<VV> Pre-Lube and it's not watcha thinkin'

[Mark Durham]

Bill generally speaking, if the mixture is too rich the exhaust and plugs
will be black and sooty. If the mixture is right the exhaust pipe should
have a brownish white look to any film you can wipe out of the pipe.

The best way to determine lean/rich is to take a look at a good spark plug
temperature range chart, most plug manufacturers have one on line so a
person can determine by looking at his plugs if he is running the correct
heat range plug. Look at the colors of the electrodes and the ceramic
insulator for the plug tip.

Changing jets will affect the heat range, but I think 48's should be fine. I
was running 49's, asked a carb overhauler his recommendation, and put in
52's and now the exhaust pipe is black, so this next spring will go  back to
the 49's, maybe 48's if you give positive feedback. So, check you plugs for
proper color and go from there.
Mark Durham

On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 10:07 AM, Bill H. <gojoe283 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>                                           B"H
>
> This thread got me thinking...can a "Sunday mechanic" tell if his or her
> car is running too lean?
>
> My 69 has 59K original miles, runs like a champ and gets around 10-13 mpg
> in NYC traffic, about 25 highway.  (no car I've ever owned did better than
> that except my 2001 Prius and my 1987 3-cylinder Chevy aka Suzuki Sprint.
> I traded the Prius for the Monza after I couldn't stand looking at that
> "baboon" styling and a longing for sometihng that had style and that I could
> fix myself, and didn't have a "B" pillar).
>
> I did exchange the .051 jets for .048's since I was only getting around
> 9-10 mpg in the city, and the gas/exhaust smell when the car started up
> threatened my relationship with my family, who had to endure it every
> morning.  It's much better now.
>
> I run with Mobil 1 oil which gets changed while it still looks relatively
> clean (about every 1,500 miles or 5 months), and I put that "Z" stuff with
> zinc in the oil when I remember.
>
> I just hope my car can run as long as some of yours, since there aren't any
> more Corvair mechanics nearby anymore, and I'm not able to do any internal
> engine work myself...Bill Hershkowitz 69 Monza 110 PG
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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