FLOODED ENGINES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 June 1939, Page 7

FLOODED ENGINES

A COMMON CAUSE OF TROUBLE Probably the most common cause of “non-starting” of car engines is flood-

! ing. At times the trouble is experij enced with a cold engine, but it is generally more common with a warm or hot engine. The symptoms of this trouble arc very similar to those experienced due to the lack of petrol. When starting up there might be an odd kick or two. then complete failure to start. After coasting or slow travelling the engine might give a dying cough and fade | away for all the world as if the car were out of petrol. In either case, at the first sign of failure, even before this, the driver is usually playing with the accelerator, 1 alternately pressing it down and letting ! if up again; and then the trouble be- | gins. J Petrol must vaporise to burn. It | will not burn in liquid form, so that. « m starting or picking up from low j speeds, when jets of liquid petrol are ! shot into the manifold the engine fails, j It is fatal to jiggle the accelerator at any time. When starting, the accelerator should be held slightly and uniformly depressed. Then picking up from slow speeds or after coasting the pressure should be increased gradually, at least until it is certain that the engine is firing evenly. Should the engine fail in any of the circumstances outlined there is only one remedy, and that is to clear the liquid petrol from the cylinders. To do this keep the choke right in, press the accelerator right down to the floor and keep it there. With the switch on turn the engine by means of the starter and await results. Very soon the overrich mixture will be cleared away and the engine will start. At first the running will be erratic but it will soon settle down and the pressure on the accelerator may then be released to ! prevent racing of the engine as all j cylinders come into action. ! This tip is worth trying at any time j when the engine is difficult to start ir. I spite of the fact that the battery may (be turning it over rapidly. Excessive | use of the choke will soon flood the J average engine but full throttle and no j choke will soon clear the excess fuel.