Shutting my Roadster off.

[ford-m]

Met a fellow "A"er who jumped all over me for doing the following while shutting my Roadster down. Told me I would ruin the carb and wear out the fuel shut off valve and cause stress on the motor. ????

This is what I do.
I turn off the fuel and let it run out of fuel if leaving it for any length of time like overnight in the shop or say I know I will be away from it for five or so hours.
If just running to the store to get milk or eggs I don't do this but for lengthy periods I do.
Am I doing any harm doing this ?

Michael

[DJ S]

No harm can be done by doing this. I always follow the same procedure.

[Ed Saniewski]

If I am parking any of my cars inside I will shut the fuel off and let them run out as I park. I think you should be shutting off the fuel line every time you park.

[barry022]

"I turn off the fuel and let it run out of fuel if leaving it for any length of time like overnight in the shop or say I know I will be away from it for five or so hours."

What advantage is gained by doing so? If there is a concern about fuel leaking past the needle valve it should be fixed.

[todd3131]

I shut my fuel off every time I park it for the day I don't always run it dry but when I don't i wish I had. My paticular fuel valve has been on it since 62 and never has been tightened. What possible stress could be on the motor?

He is the one that needs the education.

[Big hammer]

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What happens inside the carb when it sits along time? The fuel evaporates, fresh fuel inters through the needle valve. A non leaking valve could pick up dirt/ rust and then fuel will leak out and puddle on the ground, floor! If your carb leaks all the time, fix the carb!
Closing the tank valve and letting the engine die won't harm anything! Make sure you turn the key off after it runs out of gas.

[ford-m]

A little more info,
Carb was rebuild and does not leak even if valve is left open.
Car has a new shut off valve even though the old valve was in good shape, and carb has the good needle valve from Snyders.
I guess I do this because dad did this on his coupe and Roadster. If there is no harm in doing it than I will carry on.

When starting the car, I turn the fuel valve on and she fires straight up on the third reveloution and a quick tug of the choke.

[wmws]

Tell that fellow "A"er to come on the Barn and explain himself. He'll get an education real quick. Your doing it just right.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Ford-m,
There should be a book written, "OLD STUPID FOLKS SAY THE DAMNDEST THINGS"---
When some folks speak, you just consider the "SOURCE"--LOL
Even my Dog is smarter than that! (He's SMILIN')
Bill W.

[George Miller]

you are doing it just right, might save your garage and house.

[Brendan]

i turn off the battery disconnect then the fuel , let the car run out of gas then everything is dead! i have a up draft and the fuel will get into the motor if i don,t shut it off

[Patrick L.]

There are a lot of Old Wives Tales out there aren't there. Its strange what some folks think.


Fuel valve off
light switch off
left lever up
key off
ammeter check

[Chris H]

I have always shut off the fuel supply and allow the engine to die from lack of fuel before I leave the car over night. I do not turn off the key ignition or battery disconnect until after the engine has stopped. Since the battery regulates the generator, disconnecting the battery will allow the generator to runaway. That is my thoughts on it anyway.

I have always wondered how much fuel is left in the carb bowl after the engine dies. Since this remaining fuel, if any, will be allowed to evaporate over time, how much deposits remain. So far so good. I haven't found any deposits yet.

[cpf240]

Originally Posted by Chris H

...I have always wondered how much fuel is left in the carb bowl after the engine dies. Since this remaining fuel, if any, will be allowed to evaporate over time, how much deposits remain. So far so good. I haven't found any deposits yet.

I've wondered about this too. When I get mine running, I think I'll pull the drain from the float chamber if the car is going to sit for several months, like for its Winter hibernation.

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by wmws

Tell that fellow "A"er to come on the Barn and explain himself. He'll get an education real quick. Your doing it just right.

Agreed 👍

[wmws]

Originally Posted by cpf240

I've wondered about this too. When I get mine running, I think I'll pull the drain from the float chamber if the car is going to sit for several months, like for its Winter hibernation.

My car never sits for long but I do drain my motorcycle over the winter.

[wmws]

Since the battery regulates the generator, disconnecting the battery will allow the generator to runaway. That is my thoughts on it anyway.

I just put a disconnect switch on the ground cable and thought I would test it. The car was idling and I flipped the disconnect switch and everything shut down.

[1931 flamingo]

There seems to be an "expert" in every crowd........................
Paul in CT

[Slowplane]

I went to a little Saturday morning car/coffee parking lot get together yesterday. ALL the experts were there. I found out that I don't know shit about A's. (got my first one in Feb. '66)

[Y-Blockhead]

I would shut off the main valve for positive shut off on ANY vehicle with fuel gravity feed when parked, Model A, Motorcycle, all. I would never trust a float needle only.

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

There seems to be an "expert" in every crowd........................
Paul in CT

Sometimes there is more than one... Me and someone else.