General Using loads too much petrol!

[Welsh Jon]

Hello everybody!

I finally did it! My Panda 4x4 is on the road ... and then when I went out on my 1st proper run noticed that she was drinking the petrol (around 20 mpg) I just pulled out a load with Shell to buy

I'm thinking even being the 4x4 I should be getting around 40 - 45 mpg out of her, especially as I drive quite slowly.

As far as I'm aware the timing is fine, a new vacuum advance unit fitted and the oil isn’t new but it was recently changed. I can definitely smell a lot of petrol out the back!

It uses the 32 TLF carb (which I'm cleaning now) and the 999cc FIRE engine. I know there is a mixture screw but don't know where, though am aware that this only applies to the idle speed.

Could it be a worn part of the carb? Or something i need to adjust?


Many thanks,

Jon

 

[Chas Uno]

If you can smell petrol out of the back then either the engine is running rich or it's misfiring. How does the engine run when warmed up and with the choke off? Smoothly or lumpily? Can you still smell petrol when it's warmed up?

I would:

1. Check that the choke is disengaging when you release the lever.

2. Check for petrol leaks around the carburetor itself.

If neither of the above show anything then you may have a damaged/ incorrectly adjusted float causing flooding. You may also have dirt stopping the needle valve from closing. Only solution is to strip the carburettor and look.

As to the mixture screw, it doesn't really have much of an affect and yes, it only adjusts the idle mixture. I doubt if that will be the cause of your excessive mpg.

Are you sure it's using loads of petrol or that it's actually the result of petrol prices going through the roof?!!!!!!

 

[carlt]

If you can smell a load of petrol out the back , look for leaks in and around fuel tank !

 

[Alan.D]

:yeahthat:

If the fuel filler has gone it will be pouring out as you fill but you wouldn't see the leak after 5 min cause it evapourates quickly. I def think you have a leak somewhere.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

:yeahthat:

If the fuel filler has gone it will be pouring out as you fill but you wouldn't see the leak after 5 min cause it evapourates quickly. I def think you have a leak somewhere.

But you would have seen this when filling up, followed by the fire brigade surrounding the fuel station for a clean up operation, [whoops, my fuel training at work coming into practise, sorry.]

Jon.

 

[Welsh Jon]

Well the engine is running unevenly even with a new vacuum advance also she doesn’t like idling from cold. She starts easily but needs to be rev'd. Current estimate is 35 mpg without going quickly. I noticed some blue smoke coming out from the exhaust as well - I know it's a head problem, would this affect the fuel consumption?

The petrol smell is definitely coming from the exhaust from the engine not burning the fuel. I put the fuel tank in last week having taken it out for welding (there was a lot of welding!), so I know the fuel tank isn't the problem and I know there’s no leaks anywhere else either.

I shall try pulling the carb off tomorrow and check the needle valve. I'll probably end up doing the head tomorrow as well.


Any theories on the rough idling? I think this is more likely the problem with the petrol than the carb itself.


Thanks for the input