Weird question (as usual)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
From: Jupiter Florida
Weird question (as usual)
A long time ago, I got in the habit of blipping the throttle just before switching the engine off, something I picked up from hot-rodders I hung with.
I thought the idea was to clean the plugs before shutdown, but most of those cars were carbureted so they actually would have been tossing in a slug of fuel and then killing the ignition which seems like it would leave the pistons/plugs wet and do more harm than good, so I have no idea what that was accomplishing.
Conversely, on a FI motor, would it make any sense to nail it and switch off the ignition at 1500-2000rpm and hold the throttle open while the motor spins down, essentially pumping dry air through for a few cycles, or is this just a bad idea all the way around?
I thought the idea was to clean the plugs before shutdown, but most of those cars were carbureted so they actually would have been tossing in a slug of fuel and then killing the ignition which seems like it would leave the pistons/plugs wet and do more harm than good, so I have no idea what that was accomplishing.
Conversely, on a FI motor, would it make any sense to nail it and switch off the ignition at 1500-2000rpm and hold the throttle open while the motor spins down, essentially pumping dry air through for a few cycles, or is this just a bad idea all the way around?
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Weird question (VetNutJim)
Totally unneccessary. No reason to do it.
:iagree:
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 1
From: Lake Ozark MO
Re: Weird question (rocketfinger)
Even for a carbureted engine the idea of "blipping" the throttle is a poor one.
Even after a very hard run the best thing to do is let the engine idle for a moment or so and then shut it off. The idea is to gain some temperature stabilization/equilibrium for the whole system.
Even after a very hard run the best thing to do is let the engine idle for a moment or so and then shut it off. The idea is to gain some temperature stabilization/equilibrium for the whole system.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: Weird question (VetNutJim)
My dad used to do it on our old '78 Malibu. He said that it was good to do because it kept some of the cylinders full of fuel so that it would make it easier to start the car later. Not that it ever had a problem starting - it had a low-revving 305. It was bullet proof.
But as it turns out it was a detrimental thing to do. And the same holds true for our cars - fuel injected or not.
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 8:25 PM 5/22/2003]
But as it turns out it was a detrimental thing to do. And the same holds true for our cars - fuel injected or not.
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 8:25 PM 5/22/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Weird question (pwrful c4)
I wouldn't do it. The best thing to do is let it idle a bit (30sec max). On a Turbo charged car it's recommended you let it idle for a few minutes if you've been driving hard to cool the turbo bearings, but other than that, shut it down.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski