Next query.... Running rich?

rpjg_1975 · May 18, 2008

For my next question it would seem that the car is running very rich as it stinks of petrol when running. Both while idling and driving along. Is there any easy way of solving this? I haven't got a clue where the mixture screw etc is? I hope it's running rich as I put £40 petrol in the other day which put it to about half, and have done 100 miles and it's down to quarter already!! I would expect it to be a bit better than that?

Riverside · May 18, 2008

It may be running rich but if you can smell petrol chances are it's because the fuel lines that run under the car are corroded. It's pretty common for cars of this age, and to replace the steel lines the rear suspension need to be dropped which as you can imagine is pretty labour intensive. I had mine replaced with suitable rubber hose (not all of it, just the part that goes between the shell & the suspension torsion bar) for a relatively small cost (compared to doing it properly). More than two years later it's fine, but it's one of thise jobs I'll get done if I remove the rear suspension (eg if reindexing the torsion bars).

Potentially it could be exhaust fumes entering the cabin from a dodgy boot seal (or taillights), you just need to work out whether you're being asphixiated by burnt or unburnt fuel [8D]

Peter Empson · May 18, 2008

They do seem rich compared to modern cars, so it may be ok. I use to get an average 230 miles to a tank on my Lux engine when doing shorter journeys and closer to 300 on a proper run.

pauljmcnulty · May 18, 2008

I put £40 petrol in the other day which put it to about half, and have done 100 miles and it's down to quarter already!! I would expect it to be a bit better than that?

Only way to tell is to brim it and then clock the mileage. Gauge is no indicator of how much is in the tank, and today's £40 is tomorrow's egg-cup full of fuel...[

]

Expect about 360 miles out of a tank in a lux, mixed driving and not emptying the tank.

DavidL · May 18, 2008

ORIGINAL: rpjg_1975
I hope it's running rich as I put £40 petrol in the other day which put it to about half, and have done 100 miles and it's down to quarter already!! I would expect it to be a bit better than that?

I hate to say it Russell but that sounds about right at current prices. I tend to put about the same amount in my S which takes the gauge to about half, a bit over, and then get 250 ish from that depending on the type of driving. So yours seems a bit high perhaps but not miles off!

Peter Empson · May 18, 2008

Think my right foot must be a bit heavier than yours then Paul [

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rpjg_1975 · May 18, 2008

Looks like I will have to see how it goes then eh? I was under the impression that it was around the 25 mpg mark around town and closer to 30 on a run so thought it seemed a bit heavy on the useage. It definitely seems to smell of petrol but from the exhaust and not unless it is running. Anyone know of a way of checking how rich/lean it is running? Was thinking of putting it into somewhere to get it on the machine to check the emmisions etc?

James_G · May 19, 2008

My own car also smells like it's running a bit rich, so I did the brim the tank experiment to see how I got on. For reference then I put in £70 (!) at 110.9p a litre, giving 63.1 litres. I then did 391 miles on the tank to get the fuel light on again and so assuming 4.54 litres to a UK gallon, not the inferior US gallon ([

]) gives an mpg figure of ..............28.1 mpg, which doesn't seem too bad to me.

It still smells of petrol though so I'll inspect my fuel lines. Somebody else on here replaced then with some PTFE braided hose I believe and was pleased with the results.

rpjg_1975 · May 19, 2008

I think that's what I am going to have to do when I get paid, mind, I worked out that apparently I have a 75 litre tank which means over £80!!! and see what I get to. I'll also be inspecting the fuel lines but there doesn't seem to be any smell unless it is running?? not sure if it would still smell if my fuel lines were leaking?

xenon · May 19, 2008

ORIGINAL: rpjg_1975

I think that's what I am going to have to do when I get paid, mind, I worked out that apparently I have a 75 litre tank which means over £80!!! and see what I get to. I'll also be inspecting the fuel lines but there doesn't seem to be any smell unless it is running?? not sure if it would still smell if my fuel lines were leaking?

Remember there is much less pressure in the fuel lines when the engine is not running - especially if it's leaking. That could explain why you only smell fuel with the engine running and the fuel lines at pressure.