is it possible to adjust mixture without replacing jets?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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is it possible to adjust mixture without replacing jets?
Hi,
<p> I've got a 1983 E350 van with a 5.8 Liter V8. The engine has been replaced by a previous owner. The Carb I believe is a two barrel Holly (I don't have it available to me to check... at the moment it's in another state...)
<p>It seems that on a recent drive through Denver, it was overheating a lot, and putting out a really debilitating exhaust smell that got into the cab. Now yes, fixing the exhaust leak problem obviously needs to happen. My theory is that it's running too rich for the altitude, thus making the exhaust more noxious and causing the engine to run hot.
<p>Is any of this a valid theory?
<p>If this is the problem - is it possible to adjust your mixture without taking the carb appart? Obviously, if you're just driving thru Colorado, you don't want to take your carb apart and replace jets.
<p>How much good would a nice blower motor on the air intake do? You could just turn it on when your mixture starts to be too rich?
<p>
Thanks for any ideas!
one other question - will octane rating of a fuel make a difference in respect to altitude?
<p> I've got a 1983 E350 van with a 5.8 Liter V8. The engine has been replaced by a previous owner. The Carb I believe is a two barrel Holly (I don't have it available to me to check... at the moment it's in another state...)
<p>It seems that on a recent drive through Denver, it was overheating a lot, and putting out a really debilitating exhaust smell that got into the cab. Now yes, fixing the exhaust leak problem obviously needs to happen. My theory is that it's running too rich for the altitude, thus making the exhaust more noxious and causing the engine to run hot.
<p>Is any of this a valid theory?
<p>If this is the problem - is it possible to adjust your mixture without taking the carb appart? Obviously, if you're just driving thru Colorado, you don't want to take your carb apart and replace jets.
<p>How much good would a nice blower motor on the air intake do? You could just turn it on when your mixture starts to be too rich?
<p>
Thanks for any ideas!
one other question - will octane rating of a fuel make a difference in respect to altitude?
Last edited by Ford_Six; Aug 18, 2004 at 04:55 AM. Reason: Removal of second post
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Less O2 at higher elevations equals richer burn. Richer translates to cooler. Higher octane equals cooler burn. So, maybe if you run lower octane it will help compensate for the richer condition while you are temporarily in high elevations. ?? Higher engine temp sounds like the effect of the mountain driving to me, not the fuel/air ratio. Good luck, John
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
If you are still in the area, try finding a similar truck in a junkyard. Most vehicles sold in high-altitude areas have a high altitude compensator on the carb. It looks like the vacuum secondary controller on the side of a Holley 4BBL. Get the whole carb, rebuild it, and you should be good to go.
