Hey All,
I have heard mixed things about letting a Carb. Engine warm up in cold and warm weather, and I want to get the story straight. How long should I let my 1983 Bronco warm up for when it is cold and when its warm? I noticed that after letting in run for about one minute and trying to drive makes the truck stall in cold weather. Also, does this hurt anything if I just turn the key and drive?


Thanks!

RYan

 

On my 84, it takes 2-3 minutes for the electric choke to open up. It will idle at 1000RPM, then when I give the gas pedal a tap it drops to 700RPM only after the choke opens up. Yes, it will stall if I get in too big a hurry. I'd hate to pull out on the road and stall, so I give it time to warm up. I go thru this even when the weather is warm, it just takes a bit longer when it's cold.

 

Wow!
Mine idols around 2 grand and when I tap the gas it backs off to about 1 1/2 (when its cold out). Is somthing not working right on my carb?


Ryan

 

Nothing seem to be wrong there. It is not good on any engine to just get in and turn the key and drive off, you need to the oil get up to the lifters and cam bearings. I at the least let mine warm up 5 minutes in cold weather about a minute or two when it is warm out. I also have the last year of carbs on a 351W in a 1987 x-cab long bed.

 

Hey, Ryan, what kind of carb do you have? Factory, 2bbl., 4bbl., etc.? I have a reman. OEM Holley 4bbl. on my 351W H.O., and when the electric choke is not working, it will idle about 1150RPM and stay there. You can adjust the idle down some on your's if you know what you're doing, or have a mechanic check it out. If it's the original/factory carb, the accelerator rod, choke, float, or power valve may be worn out so much that no adjustment will help. A rebuid kit is alot cheaper than a new carb, but mine was leaking gas everywhere and totally shot. I also agree about giving it time to warm up and get the oil flowing.

 

Just a little info Holley Carbs suck. I have gone through 3 of them and finally got a new edelbrock 600cfm from seco and i have not had any mor problems

 

I have a 2bbl. The only thing I worry about when adjusting the carb is that in warm weather it is fine. It will idol around 3/4 of a grand and when in gear at about 1/2 of a grand. Its just when it is cold out that it does not go down. Even after an hour or so of driving it it will stay up around 2 1/2 grand as an idol and at 1 grand in gear. I lubed everything up thinking that somthing was sticking but again it only happens when it is cold out. We have had very weird weather here where it will be 14 on day and the next day turn around and be 50 out (Central PA). That is how I know it has to do with the cold, what should I do about that?



Ryan

 

ace324, I agree with you! I have an EB 600cfm on my Chevy and it's great. Someday soon I'll change out the one on my Bronco, too!

Ryan, do you know if your choke is working and adjusted properly? If you take the cover off of the air cleaner/breather, watch the butterfly valve to see if it ever opens up. You may have to get someone to hold down the gas pedal to keep it running when it's cold. I don't know if you have a manual or electric choke, either. If it's electric, check the wiring to be sure it's not disconnected somewhere. 90% of my choke problems are due to this. The power comes from the back of the alternator, runs around the front all the way to the cab on the driver's-side, to a relay, back around to the choke! You can also check if the carb is running "rich" by the exhaust pipe. Stick a white piece of paper near the outlet when the motor is on. If it spits out black soot, it's rich and burning too much gas. If the paper sucks back into the pipe off and on, you have a miss or vacuum leak. A mechanic will charge you $50-$100 to set your carb, so let's do what we can to get you fixed up beforehand!!!

I think the reason it takes longer to warm-up the motor in cold weather has to do with the choke-that's what it's designed to help with. Carbs are real finicky unless they're set just right, and the factory ones from 20 years ago are usually worn out, so adjustment is near impossible. My $0.02, Randy