Carb Cleaner

[dreavis]

My 77 is my first carbureted car, so I've been wondering if carb cleaner is a necessary preventive maintenance thing or unnecessary unless symptoms are present?
If people use it, I'd like to know how frequently and what product people prefer.

Thanks!

[So Cal Mark]

rather than cleaner for preventative maintenance, get a product like Carb Defender that protects against ethanol damage

[DUCeditor]

Major brand fuels here in the states carry a heavy dose of "carb cleaner" -- put there, interestingly, when F.I. replaced carbs -- it being far more sensitive to gum-ups and small blockages.

My `77 ran well with no such additives until two years ago when, as part of a thorough clean up of the fuel system (including a new gas tank) I had the carbs rebuilt.

More important IMO than carb cleaner is the use of a fuel preservative if you store you car for any period of time. And making sure the tank is full to prevent condensation and resulting water in the fuel system.

-don

[TimpanogosSlim]

I dunno about condensation and ethanol.

I just mean, the ethanol should cause the fuel to absorb the water. Not that this is necessarily good, but it's better than sucking straight water out of the bottom of the tank i guess. There are murmurings about some kind of acid forming in that mix but none of it makes sense to me.

But yeah - additives to prevent damage from ethanol fuel, stabilizer in the winter, etc.

carburetor cleaner is something you need when you accidentally let a bowl full of gasoline evaporate in the carburetor over winter, leaving behind varnish that might clog the jets. Which is why some prefer to pinch off the fuel line and run the carburetor out of gas before storage.