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Regarding ethanol fuel, go here: http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp
It's a list of stations that sell ethanol free gas. I found a station about 18 miles one way from my house. It's a nice rural drive most of the way and I plan my fill ups accordingly. Of course, not always practical if you take a long trip but still handy to have if there is a station close to where you live.
I've not necessarily noticed any improvements in faster starts but drivability has certainly improved since using mostly ethanol free gas.
Mark
I get 2 strong streams of gas with the engine off.I have a glass reusable fuel filter coming off the fuel pump in the front of the engine instead of having it over the intake as per factory to avoid the intake heat& possible vapor lock . the filter always has gas it so the fuel pump check valve must working. If there is no gas in the fuel bowl after a week that means it's evaporating right?and if it has fuel in it ,it means what?
If the choke is operating properly and you've got spark, it should fire right up just as it did when you squirted/dripped gas down the throat of the carb and the engine started immediately. Should be no difference between that and the accelerator pump squirting the gas and if there is, it's beyond my comprehension.
On the subject of ethanol, in the owner's manual it recommends premium fuel even for the standard 361CID 2 barrel engine. Where I live, many stations that sell premium fuel do not have ethanol in their premium blend and indicate that boldly on the pump. That's what I have been buying so the gas in my '59 Firesweep is ethanol free. That may be one reason my car does not exhibit the hard starting that others are having an issue with. I do use two additives which are octane booster and lead substitute added in the tank when I fill it.
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
Are you using rubber fuel line to connect the aftermarket glass fuel filter to the fuel pump on one end, and to the carb on the other ? If so, you may be sucking air due to a poorly connected hose. I would still set it up as it came from the factory and not worry about intake heat or vapor lock. Chrysler engineers knew what they were doing.
Ron
Thats the set up I've got.I do not have a factory type threaded ends glass fuel filter that fits over the intake manifold.This hard start condition only happens after the car is taken out for a drive & not started again for a week or longer.Anytime else it starts right up,hot or cold. I'll check the hoses& try some Seafoam.Thanks.
Thats the set up I've got.I do not have a factory type threaded ends glass fuel filter that fits over the intake manifold.This hard start condition only happens after the car is taken out for a drive & not started again for a week or longer.Anytime else it starts right up,hot or cold. I'll check the hoses& try some Seafoam.Thanks.
The correct fuel filter glass bowl is available on ebay. Search for item # 231629567462. There are several available right now.
How do you define 'hard start' ? How many seconds does it crank before it 'catches' ?
No need to do anything with Seafoam unless you are planning to put the car in storage for an extended amount of time.
Ron
Cranking 20-25 revolutions when cold 7-10 days sitting,2-3 revs after start up.
If you DO have fuel in the float bowl, as evidenced by fuel squirting out of the accelerator pump nozzle, then you need to adjust your choke. If you DON'T have fuel in the fuel bowl, then it has evaporated out of the bowl vent. Shutting down the engine when it's hot will help speed up evaporation. I've had this same problem on a number of my DeSoto engines and cured the problem completely...
How did you completely cure the problem? The choke works as it should.
I purchased a little square cheapy electric fuel pump. Installed a toggle switch under the dash on the drivers side. When ever I went to start the car, I hit the switch until I heard the tone change on the pump, indicating that the fuel bowl had filled. I'd turn the switch off and then start the car normally. Below Site shows an example of the pump...
