everybody" gets up on his soap box to preach: "There is no such thing as a "stupid" question."

Then another very kind & considerate person asks a very legitimate & honest question
where nobody really understands why this question was asked .......... so back on the soap box where some appear to preach -- What a "Stupid" question.

I often start seminars with the statement that " there is no such thing as a dumb question, they are easier to handle than dumb mistakes ". I sincerely hope that Mr. Frank joins into the discussion once again. Wayne

[tbirdtbird]

"Are we not talking Model A ?
Wayne"

i submit its gonna be a long haul if we don't even know what kind of car we are talking about

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

"Are we not talking Model A ?
Wayne"

i submit its gonna be a long haul if we don't even know what kind of car we are talking about

I agree, how can we give any kind of answer if we don't have even the most basic information. His avatar does not match the forum and many avatars are not even cars so we can't go by that.

How can we help?

Even after all this and his additional post about being bullied, we still don't have any idea of what year, model, stock or modified vehicle he is asking about.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Somewhere it was mentioned as being a 1933 4 cylinder, but would have been good to mention that right off in the first post.
I'd guess the engine and fuel usage at idle would be equivalent to the Model A.

[caboose]

I may have missed this in one of the responses, but could the question be based on idling along in a parade?

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Originally Posted by caboose

I may have missed this in one of the responses, but could the question be based on idling along in a parade?

I seem to recall it was mentioned at a standstill in neutral, but this brings up another interesting point.

If the car is idleing through a parade with the foot never touching the throttle, it should take even less gas than setting still in neutral. This is because you still have the same throttle opening, but since it's now working to pull the car, the engine should be turning slower.

Caboose, my neighbor has a caboose just like your avatar in his backyard.

[Sparky]

How about an experiment? With the carb full of gas, shut off the fuel and drain the carb and measure the volume it holds. I assume this will include the short section of fuel line between the shutoff and the carb. Now with the engine idling, shut off the fuel valve and time how long it takes before the engine stalls. Divide the measured volume by time and you can calculate gallons per hour.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Sparky,

Agree. That is what I proposed in reply # 12.

As far as I was concerned, it was just a logical question, & it really did not matter if he had a 16 cylinder engine with 32 spark plugs that was idling while pulling 17 Cochin-Chinese water buffaloes with straw hats on.

Mr. Frank sent me PM's in the past with thanks for answering his questions.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Hi Sparky,

Agree. That is what I proposed in reply # 12.

As far as I was concerned, it was just a logical question, & it really did not matter if he had a 16 cylinder engine with 32 spark plugs that was idling while pulling 17 Cochin-Chinese water buffaloes with straw hats on.

Mr. Frank sent me PM's in the past with thanks for answering his questions.

Oops, that's what happens when you skip reading the first page!

[gweilbaker]

Originally Posted by CWPASADENA

Why would a person want to leave their car idle for two hours?

I would think that this may be a bit hard on the engine.

JMO

Chris W.

I have many times, just driving from the WI border to the IN border (around Chicago) on a Friday afternoon which at times took 8 hours trying to visit my Dad in the nursing home. I should say "idling" instead of "driving".