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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug holedo long term damage
When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 4:08:53 PM UTC-5, wrote:
When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so It would take a lot more than that wee little shot to hydrolock it. You'd have to fill it up with enough liquid, little air that it couldn't compress it. And catch it at the right part of the cycle too. I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark Sure it can, but that small amount, just at start up, I would think it would take so many starts for it to have any real effect, the motor would have died from something else first. Starting ether serves the same purpose, with the same possible side effects. I only use it though on the rare occasion an engine won't start, not for routine start attempts. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
Mark,
I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine in any way. Have you tried starter fluid? Dave M. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:16 -0500, "David L. Martel"
wrote: I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine in any way. Have you tried starter fluid? "...Contains an upper cylinder lubricant" One example: Valvoline - http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/pyroil/starting-fluid/58 |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:36:03 -0800, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark I've used more than "1/2 thimble" with no harm to the engine. I've flooded truck carbs with fuel. Its not something you do all the time. When the plug is out, bring the piston to top-dead-center. You can measure with a pencil, but not necessary. At TDC pressure will blow your thumb off the plug hole (loosely held). You don't not need to be entirely accurate on TDC, just close. A shot glass of fuel is fine. I'd say a shot glass is way too much for a small engine. Clearance volume on a 208 cc engine with 7:1 compression ratio is 36.66 cc, which is only 3/4 of a shot glass (1.5 oz shot vs 1.17 oz). If you are talking a 400cc engine (10hp, +/-) it is still too much. - you will drown the spark plug. A spoonfull of gas in the plug hole is more than enough to make it fire. I generally put about the equivalent of a thimblefull in the INTAKE - where you are safe to put more than in the plug hole. Too much will wash the oil off the cyls too - but you would have to do it a lot to do serious harm. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:16 -0500, "David L. Martel"
wrote: Mark, I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine in any way. Have you tried starter fluid? Dave M. Using starting fluid requires restraint and finesse in order to not cause a problem. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 7:06:20 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark That sounds like a lot of trouble. No, it's not too much gas to hydrolock it, and while it will wash off the oil from the cylinder walls, it's not significant. But here is a better way. Get a pump oil can. (Made to fill with oil and lubricate stuff, by pumping the trigger). Put some gas in that can, and pump a few squirts into the carburetor. (you have to remove the air cleaner cover, but that's easier than taking out the spark plug). You dont have to replace the air cleaner cover (YET), just try to get the engine to start. If it wont start, spray a little more gas in the carb. Once the engine is running, you should put the air cleaner cover back. Just be careful doing that while th engine is running. Dont leave gas in your pump oil can real long or it goes bad. This is much better for the engine than using Starting Fluid, which can damage engines. Remember when WD-40 was the bee's tits for starting engines? Light lube and propane propellant...now they use CO2, phuk! |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:06:40 -0800 (PST), bob_villa
wrote: On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 7:06:20 PM UTC-6, wrote: On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark That sounds like a lot of trouble. No, it's not too much gas to hydrolock it, and while it will wash off the oil from the cylinder walls, it's not significant. But here is a better way. Get a pump oil can. (Made to fill with oil and lubricate stuff, by pumping the trigger). Put some gas in that can, and pump a few squirts into the carburetor. (you have to remove the air cleaner cover, but that's easier than taking out the spark plug). You dont have to replace the air cleaner cover (YET), just try to get the engine to start. If it wont start, spray a little more gas in the carb. Once the engine is running, you should put the air cleaner cover back. Just be careful doing that while th engine is running. Dont leave gas in your pump oil can real long or it goes bad. This is much better for the engine than using Starting Fluid, which can damage engines. Remember when WD-40 was the bee's tits for starting engines? Light lube and propane propellant...now they use CO2, phuk! Yep, I did that. I also have used an unlit (turned on) propane torch held above a carburetor on older car engines that would not run, and appeared to be due to a lack of fuel. If the engine ran with the propane, then I knew for sure that the problem was not ignition, and was definitely fuel related. This also assisted an engine that kept killing because of partial or poor gas delivery (usually a partly plugged carb or fuel filter). I could keep the engine running, while adjusting the carb, and not have to keep restarting the engine. If it could not be adjusted, then I had to check other things, like the filter, fuel pump, etc. There was a trick to doing that, which was to shield the torch tip, so the propane was getting sucked into the carb, while still allowing air to enter the engine. Just a slight move of the torch would make a huge difference in how it ran, (or quit running). I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25 times! (We later found it was nothing but a clogged fuel filter). I dont know if this would work on modern fuel injected engines???? It might work on a lawn mower, I have never tried it!!! (HINT HINT for the OP). |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 6:31:00 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:36:03 -0800, Oren wrote: On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the Plug, helps get it started. The question is, can this do long term damage? It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in. I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so I keep it too a very small amount. Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen. Mark I've used more than "1/2 thimble" with no harm to the engine. I've flooded truck carbs with fuel. Its not something you do all the time. When the plug is out, bring the piston to top-dead-center. You can measure with a pencil, but not necessary. At TDC pressure will blow your thumb off the plug hole (loosely held). You don't not need to be entirely accurate on TDC, just close. A shot glass of fuel is fine. I'd say a shot glass is way too much for a small engine. Clearance volume on a 208 cc engine with 7:1 compression ratio is 36.66 cc, which is only 3/4 of a shot glass (1.5 oz shot vs 1.17 oz). If you are talking a 400cc engine (10hp, +/-) it is still too much. - you will drown the spark plug. A spoonfull of gas in the plug hole is more than enough to make it fire. I generally put about the equivalent of a thimblefull in the INTAKE - where you are safe to put more than in the plug hole. Too much will wash the oil off the cyls too - but you would have to do it a lot to do serious harm. I agree. OP said half a thimble and that sounds about right. A shot glass is way too much. Personally, I just use ether. Very easy too, just spray some in from the can that lasts 10 years. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote: Per : I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25 times! I remember doing something like that driving home through the back streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor. Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....". My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb from a can or cup while a student cranked it over. 2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of commision for over 9 months. An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer than an open can or cup!!!! Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!! |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote: Per : I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25 times! I remember doing something like that driving home through the back streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor. Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....". When necessity calls, we become creative! But then there is the safety factor which is too often overlooked.... My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb from a can or cup while a student cranked it over. 2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of commision for over 9 months. An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer than an open can or cup!!!! Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!! I agree about not POURING gas into an engine (carb or intake), while it's running. At least not in any large amount. (A one ounce shot glass would probably be ok). While I'm the one who mentioned using an pump oil can for /priming/ a small engine or even a car, and mentioned using a propane torch. I never really thought about using a /Gasoline blow torch/. I suppose that could work and work quite well. But that got me thinking...... I winder how one of those pressurized tanks from the old gasoline Coleman camping stoves would work? JUST A THOUGHT!!!! Heck, that could even be injected into the intake via a vacuum hose.... (Of course, only for engine testing, NOT DRIVING)..... I might just have to try that sometime!!!! |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:19:22 -0600, wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote: On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote: Per : I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25 times! I remember doing something like that driving home through the back streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor. Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....". When necessity calls, we become creative! But then there is the safety factor which is too often overlooked.... My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb from a can or cup while a student cranked it over. 2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of commision for over 9 months. An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer than an open can or cup!!!! Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!! I agree about not POURING gas into an engine (carb or intake), while it's running. At least not in any large amount. (A one ounce shot glass would probably be ok). While I'm the one who mentioned using an pump oil can for /priming/ a small engine or even a car, and mentioned using a propane torch. I never really thought about using a /Gasoline blow torch/. I suppose that could work and work quite well. But that got me thinking...... I winder how one of those pressurized tanks from the old gasoline Coleman camping stoves would work? JUST A THOUGHT!!!! Heck, that could even be injected into the intake via a vacuum hose.... (Of course, only for engine testing, NOT DRIVING)..... I might just have to try that sometime!!!! I made my living as a mechanic for about 25 years, staring in the late sixties, and an old gasoline blowtorch got a lot of use for starting stubborn engines. It was always in the back of the '43 power wagon tow truck on service calls. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:34:52 -0800, Oren wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote: My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb from a can or cup while a student cranked it over. 2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of commision for over 9 months. I never cranked engines while I poured gas in the carb, let is settle in the engine, have a towel ready if there was backfire. Toss over the carb is it did flame up. An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer than an open can or cup!!!! Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!! What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you run fast? If the engine backfires into the intake and you get a carb fire, just pray the battery doesn't die, and suck the flame in!!. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote:
What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you run fast? Frog with no legs is deaf :-) -- "Christianity peoples the earth with demons, hell with men, and heaven with slaves." -- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plughole do long term damage
On 1/27/2015 1:24 PM, hah wrote:
On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote: What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you run fast? Frog with no legs is deaf :-) Fly with no wings. - .. Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .. www.lds.org .. .. |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
On Tue, 27 Jan 2015 17:50:28 -0500, Stormin Mormon
wrote: On 1/27/2015 1:24 PM, hah wrote: On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote: What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you run fast? Frog with no legs is deaf :-) Fly with no wings. If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump its ass |
Small engine question, does a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole do long term damage
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