The Ford Barn

skiplane · 03-30-2018, 03:27 PM

Have a Tillotson carb on my 28 roadster pick-up. Am getting a grayish "gunk" build-up on the carb fuel bowl. When I wipe it out wet it is like a gray clay.
Is this a result of ethanol in gas reacting with metal of carb? What can I do to stop it?
Thanks

J Franklin · 03-30-2018, 03:34 PM

Find some real gasoline.

Keith True · 03-30-2018, 03:35 PM

It sounds like somebody sealed the tank and it is dissolving.Of all the ethanol problems people complain about,dissolving carbs is not one.If it dissolved aluminum and pot metal all the gas pumps at the stations would be melted down by now.

Ernie Vitucci · 03-30-2018, 09:10 PM

Good Evening...You might want to begin by putting a good sized magnet in your fuel bowl if you have the glass bowl. If the gunk is magnetic, then the magnet will stop it from moving on and you can clean the fuel bowl and magnet as necessary. If you have the solid fuel filter, then I would suggest that you clean it each time you drive the car. You will sometimes be surprised how much gunk is trapped in the filter. Ernie

Tom Wesenberg · 03-31-2018, 01:50 AM

I agree, use only good gas without the corn crap in it, and add 4 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil to each 10 gallons of gas.

An hour ago I just loosened up a stuck throttle plate on a small Honda carb. This was from using corn crap gas, which dries and leaves a sticky residue, which can also stick valves.

rocket1 · 03-31-2018, 08:13 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It sounds like the tank was sealed at one time and the ethanol is dissolving the sealer.

leo · 03-31-2018, 08:38 AM

Hey guys, I really love all the recommendations about using real gas, not the corn crap. Here is the list I cobbled together from a real gas site. Do not know the accuracy, high octane and high prices I'm sure!
9 Pure Gas Stations in New Jersey

City Brand Octane Name Street Address Last Updated
Bayville AVFUEL 100 Ocean Aire 101 Airport Rd 2017-09-09
Brick UNBRANDED 100 Drum Point Marina 770 Drum Point 2017-07-28
Chatsworth SUNOCO 91 G V S Sport Motor 1551 Cnty Rd 2017-10-11
Kenvil VP RACING 94 Morris County Marine 745 Rt 46 2017-06-22
Pittstown SHELL 100 Sky Manor Airport 48 Sky Manor Rd 2017-09-08
Shamong UNBRANDED 110 Mighty Joe's 1231 Rt 206 2018-03-21
Toms River VP RACING 94 Downs Ford 360 Rt. 37 2018-01-22
Whitehouse UNBRANDED 100 Solberg Airport 39 Thor-Solberg 2017-10-24
Williamstown PHILLIPS 66 100 Cross Keys Airport 1531 N Tuckahoe 2017-07-07
Sorry but it all has strung together, my bad.....

1931 flamingo · 03-31-2018, 12:54 PM

Do a "search" here for "dog leg". It was re-posted a few days ago. It may be the best "fix" without pulling the tank. IMO it's only going to get worse.
Paul in CT

katy · 04-01-2018, 09:18 AM

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=Dirty+leg

03-30-2018, 03:27 PM	#1
skiplane Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: melbourne, fl Posts: 5	Gunk in fuel bowl Have a Tillotson carb on my 28 roadster pick-up. Am getting a grayish "gunk" build-up on the carb fuel bowl. When I wipe it out wet it is like a gray clay. Is this a result of ethanol in gas reacting with metal of carb? What can I do to stop it? Thanks

03-30-2018, 03:34 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl Find some real gasoline.

03-30-2018, 03:35 PM	#3
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,987	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl It sounds like somebody sealed the tank and it is dissolving.Of all the ethanol problems people complain about,dissolving carbs is not one.If it dissolved aluminum and pot metal all the gas pumps at the stations would be melted down by now.

03-30-2018, 09:10 PM	#4
Ernie Vitucci Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 612	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl Good Evening...You might want to begin by putting a good sized magnet in your fuel bowl if you have the glass bowl. If the gunk is magnetic, then the magnet will stop it from moving on and you can clean the fuel bowl and magnet as necessary. If you have the solid fuel filter, then I would suggest that you clean it each time you drive the car. You will sometimes be surprised how much gunk is trapped in the filter. Ernie

03-31-2018, 01:50 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl I agree, use only good gas without the corn crap in it, and add 4 ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil to each 10 gallons of gas. An hour ago I just loosened up a stuck throttle plate on a small Honda carb. This was from using corn crap gas, which dries and leaves a sticky residue, which can also stick valves.

03-31-2018, 08:13 AM	#6
rocket1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midland Park,N.J. Posts: 1,108	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It sounds like the tank was sealed at one time and the ethanol is dissolving the sealer.

03-31-2018, 08:38 AM	#7
leo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 734	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl Hey guys, I really love all the recommendations about using real gas, not the corn crap. Here is the list I cobbled together from a real gas site. Do not know the accuracy, high octane and high prices I'm sure! 9 Pure Gas Stations in New Jersey City Brand Octane Name Street Address Last Updated Bayville AVFUEL 100 Ocean Aire 101 Airport Rd 2017-09-09 Brick UNBRANDED 100 Drum Point Marina 770 Drum Point 2017-07-28 Chatsworth SUNOCO 91 G V S Sport Motor 1551 Cnty Rd 2017-10-11 Kenvil VP RACING 94 Morris County Marine 745 Rt 46 2017-06-22 Pittstown SHELL 100 Sky Manor Airport 48 Sky Manor Rd 2017-09-08 Shamong UNBRANDED 110 Mighty Joe's 1231 Rt 206 2018-03-21 Toms River VP RACING 94 Downs Ford 360 Rt. 37 2018-01-22 Whitehouse UNBRANDED 100 Solberg Airport 39 Thor-Solberg 2017-10-24 Williamstown PHILLIPS 66 100 Cross Keys Airport 1531 N Tuckahoe 2017-07-07 Sorry but it all has strung together, my bad..... Last edited by leo; 03-31-2018 at 09:01 AM.

03-31-2018, 12:54 PM	#8
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl Do a "search" here for "dog leg". It was re-posted a few days ago. It may be the best "fix" without pulling the tank. IMO it's only going to get worse. Paul in CT

04-01-2018, 09:18 AM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,044	Re: Gunk in fuel bowl https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=Dirty+leg __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!