Thread: I have a miss..

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I started up my car last week for the first time after sitting all Winter. The tank only had about 8 gals. in it. I had Stabil in it. When I fired it up this yeat it started, but it has a miss. It also from time to time pops back up threw the carb. I checked the plug wires and they seem fine. Could it be condinsation from sitting pver the Winter??, and would a can of Heet take care of it?? Thanks..

You might pull your fuel line to the carb, have someone crank the engine (or turn on the key if electric fuel pump) and catch a sample of your fuel in a mason jar. Swirl it around and any water will be spinning at the bottom of the vortex. If you see any water then a jug of Heet will likely be your cure. Have you isolated it to a specific cylinder, or just noticing a miss? I'd pull the plugs and see how they look - could have some rust/corrosion from an idle winter, especially in an unheated space. What's your distributor/ignition system? Another thought is to start it in the dark and look at all wires/coil for tracking & sparks. I remember my first old chevy used to put on a light show under the hood at night before I learned that was not normal....

I have new from last year. HEI distriutator, new fuel pump, new Edlebrock 600, new line, and fuel filter. I don't have a electric fuel pump.. I will pull the plugs tonight and give them a look first. Al

Here is a weird thought. I pulled the power wire from my HEI distributor and turned it over for awhile to get the oil circulating before starting it. I then pushed the wire back up into the socket. This was a few days ago. Then I was driving it to town yesterday and it started to miss, then it died. The wire was unhooking and bouncing in the socket. Scratching my head, I noticed the wire wasn't in all the way. Got lucky, fired right up without a miss.

I'll check that as well.

Originally Posted by slantback37

I have new from last year. HEI distriutator, new fuel pump, new Edlebrock 600, new line, and fuel filter. I don't have a electric fuel pump.. I will pull the plugs tonight and give them a look first. Al

Just to be sure everyone's on the same page, the engine ran fine last Fall with all of this new equipment, or has this been put on over the Winter, and now you have a miss?

No it ran fine when I put it to bed last Fall. Now it misses a little. Step on the gas and it will hesitate, and kind of a backfire from the carb. I will throw in a can of Heet first though..

I would say that the passages in the carb are somewhat restricted from sitting and I would run a bottle of Lucas fuel injector cleaner through the system. BTW, it will work just as well on carbed engine as it will on an injected one.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

I would say that the passages in the carb are somewhat restricted from sitting and I would run a bottle of Lucas fuel injector cleaner through the system. BTW, it will work just as well on carbed engine as it will on an injected one.

That's a good idea, Ken. SeaFoam would be another good alternative to FI cleaner, both being good.

I threw in a can of heet.. Should I also put in one of those other products??

It might not hurt to pull the top off that E-brock carb and take a look. As much as I really like 'em and use 'em, they wont work right with any dirt or scum in them ..... and today's crappy 10%+/- ethanol gasoline is the culprit. If it ever stops raining, I'll get my chance to do the same with my car - it's been sitting waiting for a 'clean out' ride for 2-3 weeks. (I have a lawnmower that's suffering from that cruddy gas now.)

I don't run that corn crap in in..

You sure ? Missouri has 10% in all gas by law. Exception is race fuels.

Originally Posted by slantback37

I don't run that corn crap in in..

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

You sure ? Missouri has 10% in all gas by law. Exception is race fuels.

That law needs to be revoked.

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

You sure ? Missouri has 10% in all gas by law. Exception is race fuels.

I think Minnesota was the first state to mandate ethanol in all gasoline sold in the state, and they have a pending bill that would increase the percentage to 20% in 2013. With the state mandate they simply don't publicize the fact at the pumps, because it's all the same.