<VV> Fwd: help - flooding

[Ken Pepke]

'Flooded' engines in the day of the Corvair was a common issue.  Holding the throttle wide open while cranking usually clears the plugs enough to get it to start.  After a minute or so, and lots of black smoke, the engine should start to run normally ... IF you have a stock points ignition.  However, a Petronix system, like other modern high voltage / low amperage systems, might not be able clear the spark plugs.  So, if excess gasoline is present one may have to manually clean the plugs first.  The cars of today, be they fuel injected or carbs, seldom if ever flood.  Many drivers have never even had to learn to start a flooded engine. 

Ken P
Wyandotte, MI
Worry looks around; Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.

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> From: "corvairduval at cox.net" <corvairduval at cox.net>
> Date: July 13, 2011 2:53:26 PM EDT
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> help - flooding
> Reply-To: corvairduval at cox.net
> 
> Bill is correct, a hot spark will fire a rich mixture, but plugs that are
> wet will short the voltage to ground before spark potential can be reached.
> Take a plug out (or several) and see if they are wet or black. Clean it,
> attach the spark plug wire, lay the plug against something so it grounds,
> but will not get caught up in belt or linkages. Have someone crank will you
> look for a blue spark. Yellow weak spark is not good.
> 
> IF your needles are stuck open, you can have a flooding condition. Check
> that fuel is not just flowing into the venturi when you are cranking. Look
> from a distance. Do not use flames or incandescent light up close. A
> backfire can cause you to have no eyebrows or hearing for a while. And a
> non-starting car is prime for a backfire, trust me!
> 
> If a carb catches on fire from a backfire, keep cranking until the fire
> goes out, hopefully.... use common sense.
> 
> Frank DuVal