[Healeys] Bad running due to ethanol in gas?

[Alan Seigrist]

Steve -

Also check your coil, wires, cap and condenser as failure in all of these
things can mimic vapor lock (i.e. when it gets hot they start to fail).  I
even had a failing primary ignition wire that was almost a perfect mimic for
Vapor Lock (car started stuttering when hot) and it didn't correct itself
until I replaced the wire and connectors.  This is the wire from the
ignition to BJ8 Tach to coil.

Alan

On Mon, Sep 5, 2011 at 11:43 AM, Steve B. Gerow <steveg at abrazosdata.com>wrote:

> Alan,
> Thank you for the suggestions - will keep them in mind as I move forward.
>
> The car doesn't come close to failing - it just occasionally runs wierdly
> under certain specific circumstances.
>
> BTW - today I filled it with Arco Premium (vs Unocal regular), which tested
> at 5% alcohol.
>
> Will report back to the list if it runs better with the Premium gas.
> --
> Steve
>
>
> >  -------Original Message-------
> >  From: Alan Seigrist <healey.nut at gmail.com>
> >  To: Steve B. Gerow <steveg at abrazosdata.com>, Bob Spidell <
> bspidell at comcast.net>, healeys at autox.team.net <healeys at autox.team.net>
> >  Subject: Re: [Healeys] Bad running due to ethanol in gas?
> >  Sent: Sep 04 '11 14:10
> >
> >  Hi Steve -
> >
> >  I tend to generally agree with Bob here.
> >
> >  Next time your car is warm and has failed, listen to your fuel pump.
> >  If it is pumping like crazy, then it is vapor lock.  If not, then it's
> >  something else.
> >
> >  I would also check for vacuum leaks in your intake manifold and carbs,
> >  what you describe sounds like a vacuum leak that manifests itself when
> >  the car is hot.  Check the carb throttle shafts, wiggle them when the
> >  car is failing and see if rpms improve... If so you need a complete
> >  carb rebuild.
> >
> >  Good luck -
> >
> >  Alan