Shutting my Roadster off.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Along the same line, I pulled up to a car show, and retarded the spark to get that putt putt sound right before I turned it off . The old guy next to me told me not to idle so low, as I would starve the bearings for oil and burn them up. He probably had experience with a worn out engine, plugged oil lines, ect.

[Smooth_One]

I always turn the fuel off everytime I stop anywhere.
Retard the spark lever and zero out the throttle lever as well.
Everything back to Zero if you will to get the car ready to restart when I return.

[René W]

Originally Posted by Chippy Minton

I switch off the fuel and the battery kill switch every time I leave my car for more than a few minutes. It's just a routine that I've got into. I've never drained (run) the fuel out of the carburettor and have never experienced any problems from not doing so. My routine on my boat is different, there when I've returned to the marina part of my routine is to disconnect the fuel line and wait for the motor to stop. Thinking about it I probably do it for a couple of reasons:
1. I might not be using it for a few weeks.
2. I used to have two stroke outboards and with them there can be real advantages of leaving the carburettor dry.
Running the car until it stops from fuel starvation may not be necessary but it certainly won't do any harm.

Beware of running a two-stroke dry,remember the lubrication is in the fuel.
I have been racing 50cc two-strokes for many years and running out of fuel while racing caused damage on piston,cillinder and big-end.I'll guess big outboard engines are not that critical but you better be safe than sorry.
It is better to drain the carbs after the engine is shut off.

[wensum]

Originally Posted by cpf240

Ok, I have to ask... what is a 'freezing works' ?

Here in New Zealand meat processing plants were generally known as freezing works as all the meat was frozen for export, at the time, one of our country's major exports.
Keith

[rosenkranswa]

If I'm just putting around, I leave the shut off alone. If I'm going to let it sit for a couple hours up to a day, I'll shut the fuel off. If I'm going to be leaving it in the garage for several days/weeks I run the gas out of the carb.

For me the problem is the new gas gumming up the carb jets if it sits for very long. Got so bad last year without running the carbs dry I had to pull the carb to pieces and clean it. The gunk seems to be cumulative, a dose of new gas takes care of some of it, but it builds up over time.

[heneste]

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Don't see how it could harm the car. I run mine dry so the lines will be empty of fuel and less chance of varnish building up if the car has to sit for a lengthy time.

[ALAN BENNETT]

I have a fuel shut off valve installed in the gas line just below the glass bowl. It is hooked to ground and then to the ignition. When I start the car when the key is turned on it allows fuel to go to the carburetor! We have a local repairman who's entire garage burned down with a car that did not have an all car shut off. He won't let you bring your car to him if you do not have that also! Just my 2 cents. A gas shut off and all car shut is very important if you do not want your garage to burn down or your entire house!

[Jeff/Illinois]

ford-m keep doing what you are doing.

I've been doing this since 1971 and it hasn't hurt a single thing.

[Dutie]

Y-Blockhead is spot on, never trust a float needle alone. A positive shut off and battery disconnect every time promotes happy motoring.