C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Q jet problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 12:22 PM
  #1  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default Q jet problem

why would my q jet squirt from the jets connected to the accelerator pump on their own without me pumping the gas while the car is not running and it is warm? it is creating a flooded situation and is not fun
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 12:27 PM
  #2  
mikem350's Avatar
mikem350
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
Default

Sounds like fuel boiling in the carb (percolation). Search the archives, this is a chronic problem with todays ethanol fuels.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 12:39 PM
  #3  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by mikem350
Sounds like fuel boiling in the carb (percolation). Search the archives, this is a chronic problem with todays ethanol fuels.
Wow is there a cure for this?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 02:28 PM
  #4  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

It's rare for the Q-Jet to have this problem - this is usually a Holley issue with the bowls that hang out over the manifold. The problem can be corrected on both Q-Jets and Holleys by using a reflective heat shield between the carb and the manifold.

This assumes that you are using the correct gasket between the manifold and the carb - you didn't state what year your car is. If you have the early-style intake with the "smiley-face" exhaust crossover, you have to use a special 3-piece gasket set to prevent the hot exhaust gasses from boiling the fuel in the carb.

Lars
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 02:46 PM
  #5  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Thanks, my car is a 81 with 319,000 on the clock, this is a daily driver and i have been running this carb for the last 7-8 years with no problem always using Chevron Mid Grade, so i am not sure why all of a sudden this has become a problem, if just replacing the gaskets is the answer that would be great?? I pulled the aluminum manifold off a long time ago when i stripped the threads have been running cast iron for about 15 years now
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 01:03 AM
  #6  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Default

Might be due to the amount of ethanol is being put in your fuel now. Refineries can vary the amount based on time of year and production costs. Sure sounds like a fuel 'perk' problem. The cast iron manifold would also hold more heat than the aluminum unit.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 01:37 AM
  #7  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

I can't imagine that they have added that much ethanol as of late, this seemed to come on quickly, I have been running a heavy amount of carb cleaner and it seemed better today, just odd as this has never been a problem before
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 09:47 AM
  #8  
74modified's Avatar
74modified
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Default

Spring is a good time for percolation. Fuels are blended differently for cold weather, and a tank of winter fuel plus warm weather can be a cause. If you are adding "stuff" to the fuel to clean the carb, you may be adding to the problem. Not sure of your exhaust or intake, but the exhaust crossover, and/or heat riser valve could also help overheat the fuel.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 11:50 AM
  #9  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Thanks, so it doesn't sound like this is an issue of the carb needing to be rebuilt?
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 11:51 AM
  #10  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by mystingray1
Thanks, so it doesn't sound like this is an issue of the carb needing to be rebuilt?
As I have never seen this issue before?
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 12:45 PM
  #11  
74modified's Avatar
74modified
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Default

If what you say is happening, it doesn't sound like you need to rebuild. It sounds like the fuel is boiling. This could be the result of several different things - or a combination of things. But dont take my word, you had Lars above giving you some information, and he is the exalted guru of the Qjet. The shield he mentioned was in the link I put in you other general thread.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 01:01 PM
  #12  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by 74modified
If what you say is happening, it doesn't sound like you need to rebuild. It sounds like the fuel is boiling. This could be the result of several different things - or a combination of things. But dont take my word, you had Lars above giving you some information, and he is the exalted guru of the Qjet. The shield he mentioned was in the link I put in you other general thread.
Thanks, I just find it interesting that this has never been a problem until now
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 01:03 PM
  #13  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by mystingray1
Thanks, so it doesn't sound like this is an issue of the carb needing to be rebuilt?
Your problem is not normal. The fact that the carb was running without this issue, and it suddenly started doing this, is indicative that something has happened. Normally, when a Q-Jet boils the fuel in the bowl, the fuel will bubble out of the main discharge nozzles and dribble out of the transition slots. I've never seen a Q-Jet discharge fuel from the accel pump discharge nozzles when hot - that's a unique Holley problem. If I were you, I'd pop the top off the carb, replace the float with a new NitroFill float (NAPA part number 2-442), set the float level to .300", and then pull the accel pump out of the bore, make sure it's good, and remove and check the accel pump check ball to make sure it's not jammed in its seat. Finally, check your base gasket and make sure that the manifold you're using does not have any way to expose the bottom of the carb to any hot exhaust gasses from the exhaust crossover. If you have an EGR manifold, make sure things are working correctly and that hot exhaust is not bleeding into the intake under the carb after shutdown.

Lars
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 01:34 PM
  #14  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Thanks for the input Lars, hopefully this will correct itself else I will have to look into your suggestions above or try my hand at rebuilding the original carb I pulled off, hopefully someday soon I will be bolting down the FIRST TPI injection unit that has been on the shelf for the last 10 years
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 04:51 PM
  #15  
PAmotorman's Avatar
PAmotorman
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
Default

Rochester came out with a very light spring part #17083343 to put on top of the pump ball check valve that may solve your problem
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 04:56 PM
  #16  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by PAmotorman
Rochester came out with a very light spring part #17083343 to put on top of the pump ball check valve that may solve your problem
Thanks, so would this stop percolating pressure from purging from accelerator jets and is this a fairly easy fix?
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 05:13 PM
  #17  
PAmotorman's Avatar
PAmotorman
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
Default

Originally Posted by mystingray1
Thanks, so would this stop percolating pressure from purging from accelerator jets and is this a fairly easy fix?
you have to take off the carb top and remove the float to get to where it goes on top of the check valve ball bearing. it puts more pressure on the check ball bearing to hold it in place

Last edited by PAmotorman; Apr 5, 2015 at 05:17 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Q jet problem

Old Apr 5, 2015 | 05:25 PM
  #18  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Thanks, and this would stop the purging through the accl pump squirters?
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 05:36 PM
  #19  
PAmotorman's Avatar
PAmotorman
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
Default

Originally Posted by mystingray1
Thanks, and this would stop the purging through the accl pump squirters?
I can not say for sure but it will take more pressure to open the check ball
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 05:59 PM
  #20  
mystingray1's Avatar
mystingray1
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
Default

Thanks, I may have to give this a try if the problem continues
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:52 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE