car died at idle
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
car died at idle
My wife and I took the 79 out to dinner last night and it tried to give me a little trouble. We came through our town out to the interstate and it ran perfectly, idling perfect at every stop light. The problem came when I came off the interstate after about a 20 mile run. As soon as I pushed the clutch in, it died on the off ramp. With some trouble it restarted, but it was flooded and took a second or 2 of being revved up to clear it out, but it still wouldn't idle at all. At every stop until we got to dinner, I just kept the revs up so it wouldn't stall. Once we go to dinner and I parked, it would idle again, but had an immediate hesitation when I stabbed the gas in neutral, which it has never had before. After dinner, is was a little hard to start, but idled perfect and no more hesitation. Then, on the ride home everything was perfect once again. So, i'm thinking there must have been some trash in the carb that cleared itself out, or some bad gas, as I had stopped for gas as we left home. Does that sound right? What are some precautionary things I should do to keep this from happening again? I'm thinking I'll change the fuel filter at the least. Any other suggestions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Welcome to the world of Ethanol. Welcome to the world of a carb that doesn't like Ethanol.
You are right, a new fuel filter is in order. And who knows what's in the tank? I would run some cleanser of your choice through the fuel system. Likely the needle valves and maybe floats have been exposed to years of Ethanol that may need to be replaced.
Also, with air cleaner off and throttle held at fast idle, you can spray down the entire inside of the carb with Gumout aerosol.
You are right, a new fuel filter is in order. And who knows what's in the tank? I would run some cleanser of your choice through the fuel system. Likely the needle valves and maybe floats have been exposed to years of Ethanol that may need to be replaced.
Also, with air cleaner off and throttle held at fast idle, you can spray down the entire inside of the carb with Gumout aerosol.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Thanks Heads. Just got back from a run to Napa for a gold fuel filter and Sea Foam. Poured the sea foam in on the spot, and will install the filter once the engine has cooled. Of course it ran perfect the whole time today.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
They always run great, except for:
When you must attend a important funeral.
When you must attend a important wedding.
When you just scored tickets on the 50 yd line
Or when a jealous husband is in hot pursuit behind you.
When you must attend a important funeral.
When you must attend a important wedding.
When you just scored tickets on the 50 yd line
Or when a jealous husband is in hot pursuit behind you.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Oct 21, 2018 at 05:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Be mindful of switching between pure gasoline and e5/e10. The 10% ethanol will require a bit more fuel to maintain the same air-fuel mixture.
My Corvette lived with a QuadraJet and ethanol fuel for many years and drove just fine, once properly calibrated.
My Corvette lived with a QuadraJet and ethanol fuel for many years and drove just fine, once properly calibrated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
To use Ethanol Free, through the driving season is insane (at, what $4 a gal?)
To use Ethanol Free, for several months of storage is brilliant.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Yes, old thread, but I will follow up that i've never had the issue I had that night again, nor did I have it before that night. I think I might have been most likely attributed to bad gas. Don't know if it had any relation to ethanol in the gas or not, but I do regularly run on gas with 10% ethanol.
