My q-jet seems to get really temperamental if I let it sit for more than 60 days without running it. Something always seems to get stuck or plugged and spend a day playing with it or even taking it off and sending back to Lars for a cleaning.

At the end of the season, I always fill my tank with gas, add a boatload of the red 'Stabil' preservative, drive it for about 10 minutes to make sure it gets to the carb and park it. I disconnect the battery and dont run it again until spring. I never had a problem with stock carbs, Edelbrocks or Holleys. But this Qjet doesnt like sitting.

The reasoning behind this is as follows. Years ago I worked as a service writer at a Harley Davidson shop. My boss explained to me that 'getting the fluids circulating' by starting and running a vehicle is for a few minutes is pointless. (when done for a few minutes, every few weeks during storage) The engine doesnt get to normal operating temperature, which will foul plugs and allow for condensation to form inside the engine. All you are really doing is revving the engine and filling the garage with exhaust. (which, for my side piped big block, starts burning your eyes and stinking up the house in less than 30 seconds) On my Harley, I can easily run the Carb dry with the selector valve and then put the bike away worry free....but my car, not so much.

So, other than a tank full of Stabil, anybody have any suggestions to keep this carb from getting all gummed up over the winter?

 

I've never had a problem with my Q-jet and I don't start it at all during off-season. I put a can of Seafoam in a full tank, and that's it.
You can always disconnect the line coming out of the tank and run it out of fuel that way.

 

The "boatload" of Stabil might be your problem. Only one small bottle is needed and some will argue none is needed at all. I will do the storage job tomorrow and will fill tank with ethanol-free 91 octane. It will not be started until April. I have been doing this for for 20+ years with no spring problems.

 

I'm with Paul. Fill her up with premium, cover her up all nice and tight in a dry garage. Up here, the chill never bothers her to take a loooooonnnnng nap. Even in last year's brutal winter with a true 22 below 3 out of five consecutive days.

I've read that the periodic starting is no beuno unless you let her run a while and get up to temp... Even that has been labeled a bad idea in a few threads. Search winter storage threads here. There's bunches.

 

A clogged carb is the last thing I'd worry about.

 

nope

 

Not only do I start mine up on occasion, I take her out for a spin as long as the roads are clear and dry. For me it's torture to see the car sit for an extended period; I'd rather drive it even if it's for a 15 minute cruise.

 

Maybe an inline filter that's missing the check valve would allow the float bowl to drain.

 

I have a elderly neighbour with a older Pontiac Gran Prix 3.8L. Nice car with low mileage. His idea of maintenance is to start it up in the winter once a month and immediately run it around the block for five minutes and then park it again. He started to have engine problems this year.

 

Same here, mine is a driver, i also drive in snow.

 

I don't know what the problem might be. I thought "gummy" additives went away years ago.

BTW, this miserable weather prevented me from getting my last cherry delight ice cream of the year. Into the winter heated concrete dungeon the car goes tomorrow. D*** it was cold and damp today!

 

From mid October to Late May our roads here are covered in salt. There is no 'quick around the neighborhood' without fear of getting covered in salt residue. NY road salt is made of sulfuric acid and that green metal eating slime the Aliens shoot from their mouths in the Aliens movies.....Its NASTY stuff. So the general consensus is to park it and leave it, like Ive been doing.

As far as going 'overboard' with the stabil, Ive got about 16 ounces added to my full tank. The directions call for 1 ounce per 2.5 gallons. Ive also heard to double the dose for long term storage, so I dont think Im really doing any harm with extra Stabil.

The carb has the check valve. I dont know what else would have caused a freshly rebuilt carb to get gummed up so quickly. (durning a few months storage) I guess Ill just have to hope for the best come spring.

 

Do you have a Viton accelerator pump? The old black rubber ones do not like modern fuel and turn to mush. Do a search on Lars Accelerator Pumps. Whatever, you and I look forward to spring!

 

If snow hits the ground here nobody drives, schools are closed and roads are empty. We are able to drive year round with the exception of a few weeks.

 

No kidding. I got out of doing gardens chores but that's not much consolation.

 

Lars rebuilt it, so Im guessing he used a Viton pump. I started to run ethanol free fuel halfway thru the season, so Im hoping that will help my long term storage as well.

Hey Tim from Texas.....Its not uncommon for us to average over 115 inches of snow a year. I want you to stand up, put your arms above your head and jump as high as you can and touch a wall.....we get more snow than that. We usually have about 2-3 feet on the ground at any given time, and get a few inches every day. Its very depressing. You know life sucks when you have to shovel a path for the dog to go outside to pee, and the snow is deeper than the dog....

 

You average 15 inches of snow a year!!! I cold drive a dragster with slicks in that kind of weather!!!

15 inches. I scoff at you! Ive driven a Chevy Cobalt in worse!

(Jut harassing you my friend. We here in Syracuse as well as the rest of the snowbelt pride ourselves for driving in this $hit. But the MINUTE we get the chance to move, we do)

 

Once a month for 20 mins. And I am going to start putting it in gear and going to go back and forth to work the brakes to help prevent the calipers from getting leaks

 

Been using Star Tron in the '77,the quad and the generator without any problems.

 

I fill the tank, maybe add sta-bil and plug in my battery tender. I do drive it on a weekend if no snow and no gravel all over the roads.