inspection nightmare

Barry B./ Ma.

Barry B./ Ma.

Well-known member
Took the coupe down to the inspection station this morning for the state annual inspection, the car has always started and ran good, no trouble with the inspection , passed easily but when I went to restart it kept stalling and backfiring. The engine was super hot and I thought the condenser had fried (modern type) so I borrowed the air hose and tried to cool things off, after a while it restarted but I had trouble keeping it running for a few minutes. After a while I was able to drive it home and it ran pretty good except a slight misfire at times. I got to thinking maybe the gas boiled so I'll le it cool down and see how a restart goes. Just curious, has anyone experienced a similar problem ??
 
I know some members will question this, but try adding Marvel Mystery Oil to your gas. It could help with what you are experiencing.
 
Yes it has happened to me. I added a 1/4" phenolic insulator between the carb and manifold to help keep the gas cooler.
 
Thanks Big Hammer and WHN, I bought a couple of bottles and will add it this afternoon.
I started it up after the cooling period and it started and ran fine but I'll still add the MMO, probabl a couple of tablespoons to a half a tank.
Barry B./ Ma.
 
Add about 4 oz. to your gas tank, not both bottles. (I am sure you didn't mean you were going to add both bottles to your tank, but hey, just in case you didn't know....)

EDIT: Whoops I somehow neglected to read your entire post. However, add 4 oz. not just a couple tablespoons. JMHO
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Yep, mine does the same thing if I have the crapahol gas in it and it boils.
Click to expand...

Tom,
Why is it that some Model As have trouble with ethanol in gas and some don't? Why do some As run fine on ethanol blend for years then suddenly develop a problem with it?

I would think that if e10 made our cars run poorly that we'd all be experiencing the same symptoms.

Is it a heat related issue? Altitude? Humidity? Some other factor (or factors) combined with the ethanol?
 
Dick Steinkamp said:
Tom,
Why is it that some Model As have trouble with ethanol in gas and some don't? Why do some As run fine on ethanol blend for years then suddenly develop a problem with it?

I would think that if e10 made our cars run poorly that we'd all be experiencing the same symptoms.

Is it a heat related issue? Altitude? Humidity? Some other factor (or factors) combined with the ethanol?
Click to expand...

I do not understand this either. I have never had problems with e10 or straight gas. When I drove from IL To Vicksburg MS the temperature was up to 104. I had fuel percolate after we stoped but it went right away once we got rolling.When you travel there is often no choice.

John
 
I use MMO for the same reason. If I forget to add it and I am stuck in heavy traffic on a hot day, it runs poorly.
 
Dick Steinkamp said:
Tom,
Why is it that some Model As have trouble with ethanol in gas and some don't? Why do some As run fine on ethanol blend for years then suddenly develop a problem with it?

I would think that if e10 made our cars run poorly that we'd all be experiencing the same symptoms.

Is it a heat related issue? Altitude? Humidity? Some other factor (or factors) combined with the ethanol?
Click to expand...

I can only guess the percent of corn crap varies between states.
Also consider the age of the fuel, air temp, humidity, engine condition, radiator condition, etc.
 
How about adding 4 oz. ATF to the tank full? I do use the MMO but sometimes I forget to take it and find myself out on the highway and the station is a minimart with no choice but the ATF. So far I have just skipped using it until I got where I could buy it. Often I use just 2 oz. per tank and it does fine. I started using it because of a stuck valve (zero PSI that hole) and just continued after that freed up so well. (Overnight with about a shot glass full in the errant cylinder, cranked it over, key off, to get the MMO around everywhere and next morning fired it up, went to coffee and been driving it almost daily since.)
 
Here are the gas stations that sell ethanol free gas in the US...

34683501633_28cd09e5a1.jpg


https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?

With the exception of a few states, ethanol free gas is relatively close to everyone.

If you feel that e10 is causing your problems, you might want to fill up with a few tanks of ethanol free gas to test that theory.
 
Re: Boiling Gasoline...

Barry B,

Common hot weather problem with a Model A. After a drive the fuel in the hot carburetor boils the gas and the fumes 'flood' the engine. Hard to re-start, runs poorly until the excess gas is drawn off.

First check to see if your carburetor has a vented fuel bowl .... re-designed after mid 1929., which allows some of the excess fumes to escape.

On a hot day drive, shut off the fuel valve allowing the engine to run until the carb is dry. Later turning on the gas valve allows 'cool' gas from the tank to fill the carb. Works for me.

I suspect that adding of MMO or diesel to the gasoline lowers the volatility making it harder to boil off & flooding the engine.

Hope some of this is helpful, JB
 
Like jb said. This happens all the time after a short stop when the carb bowl is very hot. We just pour some water on the bowl and that fixes it right away. The reason your car started running good after a while, is because it finally gets some cooler fuel into the bowl and it stays below the boiling point.
 
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