My Weber carburetor idle jets (No. 65 in photo) are constantly getting clogged. I thank my buddy Keith for bringing this potential problem to my attention before I knew I had it. Keith runs PMOs on his 911SC with incredible success except for the same dilemma. How do you keep these suckers free of micro “fiber” crap? What is the stuff clogging them? Is it from the ethanol fuel? Would a better fuel filter help? How about better gas?
About two weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought race gas. It’s not cheap, $7.99 a gallon. The car ran much better but clogged up again because, I’m thinking, the old 10% ethanol gas is still mixed in and running through the system. Ethanol. Newman. I offer this reveal of how gummy, yes gummy is the word to describe ethanol, of how gummy this gas can be.
If you’ve been following Restoration Wednesday like I know you have, last year on April 3rd I wrote a post about rebuilding the fuel sending unit. What I didn’t tell you is that despite it being clean and a smooth operator, it only went up to the 1/2 way mark. Guess what, now with race gas it goes all the way up to full. Think it had anything to do with the “cleaner” race gas? I do. I noticed the gas gauge yesterday when it was like open hunting season where ever I drove. “Hey all you self righteous drivers with your computerized fuel injection systems that automatically adjust to everything. Look at me!” Grumble, grumble pop… BANG! “I drive an old car that I can’t make run right. Sorry about your dog. She’ll calm down soon.”
I cleaned the idle jets again this morning with compressed air. Two of them were visibly clogged. Spark and plugs looked fine. I’m going to start carrying a short screwdriver and can of air to blow them out. But I’m thinking of another potential solution presented once again by friend Keith, a marine grade fuel filter that may capture the gummy. Otherwise I’ll have to drive the car half the time for twice the gas price.
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