Gasoline Flood

Michael in Sedona

Michael in Sedona

Senior Member
This afternoon I was getting ready to drive my '29 Tudor to a meeting. I put some stuff on the passenger seat and while I was on that side of the car, I opened the gas valve. As I was looking at something in the garage, I heard liquid running, and turned around to see gas absolutely gushing out from under the hood. I shut off the gas valve, then opened the hood, and gas was pouring out of the carb. It stopped after a few seconds.

Later I gave the carb a tap with a wooden stick, then opened the valve again, and no gas this time. So I started her up, backed out, and cleaned up the garage floor. I left the valve open, but no more leaks.

I'm assuming that my float was stuck and this caused the leak. Could there possibly be any other cause? What does one do to free up a sticky float? Never had this happen before. I was lucky that I noticed it, or I would have started it up and driven off.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
Did you use ethanol blended gas? It evaporates quicker than normal gasoline and subsequently the float drops opening the needle that gets gummed in place with the dissolved varnish causing this to happen. That's my idea and I'm sticking to it!
 
Same thing happened to my Dad's car a couple weeks ago, after sitting for a few weeks. He had run the carb dry when parking, knowing he would not drive it for while. That left the float dropped down in the bowl. He figures the needle stuck down and did not go up and close after the bowl filled. A hard rap with a screwdriver handle cleared it up. A good thing to watch for when starting after an extended time sitting.
 
I put two ounces of MMO in the gas tank when I fill up and the problem went away.
Prior to that it happened to me on three occasions. MMO ratio is 2oz. per 10 gallons.
JMHO

Jack
 
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Mike, I've had this problem twice, found to be a problem with the viton tipped float valve sticking. I replaced both A's float valve with an old original and the other with a new metal type repro valve and never had any more "floods"!!.
 
Just a note, but I believe the recommended ratio for the MMo is 4 oz per 10 gallons of gas...................
 
instead of going against one style needle against the other the most probable cause of a sticking valve is a little debris getting into it. that will cause any style to leak... the other cause is a float problem but since it stopped after wrapping it more than likely debris. clean out your sediment bowl also
 
In my case,sorry I neglected to mention, I had a spotlessly clean tank, that I could tell from a "flashlights view" and previously installed one of the nice micro-filters in shut-off valve and positively cleaned every thing else fuel would come into contact with internally from there down to carb. Note; I have a glass bowl on firewall with no sediment in it after driving truck for many miles using reg. gas. One of the viton tipped float valves I took out 8 months ago, still "sticks" when operated in "hand". I must have gotten TWO bad viton tipped float valves??
 
Lots of suggestions for a non-issue. Just be aware of the possibility of it happening in the future, but it's possible with any carbureted car! It may have been gummed up or stuck by debris. Either way, knock the carb with something and it frees it up, same thing works if the needle won't seal and lets the gas leak past.

If you're really concerned, pull the valve, inspect, and reinstall. There's no need to replace parts, install electronic gadgets, or add useless additives to your gas. Just continue to be aware.
 
Thanks to all who replied. I should have mentioned that the car had been parked since May and only driven 2 or 3 times this past week. (I drive our roadster during the spring and summer, then switch the cars in the fall and drive the tudor all fall and winter). So, after sitting for several months, I can understand how the float valve could have gotten gummed up. I do use MMO fairly routinely and will continue to do so. If it happens again, I'll check the float and the valve.

Thanks again!
 
Terry H. ~ Yes, you can put 4 oz. of MMO in the 10 gallon
tank, but I just stated that I put in 2 oz.----and I ended my
sentence with JMHO. Two oz. is all I felt I needed, and that's
all it took to solve the problem that was in answer to the subject
of the original post. Again-----JMHO.

Jack
 
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Filled my tank but forgot to turn off the shut-off valve before going into the house for dinner. Came back out and had at least half the tank of gas spread over my three car garage floor. The float had a leak and settled to the bottom to open the float vave. Called the local fire dep't and they got the mess cleaned up without a catastrophe.
1931 Flamingo has it right - install an electric shut-off valve. I think everyone in our club has one now.
 
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