Finally got my car runnning, I have two more questions.

[Anonymous]

I got my car running tonight. I apparently picked up some bad gas last fall. I have two more questions.

Ever since I rebuilt my engine, the PCV valve rattles at an idle. I am guessing it is because of the cam (comp 260) I have? As near as I can tell, it is the original PCV valve as it says Fomoco. I have never replaced it because I was under the impression it is good as long as it rattles when you shake it. Any one else have the same problem? I was thinking of buying a new one to see if the problem goes away.

My second question is on fuel pumps. What are the symptoms of a fuel pump going out? It seems like the engine is starving for gas. I am pretty sure it is not the carb as I have put a kit in it recently. I need to put more gas in the tank to be sure, as I only had about a gallon of fresh gas in my can. I wonder about the fuel pump as it too is original to the car. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I just posted in the other post then found this one. Glad to hear it was mostly gas.....

those are both such cheap parts you cannot go wrong in replacing them both.

The PCV valve should be changed pretty regularly... believe it or not they can still clog up even if they rattle in your hand... I change mine twice a year.... but I found this little guy to be the culprit of running problems more times than it was not. As for the rattle, if your engine has a heavy idle then it might rattle, but it should not be too loud? get a new gasket for the valve cover contact and work that in there if yours is loose or old... mine is held in there pretty tight.

As for the fuel pump, changing that and the filter right now would be a good idea. they are cheap and easy to replace. After you install a new pump and filter, then fill the tank and run a bottle of drygas in there, see how it runs then, if it is still having fuel problems you might have to investigate either cleaning the carb again, (you might have gotten some crud in there from the bad gas?) or checking the screen in the sending unit at the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Did you stabilize your gas before storing the car for the winter? If not, while you are changing your PCV, fuel filter, fuel pump and adding a can of dry gas you may want to drain your Gas tank as well as the bowl on the carb. See if your fuel has separated and if you have rust deposits and/or globs of water in the carb or the tank.
As Jimbo65 said check all the moving parts of the carb and check for vacuum leeks. I just like to do everything in one shot, but that's just me.

 

[Anonymous]

I picked up the bad gas at the end of last summer. The car started having problems the last day I drove it. I barely made it home that night. I decided to park (in the garage) for the winter and work on it as I had time. At that point the tank was near empty, so I didn't see the need to stabilize it. When I drained the tank and fuel line, the gas was clean, free of dirt and rust, but it was yellow in color instead of orange. I am thinking there was water in the last tank of gas I bought. I did not change the fuel filter because it was just water in the tank and not dirt but I think you guys are right, it is cheap, may as well change it to be sure.

I question the fuel pump because when I cranked the engine over to drain the fuel line, the fuel pump did not pump consistanly. I am not sure if it was because the tank was near empty and it was sucking air or if it is because it is worn out?

I am going to change my fuel filter, get another 5 gallons of fresh gas and a couple bottles of Heat to throw in there. If my starvation problem is gone, I will replace the PCV valve only. If I still have the same problem, I will replace the fuel pump.

Thanks for your help

 

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and replace the fuel pump before you start it up again if you can it is cheap insurance.


Then do this before you do anything else...

Once you get everything ready to start the engine.
Disable the ignition by pulling the coil plug wire.
Pull the Fuel line off the carb, right at the inlet.
Get a large mason jar or sauce jar, and put the fuel line in the jar, keeping it as upright as possible.
Then have someone turn the engine over and let the fuel clear the line and pump some into the jar...

This does three things really well.
1. It clears the fuel line of any air or pockets.
2. It also VERY IMPORTANTLY clears it of any little bits of rust or whatever you may have had.
3. It will tell you if your fuel pump is bad.... if you forgo changing it.

If everything shoots out fine...
Hook it up and fire it up, tune it, and time it....

Good luck.

 

[61Futura]

Instead of using Heet in your gasoline, just put in 5 gallons of gasohol. Replace any old rubber fuel line first. The alcohol is hard on the rubber fuel line sections.

 

[Anonymous]

OK I replaced the PCV valve, fuel filter, and the fuel pump. The PCV valve doesn't rattle anymore but the car still runs the same. I drove it today. When it is cold, it runs normal. Once it warms up it randomly stalls when changing gears and coming to a stop. Also, it randomly backfires thru the tailpipes when you let off the gas when cruising. Any idea's? I will start a new thread.....