What does this mean?

M

Marleysurf

Member
I did some work on my A today. Changed oil, got my choke all hooked up. Then decided to pull the plugs to take a look and this is what I found.. Is this why it smokes when I'm driving?
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Now that you have fixed your choke, I would clean those plugs up and then drive it some, and check them again.

Use a small brass brush and clean that soot off, then set the gap to .035

When they run rich the plugs get sooted up like that.

If the mixture is just right the plug will be more gray in the center area.

You know it was running rich because it was smoking, and that may have been because the choke plate was partially closed...
 
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Running rich ,timing,carbon build up, what heat range are those spark plugs ,when the model a was built octane was around 60 even if you run 87 octane it's like running premium fuel,
 
I actually think it was the needle choke that I had to far out because it was not hooked up. How do you guys run choke. If I turn it all the way in, then I unscrew it 3/4 of a turn right? I was looking in the les Andrews red book but I really couldn't find much or anything on it... And I forgot to say I also changed my oil also. It was black than black. So figured it was a good idea, and I also had no idea when the guy I bought if from checked it last. Now I know and can keep track. How often do you guys change oil. Obviously it won't hit a high mileage, but how many months. Like every 3 or 4 months... Thanks!
 
Marleysurf, your not adding mmo, or any type of oil to your fuel tank, because to much oil additive will fowl your spark plugs. E.P.W.
 
Without a filter I would change the oil once a year or between 500 and 1000 miles, depending on the number of miles driven on each trip.
 
The GAV setting varies with the car. Mine is about 1/4 turn open. Listen to the engine, it'll tell you when its right.
 
No I do not add anything to the fuel at all. But remember I just bought this car. So who knows what happened in its earlier years.. I know it was owned my an older man that was really into it. But that's about it...
 
After looking at that manual you sent me Bob C is looks like I still have my choke open a bit to much. It says turn open a or half turn and then while running should be closed or 1/4 open.. This was totally my problem.. When I bought the car the choke rod was disconnected but the screw was like almost unscrewed the entire way... I wish I could go drive it with the new settings and new oil. And I also repack the water pump today. But I couldn't drive it because it's raining today.. Can you believe it. RAIN is so California!!!
 
Rain in So California...there is a song about that!

Let us know how it drives with all the changes you have made.

Remember that even though the oil capacity is 5 quarts, when you change the oil you only need add 4 or so as about one quart is held in the dip tray inside the engine and does not drain with the rest..

I changed my oil a couple of times within the first few hundred miles or so because like yours it had been sitting.....when the oil got dark on the dipstick, I changed it....
 
Now with the choke / GAV set up, you should GENTLY turn the GAV in Clockwise all the way GENTLY so it does not squish the needle. Then open it 1/2 turn for starting, and 1/4 turn for driving as stated earlier.
 
I suggest that you at least clean, and perhaps replace, those spark plugs. If you replace them, get some new Champion 3X. They sit correctly in the head and burn at the right temp. About $20 ea. from O'Reilly's, and worth it.
 
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Thanks for all the help! I'll definitely pick up some new plugs this week. And the rain has stopped so I'll be taking a cruise today and update on what happens!
 
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