Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

hey!

I've known that my carb is bad for a while now, just a bunch of vacuum leaks and thus, a rich mixture, but can this cause engine damage? I just need to know if I have to spend the 600+ on the carb and manifold now, or can it wait for a while without seriously harming the engine? I heard that it can cause issues, and I just need to know, as I'd hate to have to end up replacing the carb and manifold, as well as all the piston rings and seals etc.

Cheers guys,

'81GMC

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

can a bad heart cause human damage lol
ya it can cause some damage foul up your plugs, valves etc

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

I thought so, is this damage permanent? (It's been running like this for who know how long), or can it be cleaned out with a few cycles of engine cleaner additive? I appreciate the advice!

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Fuel wash is the problem. Excess fuel can varnish your cylinder walls and your rings and walls get scored.
You need a little oil splash from below to keep the walls in good condition.
I thought you were gonna rebuild that carb.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

+1 just rebuild your current carb. What carb is on it now?

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Geezer, I found out it isn't worth rebuilding, it has too many vacuum leaks, and frank, it is a Q-Jet. It isn't running too too rich, it is showing minor signs of a rich mixture, and fuel smoke out the pipes at startup and in park when revved, but I'm thinking it won't be a dire emergency, but it it is, I will replace asap.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Some think the Qjet is a great carb. Vacuum leaks have nothing to do with the goodness, or whether a carb is rebuiladable.

If vacuum leaks are a prblem, the engine is running lean. Chances are the carb isn't the primary issu. Find and fix the vacuum leaks.

Or, start from square one to diagnose the issue.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Vacuum leaks would cause a lean condition, not a rich. Where do you think you have vacuum leaks? And usually, if you had vacuum leaks and/or a lean condition, you would get popping through the carb.

And Geezer is right, scoring cylinders is a very common symptom of carb issues.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Try hooking your vac advance to the manifold port on your carb and then turn your idle down.
You could be idling on the power circuit causing the rich smoke you see.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

The whaaaat? :P but the idle is already really low (400rmp when stopped in gear) likely caused by the leaky carb/manifold etc. but since I'm slowly restoring, I'll probably invest in a nice little dress up kit, carb, manifold, valve covers and air cleaner, most likely edelbrock :)

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

You buying new stuff or looking for used stuff Mike?
I see stuff for sale down this way and could snag it for you.
Did you know there's a guy in Surrey who is an excellent quadrajet rebuilder?

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Holley is selling out old stock Weiand Action+ manifolds right now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weiand-8120-...-/360675105342 I just ordered one along with a 600 Summit carb. I'm tired of trying to get my quadrajet (with epoxied idle mixture screws) to idle right.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

what color is the smoke??
what do the plugs look like??
any pics of the vac leaks??
Qjets are excellent carbs..

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

I say replace it with a holley then.

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Smoke is whitish-blue and smells of raw fuel, the plugs are black, with deposits on the side electrodes, and the carb is sucking in air from all corners and possible places...

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

Dan, I would prefer to buy new, and I have an account with lordco, which aleady brings a $550 carb down to $480, and a manifold to $150, and I have lots of good experience with Edelbrock, so they are trusted by me, but do keep your eye out, and it costs close the $300 for two people both ways on BC Ferries...

Re: Can a bad carburetor cause engine damage?
 

On another mission! :) I would've snagged the carb and manifold off my Donor truck down in Victoria, but when I went to do that, I discovered that somebody had already pilfered it off the damn thing...