Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

[Richard M.]

Today I opened up a WCFB from the 283 on the 59(nom '57 548). Used weekly to cruise nights and occasional trips. A brown powdery substance
all over the bottom of the bowls. The accelerator pump plunger is disintegrated. What's left appears to be the leather type.

Ethanol?

Rich

[Alexander C.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Wow, first thing I would normally think is contaminated fuel tank like rust but that's just crazy looking at that plunger

May I ask how many miles and in how many years since they have been opened last?

What ethanol mix is there where you live? 10%?

[Richard M.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Wow, first thing I would normally think is contaminated fuel tank like rust but that's just crazy looking at that plunger

May I ask how many miles and in how many years since they have been opened last?

What ethanol mix is there where you live? 10%?

Probably 1 or 2 thousand miles, maybe about 5-7 years. Ethanol everywhere about a year and a half ago, yes 10% or less at the pumps.

I am planning to remove the tank and inspect and flush, or replace if needed. Won't get in there for a while though.

Rich

[Alexander C.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

With that little fuel actually going through them over that amount of time with such low miles, are you using any kind of fuel stabilizer?

No doubt that ethanol can have that affect on certain petrol based plastics, aging fuel can also contribute quite a bit. I've seen 87 octane go bad enough an engine wouldn't run on it's own in just 6 months. Dark mustard like hardened goop not more than a few months after that.

[Richard M.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Car is in Florida and used year round on a weekly basis. There was a paper element filter in place of the typical screen type filter, so I'm wondering if the red particles are from the fuel in the bowls breaking down or the sediment in the fuel system before the carburetor got through it somehow.

edit: or maybe the powdery substance is the paper filter itself breaking down?
Rich

[Ronald L.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Really looks like rust - did you put a magnet to it? Does any of this pick up?

Open the gas cap, is the tank clean and shiy inside, rusted, or???

[Ken A.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Typical of WATER damage.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Car is in Florida and used year round on a weekly basis. There was a paper element filter in place of the typical screen type filter, so I'm wondering if the red particles are from the fuel in the bowls breaking down or the sediment in the fuel system before the carburetor got through it somehow.

edit: or maybe the powdery substance is the paper filter itself breaking down?
Rich

that is a Q jet filter that was jammed into the carb and i doubt if it even filtered the gas as i bet most bypassed the filter because of the fit. was octane booster ever used because it will cause problems as they are mostly pure alcohol.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Alcohol attracts and pulls the water vapor - mositure in the air into the mix...

[Richard M.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

It's not attracted to a magnet so it's not rust. The inside of the tank has some sediment. I forgot about the other filter between the pump and carburetor. It has the same reddish powdery substance on the outside of the filter. It's caked up as there was still some fuel in the filter before I cut it in half. I don't know if octane boost was used in this, but I doubt it.

I'm beginning to think what was in the carburetor was this bigger paper filter breaking down, combining with the little filter in the carb inlet(which likely wasn't sealed very well) and many years going by.

Maybe exacerbated by the ethanol fuel over the last year or so.

Rich

[Clem Z.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

It's not attracted to a magnet so it's not rust. The inside of the tank has some sediment. I forgot about the other filter between the pump and carburetor. It has the same reddish powdery substance on the outside of the filter. It's caked up as there was still some fuel in the filter before I cut it in half. I don't know if octane boost was used in this, but I doubt it.

I'm beginning to think what was in the carburetor was this bigger paper filter breaking down, combining with the little filter in the carb inlet(which likely wasn't sealed very well) and many years going by.

Maybe exacerbated by the ethanol fuel over the last year or so.

Rich

a lot of junk can come from the station tanks were you buy the fuel.

[Bob H.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

I had a similar problem on an all original 61. I could replace the filter and in a very short time, the filter was clogged again.

When we opened the tank it looked fine but what we finally discovered was that when I put fuel in it, the rubber neck was disintegrating from the inside. Maybe ethanol ralated?

The substance was extremely fine and we could not tell it was rubber by looking at it. Anyway, if you open it up, I suggest changing the rubber filler neck at the same time.

[Roy B.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

a lot of junk can come from the station tanks were you buy the fuel.

You hit the nail on the head

[John H.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

I have had the same issue here in Ohio as my friend has had in Fl. We both have had this VERY fine powder left in the carb bowl after the gas has evaporated . In my case the stuff gets past the filters because it is in the mixture of the fuel. The car did not start and I could not see fuel pumping so I thought fuel pump was bad. Bought new pump and took appart old pump and it was FILLED with the stuff. Prior to this mess, I had cleaned gas tank and replaced steel lines. All the rubber lines were also new.-John

[Richard M.]

Re: Inside a WCFB: Is this the result of Ethanol?

Interesting......Ok, fuel pump coming apart next. Results to follow.

Rich