Engine Flooding: the effect on spark plugs
Phyllis Dixon
In the past when an engine was flooded, the engine could be cleared and
restarted without noticeable damage to the plugs. Today, when an engine is
flooded, the plugs are trashed. I suspect it is related to the use of
unleaded gasoline. I would like to know exactly what happens to the plugs.
I don't check the news group often, so please respond via e-mail.
Martin Dixon
Kevin Mouton
Phyllis Dixon wrote:
>
> In the past when an engine was flooded, the engine could be cleared and
> restarted without noticeable damage to the plugs. Today, when an engine is
> flooded, the plugs are trashed.
statement, but I have cleaned many plugs that were fuel fouled on late
model vehicles with no ill effect to the spark plugs. As a matter of
fact most fuel injected engine computers have a clear flood mode that
shuts off the injectors if you hold the gas pedal to the floor while
cranking. This is to clear fuel fouled plugs and allow you to start an
engine that has been flooded. There again the spark plugs will work just
fine after being flooded.
I suspect it is related to the use of
> unleaded gasoline. I would like to know exactly what happens to the plugs.
>
> I don't check the news group often, so please respond via e-mail.
>
> Martin Dixon
>
> pdi...@sockets.net
Kev
--
************************************************
Kevin Mouton - Automotive Technology Instructor
************************************************
"If women don't find you handsome they
should at least find you handy!"
Red Green of Possum Lodge
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Clifton T. Sharp, Jr.
A little story about flooding and plugs...
Some years ago, on my 1976 Torino / 351W / etc., I was having problems
with the choke sticking. I diddled and found the problem but didn't have
time to get parts and fix it, so I gave the wife a procedure for starting
the car. As a quick fix, I installed new plugs so the car would start a
bit easier.
Of course, wifey didn't follow the procedure, and flooded the car the very
next morning. After that the car was unstartable; not a sign of ignition.
I gave up and called my guru, Fred. Fred said, "The plugs are 'gassed', change
the plugs." I said, "But they're BRAND NEW." He said, "I don't care, the
plugs are 'gassed', change them." Bro-in-law Kenny was with me; he complained
that Fred was a dope. Knowing Fred, I bet Kenny a buck that plugs would fix
the problem, and he took me up immediately.
I got plugs and choke parts this time, fixed the choke and let Kenny try to
start the car again. Again, not a single sign of any ignition whatsoever.
Then I changed the plugs, handed Kenny the keys and said "Try it."
It started within half a revolution, and Kenny didn't even miss the buck in
his wide-eyed disbelief...
Brett Anderson
Although, if you had taken out the plugs, cleaned and dried them and put
them back in it would have exactly the same effect as installing new plugs
and saved you a few dollars as well.
--
Brett Anderson
Endurance BMW
Mount Kisco NY
BMW and ASE master technician
Clifton T. Sharp, Jr. <cli...@webspun.com> wrote in article
<32C986...@webspun.com>...
Rizwan Ahmad
Phyllis Dixon (pdi...@sockets.net) is accused of saying:
: In the past when an engine was flooded, the engine could be cleared and
: restarted without noticeable damage to the plugs. Today, when an engine is
: unleaded gasoline. I would like to know exactly what happens to the plugs.
: I don't check the news group often, so please respond via e-mail.
:
: Martin Dixon
:
: pdi...@sockets.net
Rizwan Ahmad
riza...@csd.uwm.edu, amc...@execpc.com, r...@nap.net
http://www.uwm.edu/~rizahmad
UWM EM$ Micro Lab Con$ultant 229-2239, Nap.Net NOC Supervisor 747-8747
The only thing$ you need in life are computer$, car$, and more car$
1977 MB 450 $EL, 1996 Toyota Corolla DX
\
|\_________________\___ 1988 Ni$$an Pickup Lowrider Drop Top
|- _ | _ | |
|====/O\=====|=/O\=|===)
Gene Slater
The plugs get soaking wet, not that that by itself will prevent firing,
but the air/fuel mixture in the chamber is way too rich to support
combustion...so changing the plugs will allow the fuel to evaporate a
little and some fresh air to enter the cylinder, plus the plugs are dry,
this all helps restore the balance needed for combustion....:-))) of
course if the engine is very, very severely flooded, it will very in
response somewhat, but will probably allow a ragged start up, but with
some revving it will clear out and run ok.....:-)))
Clifton T. Sharp, Jr.
You know, I thought of that and had already pulled out the brand-new plugs.
I fully expected to find them soaking wet with gasoline, but they were dry.
They looked brand spanking new, but I gave them a cursory once-over with
Gumout anyway. And before that, I had floored the gas pedal (withOUT cranking)
for ten minutes to eliminate anything that might be sitting in the intake
manifold. I'm almost sure that the first thing the plugs saw after all that
was a nice burnable mixture.
I still can't explain the phenomenon. I was almost tempted to put the old
plugs back in for a test, but I was too lazy. :-)
Clarence Snyder
Gene Slater <mrv...@ids2.idsonline.com> wrote:
>The plugs get soaking wet, not that that by itself will prevent firing,
>but the air/fuel mixture in the chamber is way too rich to support
>combustion...so changing the plugs will allow the fuel to evaporate a
>little and some fresh air to enter the cylinder, plus the plugs are dry,
>this all helps restore the balance needed for combustion....:-))) of
>course if the engine is very, very severely flooded, it will very in
>response somewhat, but will probably allow a ragged start up, but with
>some revving it will clear out and run ok.....:-)))
Sometimes this is true - usually in fact, but not always. Last winter
at about this time I was up at camp with my Aerostar, and the battery
got a bit low with the temp about -15F. It growled a bit when I tried
to crank it, and that was it. Got the battery charged up, put the
boosters to it, and cranked. No way would it start, so we dragged it
/into the shed and put on a fire. Great fun pulling the plugs - set
them on the stove to dry out - they looked good (only about 6000 Km on
them ) and fired them back in, after cranking the engine with no
plugs to dry it out. Popped in the plugs, and nothing! crank like a
trooper and no fire. A 30 mile round trip later (my brother's truck) I
had a new set of Motorcraft plugs - spun them in, and about 1/2 crank
later all 3 litres sprang to life. Those plugs were toast - platinum
toast at $8.50 per slice.
This is not the first time I've seen it happen, although it is
uncommon. We used to have the same problem with NGK platinum
fine-wires on some Toyotas - flood them and throw away the plugs. The
Nips never gave me that problem. Who can say why?
James G. Stovall
I've got an idea why. It may be stupid, but here goes: what kind of gas
were you using when your plugs died. Maybe flooding the engine with
different grades of gas is waht kills the plugs, not actually flooding the
engine. We use very high octane in our Triumph, and it's been flooded many
times after we've put something on and tried to crank it. Never had a
problem with the pulgs going bad. Same story for a couple other Triumph
owners I know. Sound like a good idea?
Jeff
Gene Slater
Well, Clarence, I ever ran platinum plugs, so maybe thats it,, but i
still think just drying them out, should be fine, and maybe the trip
time allowed the engine to dry out enough, or when you changed them...
however i feel sorry for you all in -15* temps!!!!....;-(((
Joe G Roberts
Clifton T. Sharp, Jr. wrote:
> Gumout anyway. And before that, I had floored the gas pedal (withOUT cranking)
> for ten minutes to eliminate anything that might be sitting in the intake
When you floor the pedal, you have to crank the car. The starter
turning the engine over moves fresh air through the cylindars to clear
out the flood. Just flooring it does nothing. BTW, when you floor the
pedal and crank the engine, the computer goes into "clear flood" mode.
It still tries to fire the plugs, but it does not inject any additional
fuel. Try it.
---- JR
Clifton T. Sharp, Jr.
Whoops, didn't mention this was on a 1976 Torino; no "computer" as we think of
it today, no "clear flood" mode. Just holding the pedal down for ten minutes
on older engines was usually enough to allow gas in the intake manifold to
evaporate and/or dissipate. Because it was carbureted, cranking was the wrong
thing to do if something was wrong with the carburetor (e.g., float stuck open).
Oh, also; air cleaner removed for good convection.
--
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| Cliff Sharp | If tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make |
| WA9PDM | foghorns out of? --Lonnie Donnegan |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Clarence Snyder
"Clifton T. Sharp, Jr." <cli...@webspun.com> wrote:
>Joe G Roberts wrote:
>> Clifton T. Sharp, Jr. wrote:
>> > Gumout anyway. And before that, I had floored the gas pedal (withOUT cranking)
>> > for ten minutes to eliminate anything that might be sitting in the intake
>> When you floor the pedal, you have to crank the car. The starter
>> turning the engine over moves fresh air through the cylindars to clear
>> out the flood. Just flooring it does nothing. BTW, when you floor the
>> pedal and crank the engine, the computer goes into "clear flood" mode.
>> It still tries to fire the plugs, but it does not inject any additional
>> fuel. Try it.
>
>Whoops, didn't mention this was on a 1976 Torino; no "computer" as we think of
>it today, no "clear flood" mode. Just holding the pedal down for ten minutes
>on older engines was usually enough to allow gas in the intake manifold to
>evaporate and/or dissipate. Because it was carbureted, cranking was the wrong
>thing to do if something was wrong with the carburetor (e.g., float stuck open).
>
>Oh, also; air cleaner removed for good convection.
>
Unless the float needle valve is leaking, the proper way to clear a
flooded carbureted engine is the same as for EFI. Hold the foot to the
floor on accelerator to open both throttle and choke. Crank engine. As
no manifold or ventury vacuum is developed, no fuel is ingested, and
the air flow through the engine dilutes the fuel charge, allowing the
engine to start.